A 6581: Excludes certain amphibians and reptiles from the definition of small game and makes conforming changes.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6581 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY March 6, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to excluding amphibians and reptiles from the definition of small game; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 11-0103 of the 2 environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 706 of the laws of 3 2005, is amended to read as follows: 4 c. "Small game" means black, gray and fox squirrels, European hares, 5 varying hares, cottontail rabbits, [native frogs, native salamanders, 6 native turtles, native lizards, native snakes,] coyotes, red fox (Vulpes 7 vulpes) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) except captive bred red 8 fox or gray fox, raccoon, opossum, or weasel, skunk, bobcat, lynx, musk- 9 rat, mink, except mink born in captivity, fisher, otter, beaver, sable 10 and marten but does not include coydogs. 11 § 2. Subdivision 4 of section 11-0701 of the environmental conserva- 12 tion law, as amended by section 1-a of part R of chapter 58 of the laws 13 of 2013, is amended to read as follows: 14 4. A fishing license entitles the holder to take fish by angling, 15 spearing, hooking, longbow and tipups, [to take frogs by spearing, 16 catching with the hands or by use of a club or hook,] and to take bait 17 fish for personal use, as provided in titles 9 and 13 of this article, 18 except that such license shall not entitle the holder to take migratory 19 fish of the sea or to take fish from the waters of the marine district. 20 § 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 11-0703 of the environ- 21 mental conservation law, as amended by section 2 of part R of chapter 58 22 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows: 23 a. Except as provided in section 11-0707 and section 11-0709 of this 24 title, no person shall (1) hunt wildlife unless such person holds and is EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10326-01-5 
 A. 6581 2 1 entitled to exercise the privileges of a hunting license; (2) hunt 2 antlerless deer in a special open season therefor pursuant to subdivi- 3 sion 6 of section 11-0903 of this article unless such person holds and 4 is entitled to exercise the privileges of and has on [his or her] their 5 person while so hunting a hunting license, bowhunting privilege or 6 muzzle-loading privilege, and a special antlerless deer license; (3) 7 take fish [or frogs] in the manner described in subdivision 4 of section 8 11-0701 of this title unless such person is entitled to exercise the 9 privileges of a fishing license; (4) trap wildlife unless such person 10 holds a trapping license. 11 § 4. Paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section 11-0901 of the environ- 12 mental conservation law, as amended by section 19 of part EE of chapter 13 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows: 14 c. Wild small game and wild upland game birds shall be taken only by 15 longbow or gun, or by the use of raptors as provided in title 10 of this 16 article, except that: 17 (1) skunk, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, fox, mink and muskrat may be taken 18 in any manner not prohibited in this section or in title 11 of [the Fish 19 and Wildlife Law] this article; and 20 (2) [frogs may also be taken by spearing, catching with the hands, or 21 by the use of a club or hook; and 22 (3)] crossbows may be used but only by licensees who are fourteen 23 years of age or older. 24 § 5. Paragraphs e and f of subdivision 2 of section 11-0903 of the 25 environmental conservation law, paragraph e as amended and paragraph f 26 as added by chapter 706 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as 27 follows: 28 e. wild turkeys[; 29 f. frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes]. 30 § 6. Paragraphs i, s, t, u and v of subdivision 2 of section 11-0905 31 of the environmental conservation law are REPEALED. 32 § 7. Paragraphs j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q and r of subdivision 2 of 33 section 11-0905 of the environmental conservation law are relettered 34 paragraphs i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p and q. 35 § 8. This act shall take effect immediately.