2024-25 Hunting Trapping Licenses On Sale Starting Aug 1

ALBANY — The hunting and trapping licenses, the license year runs from September 1st – August 31.  Deer management permits -DMP’s will be available via instant lottery from August 1 till the close of business day October 1, 2024. Lifetime license holders should receive their annual tags prior to September 1, however, they do not need them in hand to apply for DMPs.  Lifetime holders of trapping and/or fishing privileges will not have annual privilege panels mailed to them.  They should already have a credit card style license.  That is all they will need to trap or fish.  

DEC has changed the type of paper used for sporting licenses and carcass tags from special license stock to plain paper.  This will allow quicker access to recreational activities as hunters, trappers, and anglers will be able to print their licenses and tags at home.  All licenses and tags should be printed on separate sheets of paper not double sides, as carcass tags will need to be cut out to be attached to a harvested deer, bear or turkey.  You can still go to your local license issuing agent to get your license or call 866-933-2257. The DEC call center is accessible from 8 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday, and 9 am – 5 pm Saturdays until October 1, then regular call center hours will resume on October 2.  If you need a replacement for a lost license, it will still cost $5 for licenses, privileges and permits, while the cost for carcass tags will be $10. Customers can avoid replacements fees by reprinting at home from their DECALS account or from the PDF documents that were emailed to them with their original purchase.  

DEC’s General Sporting Information webpage is 

https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/general-info

To get a copy of the online version of the 2024-2025 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/37136.html. Hard copies are still available through agents but are in limited quantity.