Safe, Supervised, Successful: The Case for 12- and 13-Year-Old Deer Hunters in Erie County
By Forrest Fisher
In recent years, youth firearms hunting in New York has become a point of debate often framed through broader national conversations about firearms policy. But mentored youth big game hunting is not a political abstraction. In New York State, it is a tightly regulated, data-driven conservation program designed to teach young people responsibility, patience, ethics, and safety under the close supervision of experienced adults.
Since 2021, New York State has authorized a pilot program through the NYSDEC, allowing licensed 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, or crossbow while under the immediate supervision of a qualified adult mentor. Counties must opt into the program by passing a local law before youth hunters may participate during established big game seasons in areas where firearms are already permitted. Youth hunters in nearby Chautauqua County are approved; those in Erie County are not. Erie County is only one of two of the 63 New York State counties (Erie and Rockland) not opting in, citing safety concerns as the basis for opting out. Most of us have similar concerns immediately after opening our most recent electric bill.
Participation comes with strict safety requirements. Youth hunters must be escorted by a parent, guardian, or experienced adult mentor aged 21 or older who has at least three years of deer hunting experience and holds a valid big game license. The supervising adult must maintain physical control of the youth hunter at all times, and both the mentor and youth must wear the required fluorescent orange or pink clothing visible from all directions. Additionally, youth participants in this program are authorized to harvest deer only; black bear hunting is not included.
In 2023, state legislation via NYSDEC extended this pilot program through 2025. Erie County still opted out. The additional two years provided more time to gather data and assess safety outcomes. That data now speaks clearly. Between 2021 and 2025, mentored youth hunters aged 12 and 13 participated in more than 63,000 permitted hunts across the participating counties in New York. According to official DEC reports, there were zero hunting-related shooting incidents, zero injuries, and zero violations involving this age group through that time. Quite a remarkable tribute to the young hunters and their mentors.
For supporters of the program, the safety record demonstrates what many in the hunting and conservation community already understand: when properly supervised and trained, young hunters are capable of participating safely in deer hunting. They often bring a level of attentiveness and discipline that reflects the seriousness of the responsibility entrusted to them.
Despite statewide authorization, participation in the pilot program ultimately remains a local county decision. Today, Erie County and Rockland County are the only counties in New York that have not adopted local laws allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with firearms under immediate adult mentorship.
After reviewing the updated DEC safety data from the past five years, Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro has renewed efforts to align the county with the NYSDEC statewide pilot program. A similar measure passed by the Erie County Legislature in 2021 was vetoed by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, who cited concerns about the inherent risks of firearms use by youth. However, the absence of incidents across tens of thousands of supervised hunts has prompted calls from conservationists, sportsmen’s organizations, and families in Erie County urging the County Executive to revisit the issue in light of empirical evidence. Data provides history and accuracy; it cannot lie.
New York (and Erie County) already permits 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt deer and bear with firearms under adult supervision, provided they complete a Hunter Education course, purchase the appropriate license, and wear required safety colors. Meanwhile, youth aged 12 to 15 may hunt deer and bear with a bow during the bowhunting seasons after completing both Hunter and Bowhunter Education courses, even from elevated stands, where permitted.
Mentored firearms hunting for 12- and 13-year-olds represents a measured extension of opportunities that already exist for slightly older youth, but with additional supervision requirements in place. Beyond the regulatory framework lies a broader question: what role does hunting play in the development of young people today?
For many families across New York, hunting is not merely a recreational activity but a tradition rooted in stewardship of the land, respect for wildlife, and self-reliance. Success in the deer woods demands patience, preparation, and emotional maturity. Young hunters must learn to handle equipment responsibly, follow safety protocols, understand animal behavior, and make ethical decisions in real time.
These are not abstract lessons. They are skills built through mentorship, often across generations, and reinforced by the shared understanding that participation in hunting carries both privilege and responsibility.
For members of Generation Z, who increasingly seek meaningful connections with nature in a digital world, mentored hunting offers an opportunity to engage directly with the environment, develop confidence through hands-on learning, and experience the discipline required to achieve success in a challenging pursuit. Time spent in the field teaches focus in an age of distraction, resilience in the face of unpredictability, and humility among elements beyond human control.
Hunting also plays a critical role in wildlife management and conservation funding in New York. License fees and excise taxes on hunting equipment support habitat restoration, research, and public land access, ensuring that future generations inherit healthy ecosystems and sustainable wildlife populations.
As Erie County leaders revisit the mentored youth hunting program, they do so with access to five years of safety data demonstrating that supervised participation by 12- and 13-year-olds has not resulted in a single reported incident. Think about that. What an amazing testimony to the safety and success of this program. To support them, click here to send a letter to the legislators in Erie County: https://takeaction.io/nyscc/support-erie-county-allowing-12-13-year-olds-to-hunt-under-authorized-supervision/. The pilot program was designed to test whether young hunters could safely engage in deer hunting under close adult guidance. So far, the results suggest they can!
Gotta Love the Outdoors.
