ALBANY COUNTY — A special youth firearms big game hunt will occur Oct. 12 to 14. New York youth hunters as well as out-of-state hunters aged 12 to 15 may participate.

However, hunters aged 12 to 13 may only participate in counties that have passed a local law allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm. Albany County is participating, except in its northeast corner, which is excluded by state law.

To participate, youth hunters must complete a course in hunter education and purchase a New York state hunting license. Youth hunters must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult mentor who is 21 years old or older.

The supervising adult mentor must have at least three years of experience hunting big game with a firearm, a New York state hunting license, and be able to maintain physical control over the youth hunter at all times while hunting.

A Mentored Youth Hunter Permission Form needs to be completed and carried in the field whenever a youth hunter is mentored by an adult hunter who is not their parent. 

Youth hunters and adult mentors must wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink visible from all directions and, in accordance with state law, remain at ground level while hunting big game with a firearm. Treestands or elevated blinds may not be used. 

During the youth firearms big game hunt, youth hunters may kill one deer and one bear if the youth hunter is 14 or 15 years old, or one deer if the youth hunter is 12 or 13 years old.

For deer, a Deer Management Permit (antlerless deer only), Deer Management Assistance Program tag (antlerless deer only), or regular season deer tag can be used. During the youth firearms big game hunt, youth hunters may use the regular season tag for a deer of either sex. Youth hunters are exempt from mandatory antler-point restrictions.