Ortt presses governor to extend big game hunting with rifle in Niagara County

Provided photo: State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, Niagara County Legislator Shawn Foti and Escarpment Arms CEO Joe Olscamp called on Governor Hochul to sign an extension for hunting big game by rifle in Niagara County.

Press Release, State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt

LOCKPORT – Today, New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Angelo Morrinello, Niagara County Legislator Shawn Foti, and Escarpment Arms CEO Joe Olscamp called on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign Senate Bill S.9302 which would extend big game hunting by rifle in Niagara County.

In 2024, Senator Ortt sponsored Senate Bill S.8382B to allow big game hunting by rifle in Niagara County. At the time, Niagara County was one of only a handful of counties that did not allow rifle hunting. This legislation is set to expire on Oct. 1, 2026.

“Over the past two years, hunters have shown remarkable responsibility while harvesting big game with rifles here in Niagara County,” Ortt said. “This is a common sense, non-partisan bill with no financial impact to taxpayers – and it helps curb the ever-expanding deer and bear populations here in Western New York. Hunters have asked for the continuation of rifle hunting, and I encourage Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law so that sportsmen can carry on with this new tradition.”

The original bill, and the current extension, excludes the City of Lockport, the City of North Tonawanda, and the City of Niagara Falls from rifle hunting. The bill also allows municipalities to opt out of rifle hunting.

Senate Bill S.9302 passed both houses during this year’s legislative session with wide, bi-partisan support and would take effect immediately after the governor signs it.

“Niagara County was one of the last counties to request authorization to use rifles for big game hunting,” said Escarpment Arms CEO Joe Olscamp of Lockport. “As a gun shop owner, former Niagara County Coordinator of Hunter Education for the DEC, and member of multiple firearms advisory panels, I have not been made aware of a single incident resulting from this change. Responsible sportsmen have proven there is no logical reason not to renew this. The deer population has grown so much that the DEC offers near unlimited tags in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 9A, which covers Niagara County. We should not impede responsible wildlife management.”