New York DEC Releases Annual Youth Hunting Report

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released its annual report to the state legislature on the results of the pilot program that allows 12- and 13-year-old hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow. The report shows high participation and satisfaction rates, as well as a perfect safety record, during the program's first five years.

Why it matters

The youth mentored hunting program has been a controversial issue in New York, with debates around public safety and the appropriate age for young hunters. This report provides data to inform those discussions and demonstrates the program's success so far in engaging young hunters under close adult supervision.

The details

During the 2025-26 hunting season, more than 12,500 12- and 13-year-old hunters were eligible to participate in the program, and over 2,300 deer harvest reports were submitted. A post-season survey found that 90% of youth hunters and 94% of their adult mentors were moderately or greatly satisfied with the experience. Importantly, the DEC reported no hunting-related shooting incidents, violations, or license revocations involving the young hunters over the first five years of the pilot.

• The youth mentored hunting pilot program was passed by the New York legislature in 2021 and is currently extended through 2028.
• The DEC's latest annual report covers the 2025-26 hunting season, the fifth year of the program.

What’s next

The DEC will continue to monitor the youth mentored hunting program and submit annual reports to the state legislature, which will ultimately decide whether to make the program permanent beyond 2028.