Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Legislature, Wed., May 19, unanimously adopted a hunting law permitting 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow. Under the law, the hunter must be licensed and acting under the supervision of a licensed adult. The legislation was adopted following a public hearing that drew no comment. The state's 2021-22 budget signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in April included the legislation, but counties must opt into the law. Greene County Legislature Chairman Patrick Linger said he is a longtime hunter and has two children who hunt. “They know how to handle [weapons] safely and lock them up,” he said. “When you start kids young and train them on how to be safe, they carry that with them.” Hunting also gets children and youth into the outdoors and teaches them to respect nature, he said. “...It’s more than the hunting and shooting — there is more to it. The younger kids start, the better off we all are.” The Columbia County Board of Supervisors voted May 12 to pass a local law permitting the practice. Bob Monteleone, president of the Catskill Mountain Fish and Game Club and past president of the Greene County Federation of Sportsmen’s clubs, applauded the new law. “It’s a great thing to let these kids get out and hunt,” Monteleone said. “...As long as they are mentored by someone who has been trained, it is safe for them.” The state law also requires that the young hunters and adult hunters wear fluorescent orange or pink clothing and remain at ground level while hunting deer with a crossbow, rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.