Paper Licenses To Revolutionize Hunting & Fishing Access In NY

If you hunt or fish in New York State, your licenses will be a bit different this year. You won't have to do anything but the NY Department of Environmental Conservation will be making some changes.

The NY DEC is changing how hunting and fishing licenses are handled in the state. They will be switching from using special synthetic paper to regular paper for licenses and tags. There has been a problem with the synthetic paper that is currently being used. This paper is difficult to print from the online source.

According to the DEC, this change is aimed at making it simpler and faster to get licenses and tags. It's especially good news for those who purchase licenses online, as they'll now have the option to print them at home. The DEC believes this shift will not only save money but also reduce the environmental impact of the state's license program, bringing it up to speed with modern technologies.

Other states have already made the move because of increased costs and difficulty in finding synthetic paper. You will still be able to buy the licenses in person, online, or over the phone. There will be advantages of the new paper including being able to print it a the point of sale, getting it through email, or printing it from your home.

This new way will start on August 1, 2024. Hunters and anglers can use the HuntFishNY mobile app to show proof of the licensing while hunting or fishing and to report their game harvest.

This change applies to the 2024-25 license year, with sales under the new system starting on August 1, 2024. Lifetime license holders will receive their 2024-25 licenses and tags on plain paper by mail by September 1, 2024. This change doesn't affect the spring 2024 turkey season. Additional details can be found in a "Q&A" on the DEC website, and more information will be provided before the new licenses go on sale in August.