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12- and 13-year-olds can now hunt with rifles in St. Lawrence County

Posted 6/12/21

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week CANTON – St. Lawrence County 12 and 13 year olds can now hunt with rifles as long as an adult hunter with three years of experience accompanies them. The …

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12- and 13-year-olds can now hunt with rifles in St. Lawrence County

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

CANTON – St. Lawrence County 12 and 13 year olds can now hunt with rifles as long as an adult hunter with three years of experience accompanies them.

The county chose to opt in to a temporary program until 21023 that allows youngsters to hunt deer with firearms, rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders or crossbows.

Legislator Tony Arquiett said he had fielded some concerns from hunters who were worried that the youths might take bucks that haven’t fully matured or have an impact on the deer population as a whole, but he said he believed providing an outlet for young hunters outweighed those potential scenarios. He said that many children are growing up on iPads and providing them with opportunities to learn and develop a new hobby that gets them outside and learning about conservation was important.

Legislator David Forsythe said he had an issue with one area of the legislation that restricts youth from using tree stands, but on the whole he wanted to see the resolution passed despite his concerns.

Legislator Margaret Haggard said she supported the resolution but questioned how the rule requiring the youths to be accompanied by an experienced hunter would be enforced.

Legislator Joseph Lightfoot said the Department of Environmental Conservation would likely be paying close attention and have officers in the field during hunting season. He said state police would also be looking at any complaints regarding abuses of the law.

It was also noted that hunting clubs and conservation enthusiasts are likely to be self-monitoring the situation as well.

The resolution passed 14-0 with legislator Rick Perkinsabsent from the meeting.