From the August 2004 issue

Tentative 2004-2005 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

DEC has announced the tentative schedule for New York's 2004-2005 waterfowl hunting seasons, allowing sportsmen and sportswomen to plan outdoor activities well in advance.

"By announcing this schedule, we are giving hunters who enjoy this exciting sport a better opportunity to plan vacations and activities around the hunting seasons," DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty said. "Although the dates won't be finalized until late summer, when federal regulations are official, preliminary indications of waterfowl populations and habitat conditions suggest that the tentative season dates will conform with expected federal requirements for the coming year."

Hunting Schedule Development

The 2004-2005 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons dates were developed by a team of DEC biologists representing all regions of New York. The season selections were based on hunter input and anticipated federal regulations for the coming year. DEC's season-setting team assumed that duck seasons would again be 60 days in length and that bag limits for most species would be the same as last year.

At this time, it is not clear whether the canvasback hunting season will be open. Spring and summer population surveys of canvasbacks will determine whether a limited season will be held.

In the Western, Northeastern, and Southeastern zones, DEC adopted dates recommended by three waterfowl hunter task forces. This approach has helped DEC set seasons in areas where hunter preferences have been diverse.

In other zones, DEC staff relied on hunter input from correspondence and public meetings held in previous years. No dates are available yet for the Lake Champlain Zone because they will be finalized in late August by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board after a mid-August public hearing to be held in Burlington, Vermont. The dates will be based on recommendations received from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, DEC, and public comments from the hearing.

Junior Hunters

Two "Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days" will be held in each zone this fall. On these days, licensed junior hunters aged 12 to 15 may hunt ducks, coot, mergansers and Canada geese. Junior hunters must be fully licensed and accompanied by an adult hunter in accordance with all New York State regulations, and only junior hunters may take birds on these days. This special opportunity is intended to encourage experienced waterfowl hunters to help teach young hunters the techniques and ethics of the sport.

Canada Goose Season

September Canada goose seasons are similar to last year. The dates for each Waterfowl Hunting Zone are as follows:

Lake Champlain Zone: September 7 to September 25, 2004
Long Island Zone: September 7 to September 30, 2004
All other zones: September 1 to September 25, 2004

The daily bag limit for Canada geese taken during the September season is now eight geese per day, except in the Lake Champlain Zone where it remains three geese per day.

Tentative dates for the regular hunting seasons for Canada geese will be announced in late summer, once breeding populations in northern Canada and summer productivity are evaluated.

Finalizing Hunting Dates

As soon as the final federal waterfowl hunting regulations are known, the official State regulations for the 2004-2005 waterfowl seasons will be posted on DEC's Web Site and announced by a statewide news release. Final season dates are expected to stay as listed unless federal regulations require changes. Hunters should confirm the final season dates before going afield.

Harvest Information Program

DEC plans to mail a copy of the 2004-2005 regulations brochure to everyone who registered in New York's Harvest Information Program (HIP) last year. Hunters must register with HIP for each state they intend to hunt in, each license year. Hunters may register for New York by calling 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778). The number will be activated in early August for the 2004-2005 license year. Confirmation numbers issued last fall will be valid through the end of the 2003-2004 license year, which ends on the last day of September.

Habitat/Access Stamps

DEC encourages all waterfowl hunters to consider purchasing a Habitat/Access Stamp when they purchase their license. The Habitat/Access Stamp is a new optional stamp that is available to people who want to support DEC's efforts to conserve habitat and increase public access for fish and wildlife-related recreation. Buying a $5.00 Habitat/Access Stamp is the perfect way for young or old, angler or hunter, birder or photographer to help conserve New York's fabulous wildlife heritage.