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Junior Hunter Mentoring Program

Junior Bowhunting

image of junior bowhunter

12 - 15 year old Junior Bowhunters can hunt Deer and Bear with a Bow

Recent legislation lowered the minimum age from 14 to 12 years of age for youth hunters to purchase a Junior Bowhunting license for big game hunting.

Here are the requirements for Junior Bowhunters:

  • Youth must have completed a course in both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education.
  • Youth must have a Junior Bowhunting license.
  • 12-13 year old youth must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person who is 21 years or older and is designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 kb). Adult mentor must have at least 3 years of experience hunting deer or bear with a bow and have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.
  • 14-15 year old youth must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person who is 18 years or older and is designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 kb). Adult mentor must have at least 1 year of experience hunting deer or bear with a bow and have a license to hunt big game in the same seasons.
  • Adult mentor must maintain physical control over the Junior Hunter at all times while hunting. This means the mentor and junior hunter must be close enough to talk without the aid of a radio and must be able to see each other.
  • Junior Bowhunters may hunt deer and bear with a bow during the bowhunting and regular seasons.

Junior Hunting

12 - 15 Year Old Junior Hunters can Hunt Small Game

Here are the requirements for Junior Hunters to hunt small game:

  • Youth must have completed a course in Hunter Education.
  • Youth must have a Junior Hunting license.
  • 12-13 year old youth must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person who is 21 years or older and is designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 kb). Adult mentor must have a license to hunt small game.
  • 14-15 year old youth must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a person who is 18 years or older and is designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 kb). Adult mentor must have a license to hunt small game.

14 and 15 Year Old Junior Hunters Can Hunt Deer and Bear with a Firearm

Junior Hunter with Harvested Deer

Here are the requirements for junior hunters to hunt big game with a firearm:

  • Youth must have completed a course in Hunter Education and
  • Youth must have a Junior Hunting license.
  • Adult mentor must be a parent, legal guardian, or a person who is 21 years or older and is designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 kb).
  • Adult mentor must be licensed to hunt big game and have 3 years of big game hunting experience.
  • Adult mentor must maintain physical control over the Junior Hunter at all times while hunting. This means the mentor and Junior Hunter must be close enough to talk without the aid of a radio and must be able to see each other.
  • Both the Junior Hunter and mentor must remain on the ground while hunting; you may not use a tree stand or hunt from an elevated platform.
  • Both the Junior Hunter and mentor must wear hunter orange visible from all directions: shirt, jacket or vest with at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned orange (the pattern must be at least 50% orange) OR a hat with at least 50% orange.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Junior Hunter Mentoring Program

Q: Isn't the Junior Hunting license also available for 12 and 13 year old hunters?
 A: Yes. The Junior Hunting license allows 12 and 13 year olds to hunt small game and 14 and 15 year olds to hunt small and big game when appropriately accompanied. See Resident Hunting Licenses and Non-resident Hunting Licenses pages for details about age and experience requirements of the mentor.

Q: Can both the Junior Hunter and the mentor carry firearms while deer or bear hunting?
A: Yes.

Q: Is there a special "Youth Hunt" season for deer or bear?
A: No. Junior Hunters and their mentors must hunt during the normal deer and bear seasons. See Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons for season dates.

Q: Are Junior Bowhunters also required to wear hunter orange and hunt from the ground?
A: No, these requirements apply only for Junior Hunters and their mentors when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.

Q: Are Junior Hunters eligible to apply for Deer Management Permits?
A: Yes. Junior Hunters who are 14 or 15 and all Junior Bowhunters may apply for a Deer Management Permit (DMP).

Q: What if I turn 14 during the hunting season?
A: If you have a Junior Hunting license, after you turn 14 you can return to any license issuing agent to obtain your deer and bear carcass tags at no additional fee. You can also request the tags through our DEC Automated Licensing System (DECALS) or by calling 1-866-933-2257. If you turn 14 on or before October 1, you may also apply for a DMP. If you turn 14 after October 1, the DMP application period is closed. You will be able to apply for a DMP if any are offered during the extended application period beginning November 1. DMPs may be consigned to or from a Junior Hunter if the Junior Hunter is 14 or 15 years old.

Q: Who is required to use the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF, 24 kb)?
A: The permission form is required for the following when hunting or trapping with someone other than a parent or legal guardian:

  • Junior Hunters 12-13 years old hunting small game
  • Junior Hunters 14-15 years old hunting big game with a firearm
  • Junior Bowhunters 12-15 years of age
  • First time big game hunters who are 16-17 years old
  • Trappers under the age of 12

Q: What about nonresidents? Does the Junior Hunter Mentoring Program apply to nonresidents as well?
A: Yes. Nonresidents can purchase a Nonresident Junior Hunting license. All requirements are the same for resident and nonresident Junior Hunters, though nonresident Junior Hunters must pay nonresident rates for turkey tags and muzzleloading privileges.

Q: Is a 14 or 15 year old Junior Hunter eligible to hunt during the muzzleloader seasons?
A: Junior Hunters must purchase the muzzleloading privilege to hunt during the muzzleloader season. The requirements listed at the top of this page apply for Junior Hunters and their mentors when hunting with muzzleloading firearms.

Q: Can Junior Hunters use a crossbow to hunt?
A: 14 and 15 year old Junior Hunters may use a crossbow to hunt deer or bear. See Crossbow Hunting for details about seasons and qualification requirements for big game hunting with a crossbow.