What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to aid in hunting or taking wildlife in New York.
Why it matters
Levels the playing field for hunters. By banning drones for hunting, this bill ensures that traditional hunting skills—not technology—determine success, which can help preserve fair chase ethics and the spirit of the sport.
Protects wildlife from advanced tracking. Drones can locate, herd, or even harass animals, making them easier targets. This law aims to prevent technology from giving hunters an unfair advantage and from stressing or disturbing wildlife populations.
Addresses evolving technology in conservation law. As drones become cheaper and more accessible, this bill proactively closes a loophole that could have led to widespread use in hunting, helping New York stay ahead in regulating emerging technology.
Supports broader conservation and animal welfare goals. Curtailing the use of drones in hunting aligns with efforts to maintain healthy wildlife populations and minimize intrusive human impacts on natural ecosystems.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Drone-Assisted Hunting
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1109
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the course of hunting
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 11-0103 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 33 to read as follows:
33. "Unmanned aerial vehicle" means any aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
§ 2. Section 11-0901 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-a. No person shall hunt or take wildlife with the aid of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03847-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.