New York will be holding the Youth Big Game Hunt this year during October 11-13. Pennsylvania will have the Special Firearms Season for antlerless deer and black bear from October 23-25. It’s nice to see the NYS DEC and PA Game Commission taking the initiative to get young hunters involved and providing more opportunities for them.

The NY Youth Big Game Hunt is open to junior hunters (12-15). The young hunter must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. The adult may not carry or use a firearm during the hunt and is only there to mentor the junior hunter.

During the Youth Big Game Hunt in NY, young folks 12 and 13 years old will only be able to take deer, not bear, and only in those counties that have adopted the Youth Pilot Program allowing them to hunt. The Sullivan County Legislature has again passed the required law.

The Youth Hunt is not open in Suffolk or Westchester counties, nor in any bow-hunting only area. Junior hunters may only take one deer during the special hunt, regardless of how many tags they may have. Only a regular season tag may be used for a buck, but a doe can be tagged with a DMP, a DMAP or a regular season tag.

There are several other rules that apply to the Youth Big Game Hunt in NY. Please check the regulations guide or the DEC website for more information. And don’t forget to report your harvest if you are successful.

The Pennsylvania Special Firearms Seasons for black bear and antlerless deer are open to all junior hunters (and also senior hunters, disabled hunters and members of our armed forces that are on active duty). Junior hunters are those aged 12 to 15.

In PA, a junior hunter age 12 or 13 must be accompanied by a licensed adult family member. Those age 14 or 15 can hunt with any licensed adult.

During the Special Seasons in Pennsylvania only one bear may be taken but the hunter can take one antlerless whitetail deer for each tag that they possess. Again, everyone should check the regulations thoroughly before going afield.

As always, I want to encourage all of the young folks to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities, and all of us adults to get out there and mentor them. They can’t do it without us. Good luck to all of our junior hunters this Fall!

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.