Helming Introduces Legislation Allowing Rifle Hunting in Tompkins County

At the request of the Tompkins County Legislature and local sportsmen and women, Senator Pam Helming has introduced state legislation to allow rifle hunting in Tompkins County. Tompkins is one of only four counties in New York State that does not permit rifle hunting. 

“This is an important step forward for hunters in Tompkins County. Many constituents have expressed their support for this measure at my town hall meetings in Lansing. Beginning as a Town Supervisor in Ontario County and now as a State Senator, I have worked to expand rifle hunting in upstate New York.  Rifle hunting provides new opportunities for local hunters and helps farmers, homeowners, and communities manage deer overpopulation issues. I look forward to continuing to work with local residents and stakeholders to support common sense policies that make our community safer,” said Senator Helming. 

“This resolution just makes sense.  You’re already allowed to use a rifle for 49 weeks out of the year.  Why not use them for the 3 weeks for large game.  We have an overpopulation of deer with fewer hunters and more food available to deer.  This is a more humane solution to keeping those numbers manageable.  Rifles are already allowed in much of Upstate New York and the decades of data from those other counties shows rifles can be used safely for big game.  This was a science based vote,” Michael Sigler, Tompkins County Legislator said.

This legislation has been introduced in the New York State Senate and will be considered when the Senate resumes session in January of 2020.