What's happening
This bill establishes regulations and licensing requirements for hunting ranch facilities with privately-owned, non-native game animals in New York.
Why it matters
Creates a legal framework for hunting ranches with non-native, privately-owned game. , potentially opening new economic opportunities in rural areas and clarifying the status of these operations under state law.
Establishes conditions for animal welfare and fair chase. , such as requirements for fencing that allows animals to elude hunters and prohibiting hunting of animals recently captured from the wild, zoos, or circuses, addressing some ethical concerns about “canned hunts.”
Requires oversight and transparency. , including mandatory guide supervision for hunters, written disclosure to patrons about the ownership status of animals, and a ban on guaranteeing kills in advertisements, which may help limit misleading marketing and ensure ethical practices.
Imposes a licensing process with a low cost and extended duration (ten years, max $50). , streamlining entry for businesses but also potentially raising questions about the adequacy of regulatory oversight or funding for enforcement.
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Who cares
Hunting ranch owners and lessees
The bill would create a ten-year license costing no more than $50 to breed, keep and offer paid hunts of covered animals, subject to fencing, animal health and hunting requirements.
Department of Agriculture and Markets
The department would handle license applications and issue licenses within 30 days after applicants meet the requirements.
Hunters and hunting guides
Hunters would need guide supervision, and ranches would have to disclose private ownership of the animals and could not guarantee a successful hunt.
Animal welfare advocates
The bill would bar sport hunting of animals captured from the wild or originating from zoos, petting zoos or circuses, and require hunting areas to let animals exercise their natural ability to evade hunters.
Headline styles
License and Regulate Hunting Ranches
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
909
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. YOUNG -- 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 hunting ranch facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 11-1908 to read as follows: § 11-1908. Hunting ranch facilities regulation and protection.
1. All entities who own, operate or manage a facility that harbors privately-owned, non-native game animals may charge a fee to take such animals upon receipt of a hunting ranch facility license.
2. The owner or lessee of wholly enclosed lands or an entire island may apply to the department of agriculture and markets for a hunting ranch facility license. The holder of a hunting ranch facility license may purchase, possess, breed, rear and harvest by shooting on the facility premises, cervids or any other hoofed, domestic or non-domestic animals. A hunting ranch facility license shall be issued or renewed for a term of ten years at a maximum cost of fifty dollars. The department of agriculture and markets shall prescribe and furnish forms for application for such license. Information on the license application shall include licensee name, location of hunting ranch facility and proof of state animal health compliance. The license shall be issued no more than thirty days after successfully completing application requirements.
3. No animals captured from the wild, originating from a zoo, petting zoo, or circus shall be hunted for sport on a hunting ranch facility.
4. The following requirements shall apply to the designated hunting area:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03725-01-9
S. 909 2
a. The hunting area shall be completely enclosed by fencing and allow game animals the opportunity to exercise their natural instincts and abilities to elude being harvested.
b. All hoofed animals shall be on the premises two calendar days prior to being hunted.
c. All hunters within the hunting area shall be under the supervision of a guide, who will ensure that hunters abide by standards of ethical hunting.
5. The holder of a hunting ranch facility license shall disclose in writing to patrons that all animals present in the designated hunting area are privately-owned animals.
6. Licensees shall not advertise or otherwise offer a guarantee that patrons will harvest an animal.
§ 2. 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 hunt- ing ranch facilities
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide for the licensing, regulation and protection of hunting ranch facilities in New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 11-1908 of the Environmental Conservation Law to provide for strict regulation of hunting ranch facilities in New York State.
Section 2 states the effective date.
Justification
This bill seeks to ensure proper regulations of deer farms and hunting ranches in New York State. Deer and elk farmers continue to seek addi- tional opportunities to manage risk and increase profitability through diversification of farm commodity production. Developing and establish- ing non-traditional livestock operations is one of many ways to help keep land protected. New York's deer and elk farms constitute a young industry, but one already contributing in a positive way to the state's niche agricultural economy.
New York's deer and elk farms put money back into the state by providing economic development opportunities for rural areas as well as many small family farming opportunities for more suburban or exurban areas where open space preservation is critical. The deer and elk farm industry is growing in NYS being among one of the top ten states. This legislation would help to ensure the regulation and protection of hunting ranch facilities in New York State.
Prior legislative history
2017,2018: S.553/A.4573 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2016: S.3072/A.2511 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2015: S.3072/A.2511 Committed to Rules 2013,2014:S.2686/A.5741 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2011,2012:S.4939/A.429 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2009,2010:S.5438/A.7223 Referred to Environmental Conservation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.