Delaware County schedules hearing on proposed law to allow supervised hunting by some 12- and 13-year-olds

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors introduced Local Law Intro No. 2 of 2025, a proposal that would allow licensed 12- and 13-year-old hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow during hunting season while under the supervision of a licensed adult hunter. The board set a public hearing on the proposed local law for Oct. 8 at 1:05 p.m. at the County Building.

On the record, Unidentified Speaker 4 described the measure and framed it as an extension of a prior pilot program: "They've had this in the past as a pilot program. It's not over well. Main thing is the youth, they get their hunter safety course, so it's safer, safer hunters, and they hunt with an adult for the first time. It's been met with great, enthusiasm." The transcript records the board's scheduling of a public hearing rather than final adoption; the matter will return for public comment and further deliberation.

The proposal places emphasis on supervised participation and completion of hunter-safety instruction. The schedule for the public hearing gives residents and stakeholders an opportunity to submit comment directly to the board before any final vote. No ordinance language or implementation details (for example, exact age verification, licensing procedures, or enforcement mechanisms) were presented on the record during this meeting.

Next steps: The board will take public comments at the Oct. 8 hearing, after which the board may amend, adopt or otherwise act on the local law in accordance with county procedures.