What's happening
This bill expands the prohibition on canned shoots of non-native big game mammals, redefining restricted areas and broadening what counts as payment.
Why it matters
Closes loopholes by redefining “fee”. to include not just direct payment for hunting, but also any compensation for related goods or services (like lodging or meals), making it harder for canned shoot operators to skirt the law through bundled or indirect charges.
Expands the definition of prohibited areas. from just small cages or pens (previously limited to ten or fewer contiguous acres) to any fenced or enclosed space where the animal cannot escape, broadening the ban to cover more operations and preventing facility owners from exploiting size-based exceptions.
Strengthens animal welfare protections. by making it illegal to confine or release non-native big game mammals in any setting where escape is impossible for the purpose of paid hunting, aiming to prevent unethical and inhumane hunting practices.
May impact hunting businesses and tourism. by increasing compliance requirements and potentially reducing the number of legally operable canned hunt facilities, while responding to animal rights and conservation concerns.
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Who cares
Owners and operators of non-native big game facilities
The bill would prohibit them from knowingly allowing paid shooting or spearing in escape-proof enclosures regardless of acreage, or deliberate releases from such enclosures in a shooter's presence.
Hunters paying to take non-native big game mammals
The bill would expand the prohibited activities at these facilities beyond enclosures of ten or fewer contiguous acres.
Facilities charging for lodging, meals or other services
Payments for these goods and services would explicitly count as fees under the restrictions, even without a separate hunting charge.
Headline styles
Ban Canned Big Game Hunts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
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.
Ban Canned Big Game Hunts
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Deborah Glick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
562
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, LIU, SERRANO -- 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 the prohibition on canned shoots
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 11-1904 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 208 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1. No person who owns, operates or manages a facility that harbors non-native big game mammals shall knowingly permit:
a. The taking on such premises by any person who pays [a] any fee to take a live non-native big game mammal by any of the following means:
(1) the shooting or spearing of a non-native big game mammal that is tied or hobbled;
(2) the shooting or spearing of a non-native big game mammal that is staked or attached to any object;
(3) the shooting or spearing of a non-native big game mammal that is confined in a box, pen, cage or similar container [of ten or less contiguous acres] or in a fenced or other area from which there is no means for such mammal to escape;
(4) the deliberate release of a non-native big game mammal that is confined in a box, pen, cage or similar container [of ten or less contiguous acres] or in a fenced or other area from which there is no means for such mammal to escape in the presence of any person who is, or will be, shooting or spearing such non-native big game mammal.
b. For purposes of this section:
(1) shooting shall mean the discharge of any type of firearm or bow and arrow; [and]
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01750-01-5
(2) spearing shall mean the use of any hand or mechanically propelled single or multiple pronged pike, blade, or harpoon; and
(3) fee shall include, but not be limited to, the payment of any compensation or remuneration for room, board, meals, lodging or any other goods or services on the premises.
§ 2. 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 the prohibition on canned shoots
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prohibit the killing, shooting, maiming or injuring of certain inten- tionally confined animals for sport, amusement or taking of a trophy.
Summary of specific provisions
Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 11-1904 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 208 of the laws of 1999 is amended. This bill would expand the existing prohibition on confined shoots on fenced preserves of 10 acres or less. The bill would remove the existing acreage requirement and prohibit the deliberate release of an animal confined in a fenced or other area from which there is no reasonable means for such animal to escape the presence of a hunter. There has been language added that would prohibit any person who pays any fee to take a live non-native big game animal. Fee is defined in the bill to include but not limited to the payment of any compensation or remuneration for room.
Justification
Canned hunting is a practice whereby an animal is staked, caged or otherwise confined for the purpose of being killed for pleasure. From automatic firearms to spears, almost any type of weapon can be used to kill prey in a canned hunt. To assure a kill, the animals are trapped by fences so they can be easily cornered and prevented from escaping or evading. This bill is intended to end the practice of allowing people to hunt for nonnative big game mammals where there is no fair chase or opportunity to evade the presence of a hunter. Canned hunting brutal- izes defenseless animals raised in captivity whose trust in humans makes them hapless victims of this practice.
Federal and state laws currently offer protections for endangered, threatened and many indigenous animals. But a lack of specific prohibi- tions allows a wide range of animals, including certain species of bear, llama, zebra and ram to be killed in this manner.
In addition to prohibiting canned hunts, the bill would also restrict the supply of animals from zoos and game farms to canned hunting facili- ties. As recently as the fall of 2005, the closing of the Catskill Game Farm and the selling off of the animals raised concerns by groups that advocate for the humane treatment of animals that the herd animals like gazelles and the trophy animals like rhinoceros would be bought by a canned hunts in New York State, there would be fewer opportunities to sell these animals for canned hunts.
The recent outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Which is similar to "mad cow" disease, in New York. State has been linked to captive deer farms. By outlawing canned shoots NYS can take a preventive step against the spread of CWD. By prohibiting canned hunting this bill recognizes
that New York State should draw a line between sport and the cruel savagery of a canned hunt.
Legislative history
2023-24: S.589/A.3784 Glick - Referred to Environmental Conservation/ Referred to Environmental Conservation
2021-22: S.1036/A.5732 Glick - Passed Senate/ Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019-20: S.2519/A.883 Glick - Died in Rules/ Referred to Environmental Conservation
2017-18: S.5613/A.4120Glick -Environmental Conservation
2015-16: S.2775/A.3701Glick - Encon Comm
2013-14: S3426/A.3701GlickEncon Comm
2011-12: S.6154/A.4475Glick - Encon.Comm
2009-10: S.3157/A.6788Glick - Encon Comm
2007-08: S.784 Padavan/A.2612 Glick Passed Assembly
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.