Environment DEC
From the August 2003 issue
Tentative Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Announced for 2003-2004
DEC has announced tentative dates for New York State's 2003-2004 waterfowl hunting seasons. It is hoped that this early announcement of tentative dates will help sportsmen and sportswomen to start planning their outdoor activities well in advance.
While announcing the tentative waterfowl hunting dates, DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty said, "Although the dates won't be finalized until September, 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."
Notes About Tentative Dates
- Hunters are advised to confirm final dates before going afield.
- The canvasback duck hunting season is likely to be closed as it was last year. Spring and summer population surveys of canvasbacks will determine if the season is to be re-opened.
- Season dates are based on anticipated federal regulations and on hunter input. 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.
- In the Western, Northeastern and Southeastern zones, DEC adopted dates recommended by three waterfowl hunter task forces. This approach has helped set seasons in areas where hunter preferences have been diverse.
- Two "Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days" will be held in each zone this fall, providing more days for junior hunters (ages 12 to 15) to hunt only ducks, coot, mergansers and Canada geese. Junior hunters who take advantage of these special days must be fully licensed and accompanied by an adult hunter per current state regulations.
- DEC plans to mail a copy of the 2003-2004 regulations 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 and 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 2003-2004 license year. Confirmation numbers issued last fall will be valid through the end of the 2002-2003 license year, which ends on the last day of September.
