YOUTH HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES
The other pages in this web site provide opportunities for all ages and members of a family. However, specific opportunities for youth are listed here.
There are several special hunting opportunities for youth hunters in New York State.
A special Youth Wild Turkey Hunt is held the weekend before the regular Spring Turkey Season for junior hunters (age 12 - 15).
A special Youth Pheasant Hunt is held before the regular fall pheasant hunting season. See the NYSDEC web site for exact dates depending on the area of New York State. Since pheasant hunting in New York State is sustained largely by the stocking of birds by NYSDEC and private game bird breeders, check the NYSDEC web site for pheasant release sites.
A special Youth Waterfowl Hunt is a two-day hunt prior to the regular season in each waterfowl hunting zone. See the NYSDEC web site for exact dates depending on the area of New York State.
A special Youth Big Game Hunt occurs over the 3-day Columbus Day Weekend for deer and bear for hunters ages 14 - 15.
"My First" certificates are available to personalize and print for "My First Deer," "My First Bear," "My First Furbearer," "My First Turkey," "My First Watertowl," and "My First Pheasant".
BELOW IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
First Time & Youth Hunting Opportunities in the Training Area
First time & youth hunting opportunities are available on Fort Drum. All New York State youth hunting laws and regulations apply to Youth Hunters and their mentors. Hunters eligible for first time & youth hunting opportunities include:
- Hunters that have received their NYS hunter education certificate on or after 01 September of the previous year.
- Youth hunters are ages 12-15.
Hunters that desire this access must contact Fort Drum's Natural Resources Branch (Raymond.E.Rainbolt.civ@army.mil) to provide appropriate documentation and be validated in the iSportsman system.
First Time/Youth Hunting Area in TA 13B
First Time Hunters & Youth Hunters can sign out the northern end of Training Area 13B between Antwerp Tank Trail and US Military Hwy including the wetland mitigation area. See Fort Drum Regulation 420-3 Appendix G for the boundaries of this area. There are no specific hunting sites—the entire designated area is open for hunting.
Special Waterfowl Area in TA 17B
First Time Hunters & Youth Hunters can utilize the special waterfowl hunting area with blinds and a “waterfowl refuge” established on the peninsula at Matoon Creek Marsh off of Matoon Creek Road in Training Area 17B. See the Special Waterfowl Hunting Area page for more information.
Disabled Access Areas in TA 5E and CHA 44
There are three designated sites in Training Area 5E which are otherwise off-limits to recreation. Hunting is allowed for any game during its respective season at these sites. These areas are not open to rifles.
For those individuals that can are eligible to access the Cantonment Area for hunting, CHA 44 is open. This area is open only to archery hunting with bows or crossbows.
Sites in both TA 5E and CHA 44 are designated with a post and sign labeled as a "center point." Hunting is allowed within a given distance from that center point. Directions, a description and photos of each site are available in the Disabled Access Hunting on Fort Drum brochure (updated 2020).