Shooting Preserve License
Statutory Authority: ECL Sections 11-0103(4)(a)(c), 11-1903, and 6 NYCRR Part 153, Part 154, and Part 175
The Department may issue to an owner or lessee of wholly enclosed lands or an entire island, a Shooting Preserve License, permitting the licensee to purchase, possess, rear, transport, release, and take by shooting Domestic Game Birds that were legally acquired.
There are three classes of Shooting Preserves:
Class A - This allows the licensee to operate a commercial shooting preserve of a minimum of 100 acres. The licensee can charge a daily fee for hunting, or charge a fee for each domestic game bird killed, or any combination of fees. The domestic game birds may be killed by the licensee for their own use and may be sold dead or alive.
Class B - This allows the licensee to operate a nonprofit shooting preserve or a nonprofit club or membership with use limited to members and guests. The preserve must be a minimum of 100 acres. Domestic game birds may be killed by the licensee for their own use. However, no live birds or their eggs or their carcasses may be sold unless the licensee holds a valid Class A Domestic Game Bird Breeder License.
Class C - This allows the licensee to operate a shooting preserve for their own use, or the use of their family and invitees. This license has no minimum acreage. A fee cannot be charged for hunting, or for domestic game birds shot. Domestic game birds may be killed for their own use but no live domestic game birds, or their eggs, or their carcasses, may be sold unless the licensee holds a valid Class A Domestic Game Bird Breeder License.
Please Note:
- Domestic game birds means captive bred ducks, geese, brant, swans, pheasants, quail, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, Chukar partridge and Hungarian or European gray-legged partridge.
- All domestic game birds killed pursuant to this licensed must have a NYSDEC tag attached to the carcass. The tags may be purchased from the DEC ($0.05 ea).
- A Shooting Authorization Form, which is received with your license, must be submitted and approved before any shooting can take place.
- Domestic game birds may be taken pursuant to this license only between September 1 - March 31.
- This license expires annually on March 31.
- The fee for this license varies depending on the type of license, and the size of the area being covered.
If you currently possess a Shooting Preserve License the following links will supply you with some needed documents.
- Shooting Preserve Report Initial (PDF 267 kb)
- Shooting Preserve Report Annual (PDF 226 kb)
Please contact the Special Licenses Unit with any questions or concerns about qualifying or applying for this license. To apply for this license complete the following:
- Shooting Preserve License Application Class A (PDF, 24.9 kb), Class B (PDF, 23 kb), or Class C (PDF, 22.9 kb)
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount
- A tax ID map of the location to be used for the shooting preserve
Send all information to the Department of Environmental Conservation Special Licenses Unit.
NYSDEC
Special Licenses Unit
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4752
518-402-8985
List of applicable Laws and Regulations
