N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 6 § 170.8

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 170.8 - Lifetime licenses

Lifetime licenses will be issued to New York State residents who meet eligibility requirements. Applications for these licenses are available from the Department of Environmental Conservation, Sporting License Sales, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233, (518) 402-8843. Persons who have already purchased a license through the Department of Environmental Conservation Automated Licensing System (DECALS) may apply for a lifetime license on the department's website, www.dec.state.ny.us.

(a) The holder of a lifetime small, big game or fishing license, or any combination thereof may purchase a sportsman license for a fee equal to the difference between the two license types.

(b) Lifetime licenses may be purchased for minors. When the recipient of a lifetime small and big game hunting or sportsman license becomes eligible to hunt, he or she may submit a copy of a sportsman education certificate to receive a permanent identification card. If the recipient of a lifetime license allowing hunting decides not to complete sportsman education training, his or her license shall be marked valid for fishing only.

(c) Proof of residency and eligibility for lifetime licenses. The following proofs of residency and eligibility are accepted:

(1) Residency. For the purposes of this section, a resident is a person whose domicile is in New York State. Domicile is that place where a person has his or her true, fixed and permanent home to which he or she intends to return. Residence of minors is the residence of parents or legal guardian(s). If a minor lives with someone other than a parent, a copy of proof of legal guardianship must be submitted. Every applicant for a lifetime license must document that he or she is a resident of New York for at least one year preceding the application date. One or more of the following proofs of residency is required:

(i) New York State Department of Motor Vehicle driver's license or a New York State non-driver photo identification card;

(ii) New York State income tax form IT-201 or W-2 form;

(iii) voter registration card;

(iv) New York State Department of Motor Vehicles vehicle registration card;

(v) military personnel who are stationed outside of the State but are domiciled within New York State are eligible for lifetime licenses. Military personnel must submit evidence of at least one year of residence prior to enlistment. In addition to documents listed in paragraph (1) of this subdivision, military personnel may also submit any of the following: copies of his or her enlistment contract showing home address and how long the applicant lived there; physical record showing date of physical examination and residence at the time of that examination; military orders showing home address; or a leave and earnings statement.

(2) Proof of age. Every applicant must provide proof of age. The following are acceptable forms of proof: birth certificate, United States passport, drivers license or non-drivers photo identification license.

(3) Proof of training. An applicant for a lifetime license must submit proof of having received a previous license or a certificate of qualification in hunting, bowhunting, or trapping.

(d) Lifetime license holders are entibled to all the privileges of a comparable annual license holder. Additional privileges, such as deer management permits, must be applied for annually through the regular application process.

(e) Revocation. Upon revocation of any or all license privileges pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0719, a lifetime licensee must surrender the lifetime license identification card(s) and all tags issued with a card. If the lifetime licensee retains partial privileges granted in a sportsman license, the department will issue annual licenses for retained privileges for the duration of the revocation period. At the end of the revocation period, the identification card(s) and all tags will be returned to the licensee.

(f) Lifetime license fees shall not be refundable under any conditions.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 § 170.8