Bill > S05434

This bill proposes to lower the minimum age for obtaining a universal hunting license in New York from 14 years old to 12 years old, allowing younger individuals to participate in hunting activities under certain conditions. Specifically, it amends various sections of the environmental conservation law to reflect this age change, including provisions related to muzzle-loading privileges, hunting wild deer or bear with firearms, and the use of crossbows. For those aged 12 or 13, the bill maintains requirements for adult supervision, with a designated adult or guardian needing to be present and holding a hunting license, and for those hunting big game, the supervising adult must have at least three years of big game hunting experience. The bill also clarifies that 12 and 13-year-olds can hunt wildlife with a gun or longbow, but not with a crossbow, while 14 and 15-year-olds will have slightly different supervision requirements when hunting big game.