There is big news for hunters and outdoor families across Erie County, New York.<\/p>\n
The Erie County Legislature has officially passed an amendment to local hunting law that would allow 12- and 13-year-old kids to hunt deer with a firearm under adult supervision here in Erie County. After years of debate, the measure passed by a 7-3 vote on Thursday and now heads to the desk of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.<\/p>\n
Related: Hunters Asked to Avoid This Tactic in New York State<\/a><\/p>\n The issue has sparked passionate arguments on both sides in the Legislature and throughout the community, but supporters say it is a major step forward for hunting families in Western New York.<\/p>\n Erie County Was The Last Upstate County Holding Out<\/p>\n For years, Erie County stood alone <\/a>as the only upstate county in New York that had not opted into the state\u2019s specialized youth deer hunting program for 12- and 13-year-old hunters.<\/p>\n New York State opened the door for counties to participate in the pilot program several years ago, allowing younger hunters to pursue deer with a firearm or crossbow as long as they are supervised by an experienced, licensed adult mentor. Nearly every eligible county in the state approved the change, except Erie County.<\/p>\n Now, that could finally be changing.<\/p>\n Even if County Executive Poloncarz vetoes the measure, lawmakers appear to have enough support to attempt an override vote in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n Youth Hunting Has Been Front And Center In New York<\/p>\n Youth hunting has been one of the hottest topics<\/a> in New York\u2019s outdoors community this spring.<\/p>\n Just last weekend, young hunters across the state participated in the annual Youth Turkey Hunt<\/a>, giving kids the opportunity to get into the woods before the regular spring turkey season opener on May 1.<\/p>\n Despite soggy and chilly weather conditions across much of Western New York, many families reported successful outings and memorable first hunts.<\/p>\n For many sportsmen and women, these youth seasons are about much more than harvesting game, they are about teaching patience, safety, conservation, and respect for the outdoors.<\/p>\n Hunting In New York State Is Deeply Tied To Conservation<\/p>\n