What's happening
This bill makes it illegal to organize, promote, or participate in wildlife hunting contests based on number, size, or weight of animals.
Why it matters
Targets "kill contests". The bill specifically bans not only organizing and promoting but also participating in competitions that reward the highest number, largest size, or heaviest weight of wildlife taken. This goes beyond general hunting regulations and focuses on events that incentivize excessive or trophy-based killing.
Mandatory animal welfare response. Any wildlife injured during such banned contests must be transported to licensed wildlife rehabilitators or veterinarians for treatment or humane euthanasia, formalizing a responsibility to address suffering caused by these events.
Forfeiture and state ownership. Wildlife remains from illegal contests are automatically forfeited by everyone involved (organizers, promoters, participants), becoming the property of the state’s conservation department. This aims to remove any potential material benefit from unlawful contests.
Misdemeanor penalties. Violations are classified as misdemeanors, carrying possible jail time (up to one year), and substantial fines ($500–$2,000), signaling a meaningful legal deterrent and elevating the seriousness of these offenses compared to typical hunting violations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Animal Hunting Contests
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 4
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6365
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to making contests and competitions to take wildlife unlawful
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 14, 15, and 16 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation law, subdivision 14 as renumbered by chapter 486 of the laws of 1985, are renumbered subdivisions 16, 17, and 18 and two new subdivisions 14 and 15 are added to read as follows:
14. It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective of such contest or competition is to take the greatest number of wildlife. Any wildlife injured during the course of a contest or competition conducted in violation of this subdivision shall be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian for treatment or humane euthanasia. The remains of any wildlife killed during the course of a contest or competition conducted in violation of this subdivision shall be forfeited by every organizer, promoter, participant or any other person conducting or involved in such contest or competition, and the remains of such wildlife shall become the property of the department.
15. It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective of such contest or competition is to take wildlife of the greatest size or weight. Any wildlife injured during the court of a contest or competition conducted in violation of this subdivision shall be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian for treatment or humane euthanasia. The remains of any wildlife killed during the course of a contest or competition conducted in violation of this subdivision shall be forfeited by every organizer, promoter, participant or any other person conducting or involved in such contest or competition, and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11585-01-7
S. 6365 2
the remains of such wildlife shall become the property of the department.
§ 2. Section 71-0921 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10-a to read as follows:
10-a. Violations of subdivisions fourteen or fifteen of section 11-0901 of this chapter involving unlawful contests and competitions to take wildlife. Each such misdemeanor shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to making contests and competitions to take wildlife unlawful
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will ensure it is illegal for any person to become involved with wildlife killing competitions where the objective is to take the greatest number of wildlife or to take wildlife of the greatest size or weight.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one. Subdivisions 14, 15, 16 of section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation law, subdivision 14 as renumbered by chapter 486 of the laws of 1985, are renumbered subdivisions 16, 17, and 18 and two new subdivisions 14 and 15 are added.
Subdivision 14. Makes it unlawful for any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective of such contest or competition is to take the greatest number of wildlife.
Subdivision 15. Makes it unlawful for any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective is to take wildlife of the greatest size or weight. Injured wildlife shall be transported for treatment or humane euthanasia. Remains shall be forfeited.
Section two. Section 71-0921 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10-a.
Subdivision 10-a. Violation of subdivision 14 Or 15 shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars, or by both imprisonment and fine.
Justification
Animal killing competitions can generally be described as contests where the person or team who has killed the most animals, or the heaviest or largest animals is crowned the winner.
In animal killing competitions, individuals compete to kill the most animals, the heaviest animal, or the largest animal. Competitions or contests such as these are inhumane and provide incentive to killing animals for glory, prizes or titles. They are different from the average hunting experience since they are often rigged with trapped or injured animals. In many cases, these competitions are conducted in a party-like atmosphere. These competitions are more like a slaughter or massacre and are unsportsmanlike. They would be considered cruel by a typical hunter and promote excessive and unnecessary killing/hunting.
This bill will ensure that it is illegal in New York State to sponsor or participate in wildlife killing contests or competitions and that anyone in violation is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment or fine, or both.
Prior legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.