Minimum Age For Treestands In NYS

[Splitear]

While teaching a Hunter Ed class today, someone mentioned that there’s a minimum age for using treestands in NY. None of the instructors nor the ECO we had visit knew the age either. Does anyone know what the age is?

[ZAG]

Whatever age the parents say 😁

[boo711]

11 minutes ago, Splitear said:

While teaching a Hunter Ed class today, someone mentioned that there’s a minimum age for using treestands in NY. None of the instructors nor the ECO we had visit knew the age either. Does anyone know what the age is?

I thought there were restrictions during the “youth” weekend that no tree stands were allowed. Other than that not sure

[cas]

Children, climbing trees!  Madness!

[mowin]

So stupid.  

[Moho81]

During bow/crossbow no restrictions. With a rifle or shotgun they can not hunt from an elevated position until the age of 16. 

[grampy]

Junior hunters until the age of 16 are not legal to take game, or hunt from an elevated stand.

Stupid law. But that's what it is.

[Moho81]

There is an amendment now supported by the New York State Conservation Council to remove those restrictions. 
 

This year they focused on the lead ammo bill. Hopefully next year they can focus on the junior hunter amendment. 

[Spysar]

Stupid NY. 

[G-man]

This reg is about as dumb as sunrise sunset laws they finially changed to match all other gun seasons for game 1/2 hour before and after...

[Bucksnbows]

Wow, New Jersey is bad with many regs, but that makes zero sense to me. 

[ATbuckhunter]

Dumb, but no one is going to listen to that anyway

[Moho81]

1 hour ago, Bucksnbows said:

Wow, New Jersey is bad with many regs, but that makes zero sense to me. 

My understanding is that was the compromise to lower the age of junior hunters. 
 

The NYSCC fought for the lower hunting age years back from I believe 16 down to 14 to closer match other states. They had to compromise that junior hunters ages 14-15 had to hunt from the ground. That was the only way NYS was going to lower the age. 
 

You have to remember in NY the DEC does not make the hunting laws. Those are made up by our elected officials who in most cases don’t have a clue about hunting or firearms. 

[Belo]

11 hours ago, Moho81 said:

There is an amendment now supported by the New York State Conservation Council to remove those restrictions. 
 

This year they focused on the lead ammo bill. Hopefully next year they can focus on the junior hunter amendment. 

 

11 hours ago, grampy said:

Junior hunters until the age of 16 are not legal to take game, or hunt from an elevated stand.

Stupid law. But that's what it is.

I'm not doubting you, but can you link to this? My son will be 12 next year and I was just yesterday looking at 2 man ladder stands or possibly even a pod like the one below, because it'd provide a few more opportunities than our current ground blind and maybe even a potential bow stand for myself. Like 12' enclosed is nothing... imagine telling a kid they couldn't hunt out of a redneck blind? Those things are basically treeforts.

https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-gear-supplies/archery-gear-equipment-supplies/blinds-treestands/game-blinds/muddy-quad-pod-blind-stand/p/1685936?channel=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw5_GmBhBIEiwA5QSMxJwTlfmhnyF4zEqgDOvYiFYX3z5o_bFYQJNi0e6XCMq_COE4IjtKJRoCKAsQAvD_BwE

[Moho81]

5 minutes ago, Belo said:

 

I'm not doubting you, but can you link to this? My son will be 12 next year and I was just yesterday looking at 2 man ladder stands or possibly even a pod like the one below, because it'd provide a few more opportunities than our current ground blind and maybe even a potential bow stand for myself. Like 12' enclosed is nothing... imagine telling a kid they couldn't hunt out of a redneck blind? Those things are basically treeforts.

https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-gear-supplies/archery-gear-equipment-supplies/blinds-treestands/game-blinds/muddy-quad-pod-blind-stand/p/1685936?channel=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw5_GmBhBIEiwA5QSMxJwTlfmhnyF4zEqgDOvYiFYX3z5o_bFYQJNi0e6XCMq_COE4IjtKJRoCKAsQAvD_BwE

It’s in the junior hunter big game section of the regs. and I was wrong. They also have to hunt from the ground with a crossbow. So the can only hunt from a tree stand with a bow. 
 

https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html