New Law Would Extend PILOT Program for 12-13 Year-Olds to December 2025
Next week the Schenectady County Legislature will consider Local Law D of 2023, which would extend the Junior Big Game Hunting Pilot Program within the County at their meeting on December 18, 2023. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the legislative chambers at the Schenectady County Office Building, which is located at 620 State Street in Schenectady.
The New York State Environmental Conservation Law allows counties to opt-in to participate in a deer hunting pilot program that allows hunting license holders who are 12 or 13 years of age to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzle-loading firearm. In July of 2021 the Schenectady County Legislature authorized the initial pilot program, which expires on December 31, 2023. If Local Law D of 2023 is passed by the Legislature, the pilot program would be extended in Schenectady County until December 31, 2025.
“We adopted this pilot program in 2021 to give adult hunters the opportunity to introduce 12-13 year-olds to big game hunting in Schenectady County,” said Schenectady County Legislator Tom Constantine, Chair of the Public Safety & Firefighting Committee, and sponsor or Proposed Local Law D of 2023. “By extending this program our youth will continue to have the opportunity to learn from experienced hunters in a safe and responsible way.”
Additional information about Junior Big Game Hunting in New York State is available at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html.