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New York

Hunting

Hunting

License Fees

Licenses, Privileges, and Permits

Type

Age or Special Qualifier

Price

Hunting (Ages 16+)

Privileges: Hunt small game species with gun, bow, or crossbow (see Crossbow Hunting Information). Hunt deer or bear with gun, muzzleloader, bow (with proof of bow education or a bow privilege), or crossbow (see Crossbow Hunting Information) during the regular season, or hunt with shotgun or muzzleloader during the January firearms season (permit required Big Game Hunting) in Suffolk County (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 less than 18 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 on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities) 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 Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities.

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

    • 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 on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities). Check DEC's website (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html) for a list of counties where 12- and 13-year-olds can hunt deer with a gun or crossbow and Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities for details.)
    • Ages 14–15: Hunt small game with gun, bow, or crossbow (see Crossbow Hunting Information) 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 Crossbow Hunting Information) during the regular season, or hunt with shotgun or muzzleloader during the January firearms season (permit required — see Big Game Hunting) 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 on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities).

* Accompanist must have a current hunting license and meet all requirements as specified on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities.

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 (www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6405.html) to hunt migratory game birds.

Bowhunting Privilege (Ages 16+)

Privileges: Hunt deer and bear with a bow 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 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 a "youth mentor" 21 years or older and designated in writing (see permission form on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities). 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 on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities).

* Accompanist must have a current hunting license and meet all requirements as specified on Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities.

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 January special firearms season in Suffolk County (WMU 1C; ages 14+). Hunt deer (ages 12+) and bear (ages 14+) with a crossbow (see Crossbow Hunting Information).

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 two 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 on Deer Management Permits (DMPs). Application deadline is October 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 October 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 Seasons). 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 Season Dates & Bag Limits for detailed information).

Qualifications: Trapper Education Certificate or previous trapping license. See Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities for 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

Lifetime Licenses and Tags for Young Hunters

Young hunters who hold a lifetime hunting privilege and wish to receive their tags must first take the appropriate hunter safety training course and have it entered in their DECALS profile. To have the course added, please call the DEC call center at 1-866-933-2257 (M–F, 8AM–5PM). Young hunters should take the appropriate training course well in advance of the season to allow adequate time for their tags to be mailed. Tags cannot be obtained from a license-issuing agent.

When purchasing a lifetime license for a child, the purchaser must bring proof of the child’s age (e.g., birth certificate or passport) and a copy of the parent’s proof of residency.

Lifetime Sporting Licenses

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 www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6099.html.

Lifetime License Holders should expect to receive their annual carcass tags in the mail no later than Sept. 1 annually. 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.

Lifetime License (Sportsman)
(combined hunting and fishing licenses, includes turkey permits):

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

Other Lifetime Licenses/Privileges

Hunting License

$535

Fishing License (age 0–69)

$460

Fishing License (age 70 and older)

$65

Trapping License

$395

Bowhunting

$235

Muzzleloading

$235

Stamps / Donations

Type

Age or Special Qualifier

Price

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 NY'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 1-866-933-2257 or www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6405.html.

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