Environment DEC
From the October 2005 issue
Final 2005-2006 Waterfowl Hunting Dates Announced
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan announced final dates and regulations for New York State's 2005-06 waterfowl hunting seasons and encouraged sportsmen and women to obtain their licenses and take advantage of the excellent hunting expected this fall.
"Healthy waterfowl populations and favorable habitat conditions are expected to provide excellent hunting throughout New York this upcoming season," Commissioner Sheehan said. "People who hunt waterfowl in New York should find plenty of opportunities as a result of the abundant waterfowl resources and diverse seasons that are open across the state."
Commissioner Sheehan also urged hunters to follow simple safety guidelines and use good judgement in choosing a place to hunt-being considerate of others who enjoy the outdoors or live near hunting areas-to ensure a safe and enjoyable season.
An early goose-hunting season
helps slow the growth of
local flocks
Fall waterfowl hunting began with the September Canada goose season, which opened in most of upstate New York on September 1, and on September 6 in the Lake Champlain and Long Island zones. New York's first September goose hunting season was held in 1990 and has since become a great opportunity that thousands of hunters enjoy. The season is timed so nearly all of the birds taken are local-nesting or "resident" Canada geese. September goose hunting has helped slow the growth of local flocks and alleviate problems caused by geese in areas where hunting is allowed.
Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days
Two Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days will be held in each zone (see the link below for dates), allowing youth 12-15 years of age to hunt ducks, coot, mergansers, Canada geese and brant. This special weekend opportunity is for experienced waterfowl hunters to teach youngsters the techniques and ethics of the sport. Junior hunters must be fully licensed and accompanied by licensed adult hunters in accordance with all New York State regulations, but only the junior hunters may take birds on these days (unless the respective regular season is open, such as Canada geese during September). Both adults and youth need to have current (2005) Harvest Information Program (HIP) registrations, and adult companions must also have current (2005) federal duck hunting stamps.
Daily bag limits for Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days are the same as during regular waterfowl seasons, except that only one canvasback may be taken on any of these days and only two Canada geese may be taken on youth days that fall outside of September Canada goose season.
Regular Duck Seasons
Hunters and DEC biologists
worked together to establish
the duck hunting season dates
Duck hunting season dates were developed by a team of DEC biologists representing all regions of New York (see the link below for the dates). Season selections were based largely on hunter input, with the goal being to provide diverse hunting opportunities that would best satisfy the various hunting interests in each zone. In the Western, Northeastern, and Southeastern zones, DEC adopted dates that were recommended by three waterfowl hunter task forces. This approach has helped DEC set seasons for a number of years in areas where hunter preferences are diverse.
In other zones, DEC staff relied on hunter input from correspondence and public meetings held in recent years. Dates for the Lake Champlain Zone were set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board, based on recommendations received from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, DEC, and public input at meetings in Whitehall, New York and Burlington, Vermont.
Duck Bag Limits
Daily bag limits for ducks are similar to last year, with a few notable changes. The total daily bag limit for ducks will be 6 birds, and may include no more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be hens), 1 black duck, 2 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 4 scoters, 1 canvasback, 1 hooded merganser, and no harlequin ducks. Canvasbacks may be taken only during a specified 30 days of the regular duck season in each zone (see dates in the link below).
Pintails may be taken throughout the season this year (1 per day), as a result of a population increase on their mid-continent breeding grounds. Last year, pintail could only be taken during a specified 30 days of the regular duck season. In contrast, the daily limit for scaup was reduced from 3 to 2 per day because the continental breeding population estimate for these species (lesser and greater scaup combined) reached an all-time low this year.
One other change in duck bag limits involves mergansers, which are now included as part of the daily limit of 6 ducks. In past years, there was a separate limit of 5 mergansers in addition to the daily limit of ducks. However, the two limits were combined this year to simplify regulations and also because very few hunters made use of this opportunity. The New York State Health Department recommends that mergansers not be eaten due to higher contaminant levels than other waterfowl.
The special sea duck season listed above for the Long Island Zone applies to outer coastal waters only, defined as the coastal waters of New York State lying in Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Great Peconic and associated bays, and any ocean waters lying south of Long Island. The daily bag limit for this season is 7 sea ducks (scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks; formerly called oldsquaw), including no more than 4 scoters.
Regular Canada Goose Seasons
Traditional fall Canada goose hunting seasons were suspended throughout most of New York during 1995-1998 in response to a dramatic decline in the number of geese breeding in northern Quebec. The population has made a strong recovery, allowing New York to have 45-day seasons with a daily limit of 3 geese in most areas of the state. Even longer seasons (60-70 days) will be open on Long Island and across the Southern Tier of New York, where local-nesting, or resident, geese make up most of the birds harvested. DEC has adopted goose hunting regulations that provide the maximum allowable hunting opportunity consistent with federal regulations.
Goose Hunting Areas
Hunters should take note that regular Canada goose hunting seasons do not follow the same hunting zone boundaries as other waterfowl seasons in New York. Instead of the five traditional zones that New York uses for duck hunting seasons, the state is divided into seven "goose hunting areas" with seasons and bag limits set for each-see the hunting dates link below for a map showing these areas. This approach allows Canada goose hunting seasons to be tailored according to the origin of birds occuring in each area. In general, more liberal seasons (more days, higher bag limits) are allowed where resident geese make up a larger proportion of the harvest. This approach has been used since 2002, but boundaries and seasons have changed significantly this year. 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 and on DEC's web site.
Another special regulation that continues from last year is that, in the Lake Champlain goose hunting area only, Canada goose and snow goose hunting ends at noon daily during the month of October. This regulation was adopted by Vermont and applies to New York's Lake Champlain goose hunting area on an experimental basis. The purpose of this regulation is to give birds migrating through this region time to feed undisturbed, which may extend hunting opportunities later into the season. Hunters in this area are encouraged to comment to DEC on this approach.
Snow Goose and Brant Seasons
Lower numbers of brant will
mean a shorter hunting season
(photo courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife)
Hunting regulations for snow goose remain very liberal, with 107-day seasons, a daily bag limit of 15, and no possession limit. Snow goose seasons in most zones include an open period from February 24 - March 10, when some of these birds may begin their spring migration back through New York State. The Atlantic Flyway snow goose population has grown from 25,000 birds in the 1960s to an average of more than 700,000 birds in recent years. Biologists are concerned that these birds are causing long-term habitat and agricultural damage in breeding, migration and wintering areas. As noted above, snow goose hunting in the Lake Champlain Zone ends at noon daily during the month of October. Brant seasons have been reduced to 30 days (from 50 days in 2004-05), with a 2-bird daily bag limit this year, in response to lower population levels and poor production in the Canadian Arctic this summer.
Non-toxic Shot
Non-toxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting in New York State. At least 10 different non-toxic shot materials (including bismuth-tin, steel, iron-tungsten, iron-tungsten-nickel, tungsten-bronze, tungsten-matrix, tungsten-nickel-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-tin-bismuth, and tungsten-tin-iron-nickel) have been approved for waterfowl hunting in New York during the 2005-2006 season.
License and Stamp Requirements
All waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older must have a 2005 federal duck stamp to hunt during any of the 2005-06 seasons, including those held in September 2005. Federal duck stamps cost $15 and are available at most post offices and some sporting goods stores. They are also available by calling toll-free 1-800-382-5499 or visiting the Save the Wetlands Website at the link below. Stamps must be signed across the face by the hunter before they become valid, but they do not have to be attached to hunting licenses.
All migratory game bird (waterfowl, woodcock, snipe, rails and gallinules) hunters, including junior hunters, must register with New York's Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) for the 2005-06 season. Hunters must register every year for each state where they plan to hunt migratory game birds, and must carry proof of compliance whenever going afield. To register with HIP, call toll-free 1-888-427-5447 (1-888-4 ASK HIP) or visit the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program Website listed below. Registration is free and only takes about five minutes, after which a confirmation number is given as proof of compliance.
State regulations were changed this year to specify that HIP registrations are valid from July 1 to June 30 annually (the same as federal duck stamps), so every migratory game bird hunter needs to register with HIP for 2005-2006 before going afield this fall. The HIP registration system will be updated soon to revise the closing message which currently says HIP registrations are only valid from October 1-September 30.
Report Banded Birds
Hunters are encouraged to report any banded birds they shoot to the federal Bird Banding Lab (BBL) by calling the toll-free service at 1-800-327-BAND (2263). The best time to call is weekdays, 7:00 AM-5 PM, but extended hours and weekend coverage are also planned. The operator will want to know the band number and how, when and where it was recovered. Bands can also be reported via the "How to Report a Federal Bird Band" web link below. Tens of thousands of ducks and geese are banded in North America every year. Band reporting by hunters helps wildlife managers determine appropriate hunting regulations for each species.
Hunting Ethics
Hunters are reminded to be considerate of property owners and other people using the outdoors, or residing close to waterfowl hunting areas. By following regulations, avoiding interference with other activities, and safe shooting, hunters help ensure a positive hunting experience and continued public support for hunting in New York State.
More Information
Copies of New York's 2005-2006 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations brochure will be available soon at most license-issuing agents, DEC regional offices, and some post offices. A copy of the brochure will also be mailed to everyone who registered with HIP last year.
2005-2006 Habitat/Access Stamp
DEC encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to consider purchasing a Habitat/Access Stamp when they purchase their license. The Habitat/Access Stamp is an optional stamp that is available to people who want to support the DEC's efforts to conserve habitat and increase public access for fish and wildlife related recreation. Buying a $5.00 habitat stamp is the perfect way for young or old, angler or hunter, birder or photographer to help conserve New York's fabulous wildlife heritage. This year's stamp features New York's state bird, the eastern bluebird. For more information, go to the habitat stamp link below.
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 received from the public over the past several years. See the link below for the table of final 2005-2006 season dates.
