Action Alerts From Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)

URGENT!! CONTACT ERIE COUNTY AGAIN RE 12 YR OLDS HUNTING - PUBLIC HEARING WED. MAY 13

From: Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)
May 12, 2026

PLS CONTACT ERIE COUNTY EXEC AGAIN RE ALLOWING 12 YR OLDS TO HUNT. ANOTHER HEARING IS BEING HELD (BELOW). THO THEY VOTED IN FAVOR, THERE WILL STILL BE AN OBSTACLE IF THE COUNTY EXEC VETOES IT.

https://www.beenews.com/east_aurora_bee/news/dec-youth-hunting-program-prohibition-overturned-faces-hurdle-from-impending-county-executive-veto/article_6e1263b3-bae4-4bfb-9f61-e9c8d83a67f7.html

DEC youth hunting program prohibition overturned, faces hurdle from impending county executive veto


-----------------FORWARDED MSG-----------------------

One More Time...Public Hearing being held by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz...

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13th, 3PM, 92 FRANKLIN STREET, 4th FLOOR.

COMMENTS FOR LOCAL LAW 3-1 2026 PERMITTING KIDS AS YOUNG AS 12 & 13 YEARS OLD TO HUNT DEER WITH FIREARMS IN ERIE COUNTY.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD. PLEASE TRY TO BE THERE. IF YOU CAN'T, PLEASE SEND COMMENTS TO YOUR OWN LEGISLATOR & TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. https://www4.erie.gov/exec/form/email-mark


(Original Alert)

PLEASE CROSS POST

Erie County, NY is holding a Committee Meeting Thursday, April 2 @10:30am at the Erie County Legislature, 92 Franklin St., Buffalo, 14202 to discuss enacting a law to allow children of 12 and 13 years old to hunt deer with firearms in Erie County

Please contact County Legislature Chairman Timothy Meyers to oppose LL 3-1 2026 at:
[email protected] or call 716-833-3054 to oppose LL 3-1 2026.

TALKING POINTS: In New York, there is a 10-year average of 14 firearm hunting accidents with 1-3 fatalities annually.
https://www.nyshumane.org/article-should-10-year-olds-hunt/
~ Permitting 12 and 13 year-old kids to hunt deer with firearms is irresponsible and an accident waiting to happen. Most 12 and 13 year-old kids aren't emotionally or physically able to handle firearms. Here's what a Sheriff of Lewis County, NY (a known gun rights advocate) said: “I don’t think they’re ready for it. I don’t think they’re ready emotionally, and I don’t think they’re ready physically. Some of them aren’t going to be strong enough to hold that firearm,” said Sheriff Carpinelli.
~ The NYSDEC encourages more hunting because it brings in more money for them via licenses, excise taxes etc. The DEC has expressed concern over dwindling interest in hunting.
~ Urging Children to kill animals should never be encouraged: Statistically, most serial killers began with cruelty to animals. Teach children kindness and respect for themselves, each other and all other inhabitants of this earth. Thank you!


(ARTICLE)

Erie County legislator pushes for adoption of youth hunting law

From Gabriella Baiano, WIVB.com
February 26, 2026

https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/local-legislator-pushes-for-adoption-of-youth-hunting-law/

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro is advocating for legislation that would allow minors ages 12 and 13 to hunt deer in Erie County with adult supervision.

In 2021, New York State approved legislation that added a new section to the Environmental Conservation Law, permitting a licensed hunter age 12 or 13 years old to hunt deer under adult supervision “with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloading firearm,” according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

A “pilot program” was created through the legislation to measure hunting-related incidents, violations and overall participation across the state.

Fifty-four total counties were eligible to take part in the program. Individual counties were required to adopt a local law to authorize hunters’ participation.

The DEC notes that Erie County was Upstate New York’s only county that did not opt into the pilot program after County Executive Mark Poloncarz vetoed a draft of the law that the Erie County Legislature approved in 2021.

During the program’s run from 2021 through 2025, the DEC reports that no hunting-related shooting incidents took place involving the young hunters.

“This program has been proven to be successful and safe,” Todaro said. “There is absolutely zero reason that Erie County remains the only upstate county, and one of only two in all of New York, that doesn’t have this law on the books.”

Todaro is supporting the law’s passage alongside legislators John Mills, Chris Greene and Lindsay Lorigo, who are co-sponsoring the bill.

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