New York Hunting Laws and Regulations

Who is required to complete hunter education in New York?

According to New York law, all hunters who are at least 12 years of age must complete hunter education certification in order to purchase a hunting license, unless they can show proof of having held a previous license.

Is completion of the New York state agency-approved course required in order to buy a license?

Yes. In order to buy a license, New York requires that first-time hunters who are at least 12 years of age must first complete a course approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and IHEA-USA.

Elsewhere

Hunting education is currently required in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Reciprocity

Most U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory hunter education requirements will accept the Hunter Education Certificate. (This is known as “reciprocity.”) New York may accept Hunter Education Certificates that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements.

If you received your Hunter Education certification from another course provider, make sure to check if your certification will be accepted by New York.

What Makes a Course Approved?

To be approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, a course must teach hunters to become:

• Safe (by following all hunting safety rules)
• Responsible (about hunting, wildlife, conservation, and hunting laws)
• Knowledgeable (by knowing and demonstrating acceptable behavior and attitudes while hunting)
• Involved (in joining and participating in hunting and conservation organizations)

Meets IHEA-USA Standards

This New York Hunter Ed online hunting education course was developed in accordance with the standards set forth by IHEA-USA and meets the requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hunter safety mandate.

About the Standards

In 1999 the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) adopted a set of performance guidelines for basic hunter education courses. These standards have been used internationally by hunter education administrators to evaluate minimum core content in hunter education courses. Industry partners, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Hunter Ed, have used the revised standards to develop new student manuals and alternative delivery methods for hunter education.

Our Commitment to Hunter Education

Hunter Ed is committed to making sure New York hunter education students learn the skills and information needed to have a safe, successful, and fun hunt. We strive to ensure this New York online hunter safety course helps you become a more knowledgeable and ethical hunter. Educated hunters play an important role in making New York a leader in conservation and wildlife management.

We accomplish that goal by working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and IHEA-USA to produce a course that’s accurate, interesting, and easy to understand.

As a new hunter, you can be proud of your contributions to wildlife conservation and your role as a steward of our natural resources.