What's happening
This bill eliminates the requirement for hunters in New York State to wear back tags during hunting season.
Why it matters
Reduces regulatory burden on hunters. By removing the requirement to wear back tags, hunters have fewer rules to follow and one less item to remember or maintain in the field, potentially making hunting participation slightly easier and more appealing.
Modernizes hunting identification practices. The back tag system is a legacy method of identifying licensed hunters; its removal reflects a shift towards relying on physical or digital licenses carried on person, which may align better with modern enforcement tools and practices.
Addresses regional inconsistencies. The previous law required back tags in some areas but not others (e.g., exemptions for the Northern Zone or Catskill Park). Eliminating the requirement statewide creates a uniform rule for all hunters in New York.
May impact enforcement and visibility. The removal of visible back tags could make it more challenging for law enforcement or landowners to quickly identify licensed hunters from a distance, potentially affecting how hunting regulations are enforced in the field.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Hunter Back Tag Rule
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
End Hunter Back Tag Rule
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
1363
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- 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 eliminating the requirement that hunters wear back tags during hunting season in the state; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 11-0705 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by section 21 of part R of chapter 58 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: § 11-0705. Failure to carry license, tag or bowhunting and/or muzzle-
loading privileges.
1. a. The holder of a license, tag, bowhunting privilege or muzzleloading privilege defined in section 11-0701 of this title shall:
(1) have such license, tag or privilege on the holder's person while exercising any privilege of that license stated in section 11-0701 of this title, or while assisting or accompanying a minor in hunting as provided in section 11-0929 of this article, and
(2) shall exhibit it on demand to any police officer, peace officer or owner, lessee or person in control of the lands or waters or the designees of the owner, lessee or person in control of the lands or waters on which the license holder is present.
2. [a. Holders of a hunting license while exercising the privileges of such license, shall have the back tag issued with their license attached to and displayed on the back of the outer garment between the shoulders in such manner that all figures are plainly visible at all times.
b. The license tag for the current year only shall be displayed.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs a and b of this subdivision, a license holder shall not be required to display such license tag in the Northern Zone or the Catskill Park.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00723-01-9
S. 1363 2
3.] Failure of a licensee to have the holder's license, tag or license with bowhunting and/or muzzle-loading privilege included, on the holder's person while hunting, fishing or trapping, is presumptive evidence that the holder is hunting, fishing or trapping, as the case may be, without holding the license, tag or license and bowhunting or muzzleloading privilege required by subdivision 6 of section 11-0703 of this title.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 71-0923 of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 elim- inating the requirement that hunters wear back tags during hunting season in the state; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relat- ing thereto
Purpose
To no longer require hunters to display back tags while hunting.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Removes the requirement to display back tags on one's outer garment when legally hunting.
Section 2. Repeals the penalty provision for not displaying back tags.
Section 3. Establishes effective date.
Justification
This legislation would eliminate the use of back tags in New York. Currently, back tags are not required to be worn while hunting in the Northern zone and Catskill Park in New York, which comprises almost 50% of New York's land mass. This bill would simplify the existing regu- lations by eliminating confusion along the border areas of today's back tag and no back tag areas. There are currently 48 other states that do not require the wearing of back tags.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.2923/A.619 Passed Senate/Referred to Environmental Conserva- tion 2015-16: S.92A/A.10505 Passed Senate/Referred to Environmental Conserva- tion 2013-14: S.90-A/A.6466-A Passed Senate/Referred to Environmental Conser- vation 2011-12: S.6993/A.9806 Passed Senate/Referred to Environmental Conserva- tion
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.