License Fees

Hunting (Ages 16+)

Privileges: Hunt small game species with gun, bow, or crossbow. Hunt deer or bear with gun, muzzleloader, bow, or crossbow (with proof of bow education or a bow privilege) during the regular season, or hunt with shotgun or muzzleloader during the Jan. firearms season (permit required) in Suffolk County (Wildlife Management Unit [WMU] 1C). You may hunt frogs with a valid hunting or fishing license.

Qualifications: Hunter Education Certificate OR previous hunting license. Certificates to possess firearms do not qualify.

Note: Those 16-17 years of age who are hunting big game for the first time as a holder of a hunting license must be accompanied for the entire season by a parent or legal guardian, or a person 18 years of age or older designated in writing (see permission form) with at least one year's experience hunting bear or deer. Accompanist must have a current hunting license and meet all requirements as specified on the Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities page.

16–69 (NYS Resident)

$22

70+ (NYS Resident)

$5

Military Disabled¹

$5

Patriot²

FREE

Indigenous Peoples³

FREE

16+ (Non-Resident)

$100

Junior Hunting (Ages 12–15)

12–15 (NYS Resident)

$5

12–15 (Non-Resident)

$5

Privileges:

• Ages 12–13: Hunt small game species with gun or bow and deer with gun or crossbow during appropriate seasons when accompanied* by a parent, legal guardian, or person 21 years of age or older with written permission from parent or guardian (see permission form). Check DEC's website (dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/deer-bear/junior-big-game) for a map of counties where 12- and 13-year-olds can hunt deer with a gun or crossbow and Deer Hunting Season Dates for details.)
• Ages 14–15: Hunt small game with gun, bow, or crossbow (see Big Game Hunting) when accompanied* by a parent, legal guardian, or person 18 years of age or older with written permission from parent/guardian. Hunt deer or bear with a gun, bow (with proof of bow education or a bow privilege), or crossbow (see Big Game Hunting) during the regular season, or hunt with shotgun or muzzleloader during the Jan. firearms season (permit required) in Suffolk County, when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or youth mentor 21 years of age or older designated in writing (see permission form).

* Accompanist must have a current hunting license and meet all requirements as specified.

Qualifications: Hunter Education Certificate OR previous hunting license (certificates to possess firearms do not qualify). Must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian to purchase. First-time applicants must show proof of age (birth certificate or passport). Junior hunters do not need a Federal Duck Stamp, but are required to register in the NYS Harvest Information Program (dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/hunting-license/harvest-information-program) to hunt migratory game birds.

Bowhunting Privilege (Ages 16+)

Privileges: Hunt deer and bear with a bow or crossbow during bowhunting seasons.

Qualifications: Current year NYS hunting license, PLUS acceptable Bowhunter Education Certificate, OR NYS Bowhunting Stamp issued in 1980 or later, OR NYS Junior Bowhunting License issued 1980 or later.

Note: To hunt deer or bear with a bow or crossbow during the regular season, hunter must possess both a valid hunting license and either a current bowhunting privilege or a valid Bowhunter Education Certificate. This includes Westchester and Suffolk counties.

16–69 (NYS Resident)

$15

70+ (NYS Resident)

FREE

Military Disabled¹

FREE

Patriot²

$15

Indigenous Peoples³

FREE

16+ (Non-Resident)

$30

Junior Bowhunting (Ages 12–15)

12–15 (NYS Resident)

$4

12–15 (Non-Resident)

$4

Privileges:

• Ages 12–13: Hunt deer and bear with a bow during the bowhunting season or the regular season, or bear during the early bear season when accompanied* by a parent, legal guardian, or youth mentor 21 years or older and designated in writing (see permission form). Youth hunter will receive a deer of either sex carcass tag for use in the regular season, instead of a regular season buck tag.
• Ages 14–15: Hunt deer and bear with a bow during the bowhunting season and the regular season when accompanied* by a parent, legal guardian, or youth mentor 18 years of age or older designated in writing (see permission form).

* Accompanist must have a current hunting license and meet all requirements as specified.

Qualifications: Current year NYS hunting license, PLUS acceptable Bowhunter Education OR previous Junior Bowhunting License. Must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian to purchase.

Muzzleloader Privilege (Ages 12+)

Privileges: Hunt deer (ages 12+) and bear (ages 14+) with a muzzleloading firearm during muzzleloading season, and the Jan. special firearms season in Suffolk County (WMU 1C; ages 14+).

Qualifications: Current year NYS hunting license.

12–69 (NYS Resident)

$15

70+ (NYS Resident)

FREE

Military Disabled¹

FREE

Patriot²

$15

Indigenous Peoples³

FREE

12+ (Non-Resident)

$30

Deer Management Permit Application (Ages 12+)

Privileges: Application for up to four antlerless deer tags issued through a random computer selection process. Tags are valid for hunting antlerless deer only (both antlers less than 3" long) in a specified Wildlife Management Unit (WMU). See DMP information. Application deadline is Oct. 1 annually.

Qualifications: Must hold a current year NYS hunting license to apply and pay a non-refundable $10 application fee. Fee is waived for hunters 12–15 years of age and holders of Lifetime (Sportsman) Licenses purchased prior to Oct. 1, 2009.

12–15 (NYS Resident)

FREE

16+ (NYS Resident)

$10

Military Disabled¹

$10

Patriot²

$10

Indigenous Peoples³

$10

12–15 (Non-Resident)

FREE

16+ (Non-Resident)

$10

Turkey Permit (Ages 12+)

Privileges: Hunt turkey during fall and spring turkey seasons (see Turkey Hunting). To hunt turkey, all hunters must possess a turkey permit. There are no exceptions.

Qualifications: Current year NYS hunting license. Turkey tags are included with a Lifetime License.

12+ (NYS Resident)

$10

Military Disabled¹

$10

Patriot²

$10

Indigenous Peoples³

$10

12+ (Non-Resident)

$20

Trapping

Privileges: Set traps for species during their appropriate seasons (see Furbearer Trapping for detailed information).

Qualifications: Trapper Education Certificate or previous trapping license from any state or country. See additional information on the mentoring program for trappers under 12 years of age.

12–15 (NYS Resident)

$5

16–69 (NYS Resident)

$20

70+ (NYS Resident)

$5

Military Disabled¹

$5

Patriot²

FREE

Indigenous Peoples³

FREE

12–15 (Non-Resident)

$5

16+ (Non-Resident)

$275

The following Lifetime Licenses are available to New York State residents only and may be purchased at all license-issuing outlets throughout New York State.

Applicants must prove NYS residency for one year prior to application (see Residency information).

For additional information and clarification on Lifetime License sales, contact our License Sales Unit, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4790; call (518) 402-8843; or visit dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/lifetime

Lifetime License holders should expect to receive their annual carcass tags in the mail no later than Sept. 1 annually. Lifetime License holders can also sign up to have their qualifying license and tags emailed to them, see Lifetime License Delivered Via Email below. License-issuing agents will replace licenses and tags free of charge between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. After Nov. 1, there will be a replacement charge up to $15. If you have a lifetime license card, you will only have to replace carcass tags at a fee of $10.

For a person age 0–4

$380

For a person age 5–11

$535

For a person age 12–69

$765

For a person age 70 or older

$65

Hunting License

$535

Fishing License (age 0–69)

$460

Fishing License (age 70 and older)

$65

Trapping License

$395

Bowhunting

$235

Muzzleloading

$235

Habitat & Access Stamp

Donations are used to create or improve fish and wildlife habitat and improve access to those resources for recreational or educational activities.

Any

$5

Venison Donation

Help feed the hungry by supporting NYS's venison donation program.

Any

$1 or more

Federal Duck Stamp

Available at most post offices and some sporting goods stores.

16+

$25

Privileges: Hunt migratory waterfowl. It is not needed for gallinules, coot, crows, rails, woodcock, or snipe. All migratory game bird hunters, including junior hunters, must register with the Harvest Information Program by calling toll free (866) 933-2257 or dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/hunting-license/harvest-information-program.

Qualifications: Validated by holder’s signature on the face of the stamp. Hunter must also possess a current-year NYS hunting license.