The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has introduced new regulations aimed at simplifying hunting tag usage and providing additional opportunities for hunters, particularly youth. Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced the changes, which include the option to use electronic tags through DEC’s HuntFishNY mobile app as an alternative to traditional paper licenses and tags.
“Hunting is an affordable, accessible, and valued tradition for many New Yorkers and a critically important conservation measure,” said Commissioner Lefton. “DEC is committed to improving user experience for all hunters and these changes will provide new options to improve harvest reporting and success for years to come.”
Hunters now have the choice between paper licenses or using the HuntFishNY app as electronic proof of their hunting credentials for deer, bear, or turkey. The e-tag system allows immediate harvest reporting via the app regardless of cell service availability. Hunters using e-tags are not required to attach a physical tag while in possession of their harvested animal at home or in their vehicle. However, if the carcass is left elsewhere, such as with a taxidermist or processor, hunters must affix a tag they create themselves containing their name, identification number, and reporting confirmation number.
For those preferring paper tags, there is now a shorter window for harvest reporting: within 48 hours instead of seven days. This change aims to encourage prompt reporting and support law enforcement oversight.
Youth hunters will benefit from a new opportunity this season. Those aged 12-15 who successfully take and report a deer during Youth Big Game Hunt weekend with their regular season tag—and who do not have a Deer Management Permit (DMP) for the regular firearms season—will receive a bonus regular season tag. This bonus tag will be valid for harvesting a deer of the opposite sex from what was taken during the youth hunt. The DEC will mail these tags directly to eligible youth hunters.
The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) has also been updated. The permit renewal cycle has been extended from three years to five years, and there is no longer a limit on how many DMAP tags can be used by each hunter on permitted properties. The total number of tags issued per property will still depend on size and management needs but removing individual limits gives landowners more flexibility in achieving land management goals.
In addition to these updates, starting fall 2025 hunters may use crossbows under the same conditions as vertical bows when hunting deer and bear in New York State.
More information about these changes—including full regulatory text and summaries of public comments—is available on DEC’s website.
