New York Hunter's Education Program

The great state of New York is among the rest of the states when it comes to the theory that more education is important to the safety of its citizens. This idea has trickled down to the hunters of the state with the requirement for all beginning hunters to have successfully completed the New York Hunter's Education Program, which is a good thing. Throughout the United States there is a movement going on, it is the decrease in the number of hunting related accidents and this decline has been directly related to hunter education programs. This is good news for all hunters throughout the United States and shows the importance of programs such as the New York Hunter's Education Program.

In New York, in order for hunters, trappers or bowhunters to purchase their first New York hunting licenses, they must have proof that they have successfully completed a hunter's education program or previously held a hunting license. The New York Hunter's Education Program, offered by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, is taught by trained, certified instructors. This program is a minimum of 10 hours in length, is free of charge and is open to hunters who are 11 years old or older. Those hunters who are under 16 must have a signed permission slip with them at the time they are attending the program. Hunting students attending this program can expect to learn to be responsible hunters or trappers while being respectful of people, wildlife, nature and the property they are hunting on, whether it be private or public. These hunting students will also learn techniques to make them safe hunters or trappers, to practice ethical behavior and to be aware of the importance of conservation. All of these classes are important to the success of the New York Hunter's Education Program and must be attended before the student will be issued a certificate.

The New York Hunter's Education Program has proven its importance by the statistics showing the decline of hunting related accidents since it was put into place. This decline in hunting accidents and ultimately the decline in hunting related deaths is the ultimate goal of this program. Fortunately this goal is being met as hunters return home from their hunting trip instead of ending up at the hospital, or worse, at a funeral home. But, safety is not all that this program is about, it also encourages the hunter to take into consideration their actions on the wildlife population and on the land where they are enjoying this great sport. All these topics combine to create the importance of this program and its achievements.