Albany, N.Y.--Legislation co-sponsored by State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) to establish a "junior hunting program" to allow 14- and 15-year-olds in New York State to hunt deer and bear with a firearm under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter, has been signed into law by Governor David Paterson.

"New York State’s sportsmen and sportswomen have long advocated this expansion of hunting opportunities for their sons and daughters, and grandchildren," said Winner. "Every other state in the nation permits 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt deer under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter. I’m pleased that New York will finally join the rest of the country in creating this opportunity to increase the number of hunters, instill a stronger safety ethic, and allow additional avenues for families to foster a lifelong enjoyment of the outdoors. It’s long-overdue action."

New York is the only state in the nation where 14-year-olds cannot hunt big game with a firearm. Forty-six states allow 12-year-olds to hunt big game with a firearm. Moreover, 12-year-olds have been allowed to hunt small game in New York with a firearm while accompanied by an adult since 1991.

A 2005 youth hunting report compiled for the Families Afield initiative, a collaborative effort of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, concluded that states with barriers to youth participation, such as the existing age restrictions in New York law, are failing to recruit hunters at a sufficient rate to replace those retiring from the sport. This study has garnered national attention and generated renewed interest in statutory changes to ensure the future of hunting as a valued family tradition and key component of wildlife management.

The total number of big game hunters in New York State has been steadily declining by about 10,000 resident big game license holders annually. These declines are largely attributed to the absence of sufficient recruitment to replace retiring hunters.

Winner said that the junior hunting program will help reverse this trend.

The new law also creates a trapper mentoring program. This new program will allow a minor under the age of 12 without a trapping license to accompany and assist a licensed trapper with at least 3 years of trapping experience and who is the minor's parent or guardian, or a person over the age of 18 designated in writing by the parent or guardian.