Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new “Take Your Shot” campaign. It offers incentives for vaccines for New Yorkers who enjoy the great outdoors.
Beginning December 1 anyone who receives their first vaccine dose will have the opportunity to enter the “Take Your Shot for an Outdoor Adventure” sweepstakes. The campaign runs through the end of the year.
There will be a random drawing to determine the winners of special prize packages for anglers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
“New York State is known for its outdoor gems and rich sporting traditions, and this important vaccine incentive reflects that,” Governor Hochul said. She noted the vaccination rate is 90 percent for first doses.
“We need to keep the pace of vaccination going,” she said. “By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself whether you’re indoors or outdoors. Don’t delay.”
Sign up for the sweepstakes
The first 2,000 people to enter the sweepstakes will all receive a tree seedling from the Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Tree Nursery in Saratoga.
They’ll also have their choice of either a gift card to a major sporting goods retailer or a free night of camping at a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) campground.
In addition, all sweepstakes entrants get a one-year subscription to the DEC’s Conservationist Magazine, currently celebrating its 75th year.
“I applaud Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to educate New Yorkers about the critical need to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families, and their communities,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.
The sweepstakes, he said, “is a great way to encourage more New Yorkers, including the growing number of people discovering the state’s world-class opportunities for outdoor recreation, to get vaccinated and earn the chance to win some great gear after they do.”
Five Grand Prize winners
The campaign will randomly select five entrants to receive the Grand Prize. They’ll have the opportunity to choose one of the following deluxe packages valued at approximately $2,000:
- Fishing: Lifetime fishing license, fishing kayak, vest, rod and reel;
- Bowhunter: Lifetime hunter and bowhunting license, high-quality crossbow package or compound bow package with ½ dozen bolts or arrows, ladder tree stand, safety harness/fall arrest system, and 10×42 binoculars;
- Rifle hunter: Lifetime sportsman license, high-quality riflescope, ladder tree stand, safety harness/fall arrest system, and 10×42 binoculars;
- Turkey hunter: Lifetime sportsman license, high-quality ground blind, turkey hunting vest, hen decoy pair, shotgun optical sight, slate call, and 10×42 binoculars; and
- Birding: 20-60x spotting scope, 10×42 binoculars, bird feeder, bird seed, bird house, deluxe birding guide, and I Bird NY materials.
25 Second Tier prizes
The campaign will randomly select 25 entrants to receive Second Tier prizes. They’ll have the choice of one of the following packages, valued at approximately $1,000:
- Fishing: Annual fishing license, fishing kayak, vest, rod and reel;
- Bowhunter: Annual hunter and bowhunting license, high-quality crossbow OR compound bow package with ½ dozen bolts or arrows, a ladder tree stand, a safety harness/fall arrest system, and 8×42 binoculars;
- Rifle hunter: Annual hunting license, high-quality riflescope, a ladder tree stand, a safety harness/fall arrest system, and 8×42 binoculars;
- Turkey hunter: Annual hunting license and turkey permit, high quality ground blind, turkey hunting vest, hen decoy, slate call, and 8×42 binoculars; and
- Birder: 8×42 binoculars, birdfeeder, bird seed, and I Bird NY materials.
How to sign up
Information about how to enter the sweepstakes is now available on DEC’s website. Prior to fulfillment of a hunting license and any associated privilege, the recipient must complete a hunter education course (and/or bowhunter education course), and present certificate(s) of completion.
All eligible, vaccinated entrants must adhere to all applicable requirements to receive a NYS hunting or fishing license, including completion of required hunter education courses and other rules.
For more information about hunting and freshwater fishing licenses, visit DEC’s Hunting License and Fishing License webpages.
