05/29/2026
Major win for hunters, and an even bigger win for youth hunters. The Hunting News put this story in front of more than 10 million people through multiple posts, called on hunters to pick up the phone, and you guys came through. You shared it. You commented. You made the calls. You put public pressure on the politicians who needed to feel it. Now the Erie County Legislature has overridden the veto, and 12- and 13-year-olds in Erie County will get the same opportunity to participate in New York’s youth big game hunting program that kids across most of the state already have.
This is exactly why hunters cannot sit out the political fight. This was not just complaining online. This was hunters turning attention into action, and action into a reversal. Everybody who liked, shared, commented, or called should feel good about this one because you helped make it happen. Politicians do respond to pressure when enough people make it clear they are watching. When hunters stand together, make noise, and refuse to let bad decisions slide, we can win. We just proved it.
— Stephen Ziegler
Outdoor writer | Owner, DeLong Lures
