Some say this is discrimination. Erie County sportsmen and parents are fighting back.

As Erie County lawmakers consider Local Law Intro 3-1 (2026), a proposal that would allow licensed 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow under direct adult supervision, the debate has drawn both passionate support and renewed scrutiny. But for many families, conservationists, and outdoor educators, the issue comes down to something simple: giving young people the opportunity to learn responsibility, safety, and respect for the outdoors in a structured, proven environment.

New York State has long maintained a cautious approach to youth hunting. Currently, young hunters aged 12 to 15 may be licensed and spend time afield with experienced adults. Youth hunters have been permitted to hunt big game with a bow starting at age 12, and with a firearm at age 14, provided they are properly licensed and supervised. In 2021, however, the state introduced a pilot program that expanded those opportunities, allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm under strict mentorship.

The catch: each county must opt in. Five years later, nearly every county in New York has approved the program. Only Erie and Rockland counties remain on the sidelines.

Photo by Scott Jordan Young Jillian Flower and her dad, Kevin, connected on her first turkey hunt last year. This weekend (April 25-26) is the special NYS Early Season Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend. Good luck to all.

That reality has become a focal point for local advocates who argue that Erie County youth are being unfairly denied an opportunity that has been safely and successfully implemented elsewhere.

At a recent public hearing, community members turned out in large numbers to voice their support for the proposed law. Parents, grandparents, instructors, and young hunters shared personal stories about the value of mentored hunting–not just as recreation, but as a formative experience that builds confidence, discipline, and lifelong respect for nature.

Donald Trepacz, Jr. highlighted the lasting impact of early exposure. “These early experiences change how young people view safety, responsibility, and respect for the outdoors for the rest of their lives,” he told legislators.

Supporters were quick to emphasize that the program is far from unregulated. In fact, they argue it is one of the most structured and safety-conscious pathways available to young people.

Jack Coad, President of the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, addressed that point directly during testimony. “This is not unsupervised youth hunting–this is a highly regulated, mentored process designed to teach safety, discipline, and respect from day one,” he said.

Under the proposed law, young hunters must be licensed and accompanied at all times by an experienced adult mentor. That mentor must meet strict criteria, including age and hunting experience requirements. The goal is not independence, but guided learning in a controlled and educational setting.

For many families, the issue is also deeply personal.

Diane Steel, a mother and hunter, spoke about the role hunting has played in teaching her children essential life skills. “It’s not just about hunting–it’s about teaching safety, responsibility, patience, and respect for the outdoors,” she said. “Those are things that are best learned early, with a parent right there guiding them.”

Steel also emphasized the importance of parental choice. “At the end of the day, I believe parents should be able to decide when their child is ready. This law keeps the safety rules in place–it just gives families the option.”

While the emotional and cultural arguments carry weight, supporters have also leaned heavily on hard data–particularly the results of the state’s five-year pilot program.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, there have been zero reported accidents or incidents involving 12- and 13-year-old hunters participating in the mentored big game program during that time.

For advocates, that statistic is difficult to ignore.

It also builds on a much longer track record. Former New York State Conservation Council Big Game Chairman Rich Davenport pointed out that youth hunters have safely participated in small game hunting with firearms for decades.

“For youth hunters, the facts are very clear,” Davenport said. “New York State lowered the minimum age for junior hunters to hunt small game with firearms in the mid-1990s. This allows junior hunters, under supervision, to hunt small game across all counties of New York State, including Erie County.”

He added that these activities involve a wide range of firearms and game species, yet the safety record remains exceptionally strong. “The safety record of junior hunters shows decades of proof that this group of hunters remains the safest hunters afield.”

Despite the overwhelming support at the hearing, not all voices were in favor of the measure. A smaller number of speakers raised concerns about youth readiness and broader ethical questions surrounding hunting. Still, the overall tone of the event was shaped by the strong and vocal majority advocating for the program.

Now, the decision rests with Erie County leadership.

The Legislature is expected to bring the proposal to a vote as early as April 30. If it passes, it will move to the County Executive, who must hold a public hearing within 10 days. Following that hearing, the executive can either approve or veto the law.

A veto would not necessarily end the effort. The Legislature would have the opportunity to override it with a two-thirds majority vote. A similar attempt in 2021 fell short by a narrow margin, 6-5.

This time, supporters are cautiously optimistic.

They point to the pilot program’s flawless safety record, the overwhelming public support demonstrated at the hearing, and ongoing conversations with legislators as reasons to believe the outcome could be different.

There is also a sense that the broader conversation has evolved. What was once seen as a controversial expansion of youth hunting is now viewed by many as a well-tested, responsibly managed program that aligns with both tradition and modern safety standards.

For Erie County families, the stakes are clear. Approval of the law would bring the county in line with the rest of the state and provide young hunters with the same opportunities enjoyed by their peers elsewhere.

Rejection would continue to set Erie apart — and, according to advocates, continue to limit access to an activity that teaches responsibility, strengthens family bonds, and fosters a deep connection to the natural world.

As the vote approaches, many are hopeful that data, experience, and community voices will carry the day.

And perhaps, as some supporters quietly suggest, there remains the possibility of an outcome that surprises everyone: a decision that brings agreement instead of division, and opens the door for the next generation to learn, safely and responsibly, in the field alongside those who guide them.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoors Calendar

April 24-26: Hawkeye Bowmen Archery, Spring Thaw Primitive Shoot, 7 a.m.-12 p.m., course closes 2 p.m., $15, under 12 free; 13300 Clinton St., Alden, NY.

April 25-26: NYS Youth Turkey hunting Weekend, for youth hunters 12-15 years of age with licensed mentor adult; hunting hours are half an hour before sunrise through noon. Visit dec.ny.gov.

April 26: NYS Hunter Education Course, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Evans Rod and Gun Club, 864 Cain Road, Angola. Students register online: https://decals.events. Students must complete homework prior to class.

April 26: NYS Hunter Education Course, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls. Students register online: https://decals.events. Students must complete homework prior to class.

Submit calendar items to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com at least 10 days in advance.