GENESEO, N.Y., Aug. 12, 2025 — The Livingston County Board of Supervisors recently voted to amend and restate local law number 4-2025, which extends the youth deer hunting pilot program. 

LOCAL LAW NO. 4-2025 AMENDING AND RESTATING LOCAL LAW NO. 7-2023 TO

EXTEND THE YOUTH DEER HUNTING PILOT PROGRAM

Be it enacted by the Livingston Board of Supervisors as follows:

That Local Law No. 7-2023 is hereby amended and restated as follows:

Section 1. Legislative Intent

The intent of this Local Law is to authorize the expansion of youth hunting by allowing twelve (12) and thirteen (13) year old licensed hunters to participate in the new and safe hunting opportunities provided by New York State Environmental Conservation Law §11-0935. Said statute authorizes a pilot program to allow young licensed hunters, ages twelve (12) and thirteen (13), to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow through 2028 within the boundaries of counties permitting such action by local law. In passing this Local Law, Livingston County recognizes hunting is a valued tradition for many families, and this new opportunity allows experienced adult hunters to introduce the value of hunting to the next generation. Furthermore, teaching young people safe, responsible, and ethical hunting practices will ensure a rewarding experience for the youth, while providing quality food to families and contributing to important deer management population control practices.

Section 2. Pilot Program Authorization

Pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law §11-0935, Livingston County elects to participate in the deer hunting pilot program to allow young licensed hunters, ages twelve (12) and thirteen (13), to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzle-loading firearm when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or designated person. Said program shall be authorized in Livingston County through December 31, 2028 and in each and every subsequent year such temporary pilot program remains in effect under Environmental Conservation Law §11-0935.

Section 3. State Requirements Once Authorized

Twelve (12) and thirteen (13) year old licensed hunters shall be allowed to hunt deer subject to

the following requirements:

• All twelve (12) and thirteen (13) year old licensed hunters hunting deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzle-loading firearm shall be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, or by a person twenty-one (21) years of age or older designated in writing by such parent or legal guardian on a form prescribed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and

• A parent, guardian, or designated person accompanying a twelve (12) or thirteen (13) year old licensed hunter shall have a valid hunting license and at least three (3) years of experience hunting deer; and

• A parent, guardian or designated person accompanying a twelve (12) or thirteen (13) year old licensed hunter shall maintain physical control over the youth at all times while hunting. For purposes of this paragraph “physical control” shall mean that the physical proximity of such youth to the parent, guardian, or designated person is such that the parent, guardian, or designated person is reasonably able to issue verbal directions and instructions, maintain constant visual contact, and otherwise provide guidance and supervision of the youth; and

• All twelve (12) and thirteen (13) year old licensed hunters and their accompanying parent, guardian, or designated person shall each display either a minimum total of two hundred fifty (250) square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink or patterned fluorescent orange or pink consisting of no less than fifty percent (50%) florescent orange or pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions, or a hat or cap with no less than fifty percent (50%) of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or pink material and visible from all directions; and

• All twelve (12) and thirteen (13) year old licensed hunters and their accompanying parent, guardian, or designated person shall be required to remain at ground level at all times while hunting.

Section 4. Local Law Filing Requirements

A copy of this Local Law shall be sent to the New York State Department of Environmental

Conservation as well as the New York State Department of State.

Section 5. Severability

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this Local Law, or the application thereof to any person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, effect or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this Local Law or in its application to the person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstance directly involved in the controversy in which such order or judgment shall be rendered.

Section 6. Effective Date

This Local Law shall take effect immediately upon filing and publication in accordance with Section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule.

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About Livingston County:

Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.