Environment DEC
From the October 2006 issue
Regular Waterfowl Hunting Begins in Most Areas
A healthy waterfowl population
this year will provide excellent
hunting opportunities throughout
the state
DEC encourages sportsmen and women to obtain their licenses and take advantage of the excellent waterfowl hunting opportunities expected this fall. With the September Canada goose and Youth Waterfowl Weekend behind us, the regular season is set to begin. Season dates were developed by a team of DEC biologists from around the state, with input from waterfowl hunting enthusiasts. New York's waterfowl seasons are based on federal regulatory requirements, in addition to input from the public over the past several years. Final 2006-2007 season dates can be found in the full press release from which this story was excerpted (see "Related Links" below).
Precautionary Sampling for Avian Flu
DEC would also like to inform waterfowl hunters that throughout this fall and winter, DEC staff will be working with U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff and others to obtain more than 1,600 samples from certain waterfowl species in New York for the purposes of testing for avian influenza. This is part of a larger effort on the national and international levels to sample for the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in migratory bird species. To date, there have been no detections of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in New York. DEC requests the cooperation of hunters and others in the sampling if they are contacted in the field and asked to allow samples to be collected. Primary species of interest include mallard, greater scaup, Canada geese, brant, and possibly sea ducks. Sampling usually entails a quick swab of fecal material from harvested birds, and recording of information about each bird and where it was taken.
New Hunting Areas/Regulations
Hunters should carefully study the new hunting areas and corresponding regulations before going afield. Detailed area descriptions, based largely on Wildlife Management Units (WMU) and some waterfowl zone lines, are listed in the annual waterfowl regulations brochure.
Copies of New York's 2006-2007 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations brochure are available at most license-issuing agents, DEC regional offices and some post offices. You can also view and print the brochure from the DEC website (see, Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons, at "Related Links" below). In addition, a copy of the brochure will be mailed to everyone who registered for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) last year.
Comments and More Information
The duck seasons are based
largely on hunter input, a
successful approach that DEC
has utilized for several years
DEC will accept public comments on the regulations and season dates via ground or e-mail until November 13, 2006. Send your comments to Bryan Swift, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. See the link to the full press release at "Related Links" below, or contact any DEC wildlife office, for more information about waterfowl hunting and the topics that follow:
- Youth Waterfowl Weekends
- Regular Duck Seasons
- Special Sea Duck Season
- Regular Canada Goose Seasons
- Snow Goose and Brant Seasons
- Using Non-toxic Shot
- License and Stamp Requirements
- Reporting Banded Birds
- Hunting Ethics
- Purchasing a Habitat/Access Stamp
