Question about hunting w/ unlicensed out of state friends in NY state (hudson valley)!?

Question

A couple of friends from New Jersey are coming up to do some hiking/camping up here in the Hudson Valley area, and I was thinking of doing some small/medium game hunting while out there. I have my license but is there a limit to how many people I can be with who are unlicensed? Can they be armed with something that is not a firearm or bow such as a pellet gun? Can they hunt non protected fur bearing varmint or "open hunting" species such as red squirrels, English sparrows, or wood chucks that are open season all year, night and day? I know for sure I can be with at least one unlicensed "guest" who is not carrying a firearm, I just need a follow through. Thanks!

Answer 1

I am a certified Alaskan hunter safety instructor.  I would guess the hunting laws here would also apply to NY as well.

Your friends can carry a firearm that is legal for them to carry in NY - however - they cannot hunt anything.  Most hunting regulations have small print that says only licensed hunters can hunt the animals listed in the game regs, and, any animals not listed there is no open season.

Your friends can only target shoot.  Catching an out of state person shooting animals without a license is a game wardens dream day!  Along with the big fines - the warden gets to confiscate everything the out of state poachers used - from the gun to the vehicle that drove them there.  I have even known cases where the culprits had to surrender the camo clothing they were wearing.

Bad ju ju.  They need to buy a license or stick to targets.

Hope this helps