Opponents cite safety concerns as the legislature overrides Mark Poloncarz’s veto.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Legislature voted to override a veto from County Executive Mark Poloncarz, clearing the way for 12 and 13-year-olds in Erie County to legally hunt big game.

The legislature voted 8-3 in favor of overriding the veto, passing the youth hunting law after years of attempts.

Erie County had been one of two counties statewide that had not opted into the youth hunting law, which allows 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzleloading firearm.



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Poloncarz and the three legislators who voted against the override cited safety concerns surrounding the law, pointing to teen hunting fatalities across the country.

Since the program launched in 2021, the Department of Environmental Conservation has reported zero hunting-related shooting incidents, violations, or license revocations.

Supporters of the law argued that youth hunters receive extensive education and training before participating.

“I was a youth hunter, I participated in this program. … The education is extensive and intensive. They don’t take it lightly, it is hours upon hours of studying courses passing the test. I actually think it makes the county safer when we have youth that are trained on firearms,” Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo said.

Opponents questioned whether the training requirements are enough to ensure safety.

“It’s easy to say you’re watching something on a laptop. How many times can you say that you could go walk around do laundry, all the things. But are you really learning and when you’re talking about having such an important piece of equipment that could hurt yourself, anybody around. That’s dangerous to me. I don’t think there are enough safety precautions,” Erie County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard said.

Earlier this month, Poloncarz issued a statement following his veto. On Thursday, he referred reporters back to those remarks, which read in part: “if they override this veto and a child dies in the future, my conscience will be clear knowing I did everything I could to try to prevent that tragedy.”

Hunting advocates and sportsmen club members attended the legislature meeting and urged lawmakers to adopt the law ahead of the vote.