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Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I – Pulaski) today announced that the Junior Big Game Hunting License Bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate, and awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill is designed to help recruit new hunters and encourage young people to take part in New York’s hunting tradition (A11033). Junior Hunters 14 and over will now be able to hunt big game after completing a safety course. The bill will also increase safeguards and requires junior hunters and their supervising adults to wear blaze orange.
“Hunting is an important pastime for the people of New York and is also necessary to maintain a proper balance among animals in nature. This program will help encourage youngsters to hunt at an early age, hopefully with their parents, which will ensure that the tradition of hunting remains strong,†said Barclay.
Barclay was the prime sponsor of A11015, that would have given junior hunters the same license in 2006.
Many families report taking their children to hunt in other states. Junior hunters are already allowed to hunt small game in New York, and supervised junior hunters statistically have the best safety record of any age group of hunters, said Barclay.
“Hunting is vital to the environment and the tourism industry of Upstate New York,†said Barclay. “I am hopeful that easing regulations on junior hunters will help encourage more families to be involved in the hunting tradition, and will also protect local crops and vegetation, as it will keep the deer population in check.â€ÂÂ
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