Delaware County approves local law allowing supervised hunting for licensed 12- and 13-year-olds

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors adopted Local Law No. 2 of 2025 on Oct. 12, 2025, authorizing licensed 12- and 13-year-old hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow during hunting season while under the supervision of an adult licensed hunter.

The measure was the subject of a public hearing before the vote. Al Vigna, a resident of Harkness Field who said he is originally from Roxbury, spoke in favor of the youth-hunt proposal, saying the program helps teach young people to be "responsible gun handlers" and "good stewards of our natural resources." "We need to teach the kids young so they're responsible gun handlers, gun owners, good stewards of our natural resources," Vigna said. He added that most other states allow hunting by licensed children 12 and older and that the county's deer population and vehicle collisions with deer have risen since the 1970s.

Supervisor Bernal opened the public hearing and oversaw the proceeding; a sign-in sheet was circulated and no other members of the public spoke. After the hearing, the board introduced the local law and called a roll-call vote. The transcript records multiple "yes" responses and no recorded opposition; the board declared the motion carried.

The adopted text authorizes 12- and 13-year-old licensed hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow during hunting season when supervised by an adult licensed hunter. Details such as permit conditions, training requirements, or specific supervisory responsibilities were not specified in the public record provided.

The measure now appears on the county's list of local laws as Local Law No. 2 of 2025. Any administrative rules, training or permitting changes required to implement the law were not described during the meeting.