Erie County Legislature Revisits Divisive Youth Hunting Measure
Local leaders and wildlife advocacy groups have renewed a push at the Erie County Legislature to allow 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with firearms. County Executive Mark Poloncarz has promised to veto the legislation if it passes.
On April 2, 2026, local leaders and wildlife advocacy groups converged on the Erie County Legislature to renew the push for a local youth hunting law. Spearheaded by Legislator Frank Todaro and supported by Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, the proponents are seeking to opt-in to a 2021 New York State law that authorizes 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm during designated youth seasons under strict adult mentorship.
While the vast majority of New York counties adopted the measure, Erie County remains the sole county in Upstate New York that prohibits the practice. A previous attempt to pass the opt-in law gained bipartisan support but was vetoed by County Executive Mark Poloncarz due to safety concerns and historical firearm accidents involving minors. In response to the renewed legislative push, Poloncarz immediately reiterated his hardline stance, promising to veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.
The ongoing debate underscores a stark political and cultural dichotomy within Erie County, pitting rural traditions of conservation and family mentorship against urban-centric concerns over firearm safety. For rural residents in the Southtowns, the current ban denies families the opportunity to participate in the youth deer season, forcing them to travel to neighboring counties to hunt legally.