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Resident Hunting Licenses, Permits and Stamps

Purchase a Sporting License

To qualify for a resident license, a person must live in New York State for more than thirty days immediately prior to date of application. Land ownership in New York does not make you a resident. Residency is that place where a person maintains a fixed, permanent and principal home (regardless wherever temporarily located), such as where a person is registered to vote. If under 18, the residence of parents or legal guardian shall be deemed such person's residence.

Active members of the US Armed Forces stationed in NY and full-time college students in residence in the State during the school year (proof required) qualify for annual resident licenses.

Conservation Legacy

  • Age: 16 - 69 Years (16-64 for 2008-09 licenses)
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License PLUS
      • Acceptable Bowhunter Ed. Certificate,OR
      • NYS Bowhunting Stamp issued in 1980 or later,OR
      • NYS Jr. Archery License issued in 1980 or later
  • Privileges: All the privileges that apply to a Super Sportsman License plus a Habitat and Access Stamp and subscription to The Conservationist.
  • Cost: $96.00 ($76 for 2008-09 licenses)

Super Sportsman

  • Age: 16-69 Years (16-64 for 2008-09 licenses)
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License PLUS
      • Acceptable Bowhunter Ed. Certificate, OR
      • NYS Bowhunting Stamp issued in 1980 or later, OR
      • NYS Jr. Archery License issued in 1980 or later
  • Privileges: All the privileges that apply to fishing, small game, big game, bowhunting and muzzleloading licenses and a turkey permit.
  • Cost: $88.00 ($68 for 2008-09 licenses)

Trapper Super Sportsman

  • Age: 16-69 Years
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. and Trapper Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting and Trapping Licenses
  • Privileges: All the privileges that apply to fishing, small game, big game, muzzleloading licenses and trapping licenses and turkey permits.
  • Cost: $88.00

Sportsman

  • Age: 16-69 Years (16-64 for 2008-09 licenses)
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous hunting license
  • Privileges: All the privileges that apply to small game and big game hunting and fishing licenses.
  • Cost: $47.00 ($37 for 2008-09 licenses)

Senior Sportsman

  • Age: 70+ years (65+ for 2008-09 licenses)
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License
  • Privileges: All the privileges that apply to small game and big game hunting and fishing licenses.
  • Cost: $10.00 ($5 for 2008-09 licenses)

Military Disabled Sportsman

  • Age: Any
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License,PLUS
    • 40% or greater service-related military disability documented annually by letter from the Veteran's Administration.
  • Privileges: All the privileges that apply to the Sportsman license.
  • Cost: $5.00

Small and Big Game

  • Age: 16-69 years (16-64 for 2008-09 licenses)
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License
  • Privileges:
    • Hunt small game species with gun or bow during appropriate seasons
    • Hunt deer and bear with gun, muzzleloader or bow (with appropriate bowhunting eligibility) during the regular season or hunt with shotgun or muzzleloader during special deer season on Long Island.

      Note: Those under 18 who are hunting big game for the first time as a holder of a big game license must be accompanied for the entire season by a parent or legal guardian, or a person designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 Kb) who is 18 years or older with at least one year's experience in hunting bear or deer. The parent, guardian or person over 18 must have a current license that allows the hunting of big game.
  • Cost: $29.00 ($19 for 2008-09 licenses)

Small Game

  • Age: 16-69 Years (16-64 for 2008-09 licenses)
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License
  • Privileges: Hunt small game species with gun or bow during appropriate seasons
  • Cost: $26.00 ($16 for 2008-09 licenses)

Junior Hunting

Must apply in person, accompanied by parent or legal guardian

  • Age: 12 - 15 Yrs.
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License Plus Birth Certificate for 1st time applicants
  • Privileges:
    • Hunt small game species with gun or bow during appropriate seasons when accompanied* by:
      1. Ages 12-13 - Parent, legal guardian or person 21 years or older designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 Kb).
      2. Ages 14-15 - Parent, legal guardian or
      3. person 18 years or older with written permission from parent/guardian.
      *Accompanying adult must have current hunting license.
      Junior hunter does not need Federal Duck Stamp to hunt waterfowl.
    • Hunt deer or bear with a gun during appropriate seasons when accompanied by
      Ages 14-15 - Parent, legal guardian or
      person 21 years or older designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 Kb). Accompanying adult must have current hunting license and 3 years of experience.
  • Cost: $5.00

Junior Bowhunting

  • Age: 14-15 Years
  • Qualifications:
    • Hunter Ed Certificate, OR
    • Previous Hunting License PLUS
      • Bowhunter Ed. Certificate, OR
      • Previous Jr. Archery License PLUS
      • Birth Certificate for 1st time applicants
  • Privileges: Hunt deer and bear with bow during the special archery season or the regular season, accompanied by parent, legal guardian or a person 18 years or older designated in writing on the Mentored Youth Hunter and Trapper Permission Form (PDF 24 Kb). Accompanying adult must have current bowhunting privileges and one year's experience.
  • Cost: $9.00

Bowhunting Season Privilege

Must also have valid big game license.

  • Age: 16-69 Years
  • Qualifications:
    • Current Year License to hunt big game
      PLUS
    • Acceptable Bowhunter Ed. Certificate, OR
    • NYS Bowhunting Stamp issued in 1980 or later, OR
    • NYS Jr. Archery License issued in 1980 or later
  • Privileges: Hunt deer and bear with bow only during special archery seasons.

    NOTE: Residents hunting bear or deer with a bow during the regular season must possess both a valid big game license and either a current bowhunting stamp or a valid bowhunter education certificate. This includes Westchester and Suffolk Counties.
  • Cost: $21.00 ($16 for 2008-09 licenses)

FREE Bowhunting

  • Age: 70+ Years OR 40% + Military Disabled
  • Qualifications: Same as Bowhunting Season License
  • Privileges: Same as Bowhunting Season License
  • Cost: Free

Muzzleloading Season Privilege

Must also have valid big game license.

  • Age: 16-69 Years
  • Qualifications: Current Year License to hunt big game.
  • Privileges: Hunt deer and bear with a muzzleloading firearm only during special muzzleloading seasons.
  • Cost: $21.00 ($16 for 2008-09 licenses)

FREE Muzzleloading

Must also have valid big game license.

  • Age: 70+ Years OR 40%+ Military Disabled
  • Qualifications: Current Year License to hunt big game
  • Privileges: Same as Muzzleloading License.
  • Cost: Free

Deer Management Permit Application

Must also have valid big game license. Application deadline is October 1.

  • Age: 14 Years and older
  • Qualifications: A Current Year
    Conservation Legacy, OR
    Resident Super Sportsman,OR
    Resident Trapper Super Sportsman, OR
    Resident Sportsman,OR
    Resident Big & Small Game, OR
    Junior Bowhunting, OR
    Junior Hunting, OR
    Senior or Military Disabled
  • Privileges: Application for an antlerless deer tag that is issued by random computer selection. The tag is valid for hunting antlerless deer only (both antlers less than 3" long) in a specified Wildlife Management Unit during all Southern Zone seasons, during the Northern Zone regular season, in WMUs 6A, 6G, 6H and 6K, during the Northern Zone late muzzleloading season in WMUs 6A, 6G and 6H, and during any season in Suffolk County.
  • Cost: $10 application fee. Free to Junior Hunters and Junior Bowhunters and holders of Lifetime Sportsman Licenses purchased prior to October 1, 2009. (for 2008-09 licenses, the $10 DMP fee only applies to Small & Big Game licenses and Junior Hunting)

Resident Turkey Permit

  • Age: 12+ Years
  • Qualifications: Junior Hunting License, (ages 12-15) OR
    Resident Sportsman,OR
    Resident Big & Small Game, OR
    Resident Small Game License
  • Privileges: Hunt wild turkey during the fall and spring seasons.
    For season and bag limit information see the Turkey Season map.
  • Cost: $10.00 - included with Conservation Legacy, Super Sportsman, Trapper Super Sportsman and Lifetime Sportsman License. ($5 for 2008-09 licenses)

Habitat and Access Stamp

  • Age: Any
  • Qualifications: None
  • Privileges: Revenue from the sale of this voluntary stamp will go into a dedicated account within the Conservation Fund and can only be used for projects to protect and improve habitat and to provide public access for fish and wildlife related recreation.
  • Cost: $5.00

Conservation Patron

  • Age: Any
  • Qualifications: None
  • Privileges: Package includes a habitat and access stamp and subscription to The Conservationist
  • Cost: $12.00

Federal Duck Stamp

  • Age: 16+ Years
  • Qualifications: NYS Small Game or Sportsman License.
  • Privileges: Hunt migratory waterfowl. It is not needed for gallinules, coots, crows, rails, woodcock or snipe.
    All migratory game bird hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program by calling toll free 1-888-427-5447 (1-888-4 ASK HIP) or visit the new New York HIP website: www.ny-hip.com.
  • Cost: $15.00

Falconry License

  • Privileges: A Falconry License is required to hunt small game with trained raptors. Information on obtaining a Falconry License is available by writing to:

    NYSDEC, Special Licenses Unit
    625 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12233-4752. (518-402-8985)
  • For more information visit our Falconry License page