Ceretto Passes Bill To Promote Bowhunting In New York

May 4, 2011

Assemblyman John Ceretto (R,I-Lewiston) this week passed legislation that would lower the age for an individual to obtain a junior archery license from 14 to 12 years old. Assemblyman Ceretto argued that the bill, which passed the state Senate earlier this year, would help promote hunting by allowing more young people to get involved in outdoor sports.

“The state has a long and cherished hunting tradition that needs to be promoted to ensure that future generations of New Yorkers continue to take part in outdoor activities throughout Western New York,” said Ceretto. “Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities are an important part of the state’s economy and contribute billions of dollars every year to New York. I am confident that this new law will help promote the region’s outdoor recreation industry.”

Senator George Maziarz (R,C-Newfane), the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, said, “The Senate has approved this legislation many times before but we were never able to get the Assembly to take up the bill. Assemblyman Ceretto deserves credit for helping to move this important pro-hunting bill forward. I believe that it will promote bowhunting as well as an abiding love of the great outdoors throughout Western New York.”

Under the legislation, a junior archery licensee who is 12 or 13 years old can hunt deer or bear when accompanied by a parent or guardian, or another designated adult over the age of 21, who has at least 3 years’ experience hunting with a longbow or holds a big-game license.

Assemblyman Ceretto noted that junior hunters 12 and older are already allowed to hunt small game in New York, and supervised junior hunters statistically have the best safety record of any age group of hunters.

“This legislation makes sense: by expanding the eligibility to obtain a junior archery license, the Legislature is helping to promote hunting safety at an earlier age while attracting more people to participate in our important outdoor traditions,” Ceretto said.

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