[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Legislature as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-17-2021 by L.L. No. 4-2021]
The intent of this article is to authorize the expansion of youth hunting by allowing twelve- and thirteen-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 12 and 13, to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow through 2023 within the boundaries of counties permitting such action by local law. In passing this article, Tompkins 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.
Pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law § 11-0935, Tompkins County elects to participate in the deer hunting pilot program to allow young licensed hunters, ages 12 and 13, to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzle-loading firearm through 2023 when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or designated person.
Twelve- and thirteen-year-old licensed hunters shall be allowed to hunt deer subject to the following requirements:
A. 
All twelve- and thirteen-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 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
B. 
A parent, guardian, or designated person accompanying a twelve or thirteen-year-old licensed hunter shall have a valid hunting license and at least three years of experience hunting deer; and
C. 
A parent, guardian or designated person accompanying a twelve or thirteen-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
D. 
All twelve- and thirteen-year-old licensed hunters and their accompanying parent, guardian, or designated person shall each display either a minimum total of 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink or patterned fluorescent orange or pink consisting of no less than 50% florescent orange or pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions, or a hat or cap with no less than 50% of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or pink material and visible from all directions; and
E. 
All twelve- and thirteen-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.
A copy of this article shall be sent to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as the New York State Department of State.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this article, 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 article 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.