ALBANY — DEC recently announced the results of the fifth year of a pilot program that allows mentored 12- and 13-year-old hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow. In 2021, New York State (NYS) lawmakers enacted legislation authorizing 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with an experienced adult mentor in eligible areas of the state under a pilot program, which has since been extended through 2028. The law requires eligible New York counties to opt-in to participate in the pilot program. During 2025, 52 of 54 eligible New York counties opted to allow 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer. 

The law required DEC to analyze results of the pilot program each year and report its findings back to the legislature. Accordingly, DEC has been tracking participation, satisfaction, deer harvest, and safety compliance in the pilot program, and recently submitted a report to the New York State Legislature (PDF) sharing its findings from the 2025/26 hunting season and recommendations for future actions.

During Fall of 2025, more than 12,500 12- and 13-year-old hunters were eligible to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow. More than 2,300 deer harvest reports were submitted from these hunters. To participate in the pilot program, the young hunters had to complete a hunter safety course, purchase a NYS big game hunting license, and be accompanied while hunting by a licensed adult mentor with at least 3 years of big game hunting experience. A post-hunting-season survey conducted by DEC indicated that 90% of youth hunters and 94% of their adult mentors were moderately or greatly satisfied with their youth big game hunting experience. Additionally, no hunting-related shooting incidents, violations, or license revocations involving 12- and 13-year-old hunters were reported or occurred during either of the first five years of the pilot program.

Visit DEC’s website for more information on youth hunting opportunities