New York State Banner
D E C banner
D E C banner

Environment DEC


From the April 2008 issue

DEC Submits Fish/Wildlife Bills to Legislature

Commissioner Pete Grannis announced recently that the following bills regarding fish and wildlife programs have been submitted for introduction during the 2008 Legislative Session:

Junior Hunter/Trapper Mentoring Bill

This bill would establish a Junior Big-game Hunting License and a Junior Trapper Mentoring Program. The Junior Big-game Hunting License would allow 14- and 15-year-olds who can already hunt small game with a firearm to obtain a license to hunt big game. The junior big-game hunter would have to be accompanied by an adult who a) is 21 years or older and has at least three years of big-game hunting experience, and b) exercises control over the junior hunter at all times during hunting.

The Junior Trapper Mentoring Program would allow licensed trappers to serve as mentors to children younger than 12 who do not have trapping licenses and want to assist with trapping.

Bill to Modernize Fish and Wildlife Law

photo of a ring-necked pheasant
Ring-necked pheasant populations have dramatically declined due to lack of nesting areas

This bill would:

  • Give DEC authority to regulate ring-necked pheasant and quail statewide;
  • Enable the final federal regulations to set migratory game-bird hunting seasons in NYS, except where more restrictive regulations have been adopted by DEC;
  • Permit the use of longbows no closer than 250 feet from structures;
  • Allow the taking of snapping turtles by hand, net or turtle trap;
  • Allow the use of crossbows by seniors and persons with disabilities, and
  • Allow the use of live-restraint cable devices for trapping furbearing animals.

A Bill to Increase ECL Violation Penalties

This bill would increase civil and criminal penalties for certain violations of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), including illegal taking of deer (deer-jacking).