What's happening
This bill allows the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail without a permit between August 16 and April 15.
Why it matters
Increases accessibility for hunters and dog trainers. By allowing the release of ring-necked pheasant and quail without a permit during a large portion of the year (August 16 to April 15), the bill makes it easier for hunting preserves, shooting clubs, and individuals to engage in hunting and dog training activities, potentially increasing participation and reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
Potential impacts on wildlife management and native species. The bill removes oversight for the release of these game birds during the specified period, which could affect local ecosystems. Without permit requirements, there may be less monitoring or control over disease introduction, genetic mixing, or ecological impacts on native wildlife.
Standardizes and simplifies regulations. The legislation eliminates some region-specific rules (such as those previously applying only to Long Island), making regulations for pheasant and quail more consistent statewide. This could reduce confusion for hunters and land managers.
Influences rural economies and recreational opportunities. Easier release of game birds may boost rural economies by supporting hunting-related tourism and local businesses, while also expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation and youth involvement in hunting traditions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Pheasant and Quail Release
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ease Rules for Game Bird Release
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1214
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- 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 management of wildlife resources
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 11-0507 of the environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
3. No person shall willfully liberate within the state any wildlife except under permit from the department. The department may issue such permit in its discretion, fix the terms thereof and revoke it at pleasure. These provisions do not apply to migratory game birds, importation of which is governed by regulation of the department or to the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period August sixteenth to April fifteenth.
§ 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-0925 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 432 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
b. The operator of a special dog training area may at any time during the year train the operator's own dogs or the dogs of other persons on such area, and permit others to train dogs. The operator may hold field trials on wild game, or on liberated game, or on liberated artificially propagated game, or on led or confined game, or may in writing permit others to hold such trials, under such conditions as shall be agreed upon by the operator and such other person; but no game shall be taken by shooting at such field trial. No persons shall, on a special dog training area, train a dog, hold a field trial, enter accompanied by a dog, or permit a dog of which he is the owner or trainer to enter, except as provided in this section or in rules adopted pursuant hereto. A permit from the department must be obtained before liberation of any wildlife, except for the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02019-01-9
S. 1214 2
the period August sixteenth to April fifteenth and such a permit may be withheld if, in the opinion of the department, granting it would endanger the health of native wildlife species.
§ 3. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 11-0927 of the environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
b. A permit from the department is required for liberation of any wildlife. This provision does not apply to release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period August sixteenth to April fifteenth.
§ 4. Paragraphs c and c-1 and the closing paragraph of subdivision 2 of section 11-0903 of the environmental conservation law, paragraph c as amended and paragraph c-1 as added by chapter 366 of the laws of 2011 and the closing paragraph of subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 911 of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as follows:
c. pheasants [anywhere in the state other than Long Island];
[c-1. pheasants on Long Island, but only for those individuals who hold a junior license, and provided that such youth pheasant hunting days are held prior to the start of the open season as indicated in paragraph d of subdivision two of section 11-0905 of this title;]
Such open seasons and bag limits may be fixed for the entire state[, except on Long Island in the case of pheasants], or for any county or part thereof, giving due regard to abundance of the species and potential hunting pressure. The department may regulate the taking, possession and disposition of wild turkeys.
§ 5. Paragraphs d and e of subdivision 2 of section 11-0905 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 911 of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as follows:
d. Ring-necked [Long Island November Long Island, four]
pheasant [1 through December birds in one day,
31. Elsewhere, fixed thirty during season.]
Fixed annually by [Elsewhere, fixed] Fixed
regulation annually by regulation
e. Quail [Orange, Putnam and Orange, Putnam and
Westchester counties, Westchester counties;
fixed] Fixed annually [four birds in one day,]
by regulation[; Long ten during season.
Island, November 1 Long Island, six birds
through December 31 in one day, forty
during season]
Fixed annually by
regulation.
§ 6. This act shall take effect on the first of January 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 management of wildlife resources
Purpose
To amend several sections of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) to simplify, clarify and eliminate inconsistencies, relating to management of pheasants and quail.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 3 of section 11-0507 of the environmental conservation law to provide the provisions of willful liberation does not apply to the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period of August 16th to April 15th.
Section 2 amends paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-0925 of the environmental conservation law to provide that a permit from the depart- ment is not required for the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period of August 16th to April 15th.
Section 3 amends paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 11-0927 of the environmental conservation law to provide that the provision requiring a permit for liberation of any wildlife does not apply to the release of ring-necked pheasant or quail during the period of August 16th to April 15th.
Section 4 amends paragraphs c and c-1 and the closing paragraph of subdivision 2 of section 110903 of the environmental conservation law related to pheasants.
Section 5 amends paragraphs d and e of subdivision 2 of section 11-0905 of the environmental conservation law related to ring-neck pheasants and quail.
Section 6 provides the effective date.
Justification
Season bag limits for pheasant and quail are still specified for certain portions of the State. This law is difficult to enforce and not needed given the widespread understanding and satisfaction with statewide daily bag limits.
At the present time, an immediate release permit is required to purchase and release ring-neck pheasants without holding them in captivity. This is a common activity for many individuals and clubs and the permit serves no value except to create an additional, unneeded step in the process for legitimate sportsmen. It is often a low priority for the ECOs to issue this permit and at times can result in needless delay.
This legislation would allow the Department to set the open season and bag limits for the taking of pheasants and quail on Long Island annually by regulation, as it currently does for those species in the rest of the State. Under current law the open season and bag limits for pheasants and quail on Long Island are set in statute. In addition, this legis- lation eliminates the need to obtain an immediate release permit for the liberation of ring-neck pheasants between August 16 and April 15. The August 16 to April 15 period provided in this bill is consistent with the period in which dogs may be taken afield for training on wild game.
Prior legislative history
2017-2018: S.1461/A.867
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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