New York Hunting License Blackout

Beginning next Thursday, the New York State website through which hunting and fishing licenses are bought and big-game and turkey kills recorded will be unavailable while the system is overhauled.

Joe Martens, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, said in a release that the move is part of a statewide effort to consolidate licensing operations. The changeover is expected to last one to two weeks.

The website blackout means that those planning to get licenses to hunt or fish in New York State must do so before Wednesday. The current sales page can be accessed via dec.ny.gov.

Hunters are required by law to report deer and turkey harvests within seven days of killing the animal. During the blackout period, hunters will not be able to report their harvest. They will be given a seven-day grace period to report their kills once the new system is functional.