- General Info
- Licenses, Permits & Fees
- Hunting Regulations
-
Seasons & Limits
- Deer Hunting Season Dates
- Big Game Season Dates
- Turkey Hunting Seasons
- Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons & Bag Limits
- Furbearer Trapping Season Dates & Bag Limits
- Small Game Season Dates & Limits
- Waterfowl Hunting Zone Descriptions
- Special Seasons Designated for Young Hunters
- Bear Hunting Season Dates
-
Features
- 2020 Why I Hunt/Trap
- Chronic Wasting Disease
- The 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety
- DEC Adopts New Deer Management Plan
- Doe or Fawn?
- Tree Stand Safety
- Fisher Management in New York
- Working Together to Protect Wildlife and People
- Attention Rabbit Hunters
- Spruce Grouse vs. Ruffed Grouse
- Changes in Atlantic Population Canada Goose Seasons
- Moose in New York
- Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities
- PDF Downloads
Special Seasons Designated for Young Hunters
Share Your Knowledge, Reconnect with Nature — Take a Junior Hunter Afield During These Special Seasons!
Once again, DEC is providing a special youth deer season over the three-day Columbus Day weekend. Junior hunters (ages 12-15) are eligible to take one antlered or one antlerless deer with a firearm and 14- and 15-year-old junior hunters may also take a bear with a firearm during this season. Rules of the Junior Hunter Mentoring Program (Junior Hunter/Trapper Opportunities) also apply.
DEC also offers special opportunities for junior hunters (ages 12–15) for waterfowl, wild turkey, and pheasants.
For all youth hunts, junior hunters must be accompanied by an adult hunter. Both the junior and adult hunters are required to have a hunting license for the youth deer season, a hunting license and a turkey permit for the turkey hunt, and a hunting license and current HIP registration for the waterfowl hunt. During the youth waterfowl hunt the accompanying adult must have a federal duck stamp. Adults are not allowed to possess a firearm, crossbow or bow or to harvest an animal while accompanying a junior hunter during the youth hunts.
Crossbows may used by 12 and 13-year-old hunters only to take deer. Hunters ages 14 and 15 may use a crossbow to take deer, bear, and other game for which crossbows may be used.
Note: Junior hunters (ages 12-15) must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter whenever they are afield in pursuit of game, not just during designated special youth seasons.
Youth Hunts |
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Youth Pheasant Hunt |
|
Northern and |
September 25-26, 2021 |
Western New York |
October 9-10, 2021 |
Long Island |
October 30-31, 2021 |
Youth Waterfowl Hunt |
|
Waterfowl |
Dates |
Northeastern |
September 18-19, 2021 |
Southeastern |
September 25-26, 2021 |
Lake Champlain |
September 25-26, 2021 |
Western |
October 2-3, 2021 |
Long Island |
November 6-7, 2021 |
Youth Wild Turkey Hunt |
|
Upstate NY (north of Bronx-Westchester Co. boundary) and Suffolk County |
April 23-24, 2022 |
Youth Firearms Deer and Bear Hunt |
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Upstate NY (north of Bronx-Westchester Co. boundary; excluding bowhunting-only WMUs) |
Columbus Day Weekend; October 9-11, 2021 |