Sporting Licenses - Hunting

The Erie County Clerk's Office sells New York State Fishing and Hunting Licenses at 92 Franklin Street. Proof of identification, New York State residency and age are required when applying for fishing and sporting licenses. Specific criteria follows: For further information visit the New York State Department of Environment Conservation's website www.dec.ny.gov or call 518 402-8883.

Training Requirements:

Fishing:

Habitat Stamp and Conservationist magazine – no training requirement. Minor may fish without a license until the age of 16

Hunting

Small game, big game, muzzleloader hunting require a previous hunting license or hunter education certificate.

Trapping:

Trapping and junior trapping require a previous trapping license or trapper education course

Bowhunting:

Bowhunting and junior archery require both hunting and bowhunting training

Residence Requirements

1. New York State residents are entitled to combination, junior, senior, free (where acceptable) or individual resident licenses. Acceptable proofs include:
   • NYS driver's license
   • NYS vehicle registration or one or more of the following:
     • NYS non-driver's ID
     • NYS income tax information (W-2, IT 201)
     • Voter's registration or current letter from Board of Elections
     • Lease
     • Student ID
     • Religious verification (Amish, for example)
     • Military LES/orders
     • Other: current letter from an employer on letterhead, a parent's driver's license for a minor
2. Non-residents can purchase individual non-resident licenses or combination licenses that include big-and small-game hunting, bowhunting, muzzleloader hunting
3. Residents and non-residents can purchase a replacement license, junior hunting, junior archery or one-day fishing license for the same price

Age Requirements

1. Minors
   • May fish without a license until age 16 -- must purchase adult licenses when they reach age 16
   • May not hunt without a license. Eligibility for junior hunting licenses begins at age 12, if trained
     Junior hunting: Ages 12-15
     Junior archery: Ages 14-15
   • Minors may not trap without a license. May become eligible for junior trapping license at any age upon successful completion of a trapper training course
2. Seniors
   • At age 65 - eligible for reduced-fee license (senior license)
     • If eligible to hunt, reduced-fee sportsman license
     • If not eligible to hunt, reduced-fee fishing license
     • All other privileges full price
   • At age 70 applicants become eligible for a combination of senior (reduced-fee) and free licenses. Applicants must purchase one reduced-fee senior license
     • If eligible to hunt, it becomes a sportsman license
     • If not eligible to hunt, only reduced –fee fishing license
     All other privileges, with the exception of the turkey permit, are free with appropriate eligibility proof (e.g. bow eligibility). Reduced-fee sportsman license and free bow, muzzleloading and trapping if trained.