For 12-year-old Lydia Vitarius, this year’s youth big game hunt was one she’ll never forget. The young hunter from Bloomville harvested her first buck, a nine-pointer weighing 160 pounds dressed, during the 2025 Youth Deer Hunt weekend, Oct. 11–13.
The Youth Deer Hunt, organized annually by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, allows hunters ages 12–15 to take part in a mentored weekend of big game hunting under the supervision of an experienced adult.
