From the September 2008 issue

Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Tentatively Scheduled

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has established tentative season dates and other regulations for waterfowl hunting this fall. These season selections will become official as soon as federal and state rule-making procedures are finalized. The selections were developed by a team of DEC biologists from around the state, with input from many waterfowl hunters, including waterfowl hunter task forces.

September Canada Goose Seasons

Fall hunting begins with the September goose season, a time when Canada geese are abundant throughout the state. The September season is also an important tool for management of local-nesting or "resident" Canada geese. On average, more than 40,000 geese are taken by hunters each September, and this has helped slow the growth of local flocks in some areas. Where hunting is allowed, this can help alleviate problems caused by geese.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days

A special waterfowl-hunting weekend is provided for youth hunters before the regular duck season in each waterfowl hunting zone. On the dates scheduled, Junior Hunters (12-15 years of age) may take ducks, coot, mergansers, Canada geese and brant. The junior hunter must be fully licensed and accompanied by a licensed adult hunter in accordance with all New York State regulations, but only the junior hunter may take birds on these days unless the respective regular season is open, such as Canada geese during September.

Duck Seasons

Duck season dates were set based on the recommendations of waterfowl hunter task force meetings held in April.

The duck-season selections for each zone were based largely on hunter input, with the goal being to provide opportunities for diverse hunting interests in each zone. In the Western, Northeastern, Southeastern, and Long Island zones, DEC adopted dates that were recommended by waterfowl hunter task forces that met back in April. This approach has helped DEC select equitable seasons in some zones for more than a decade. A recent survey of duck hunters in New York showed strong support for using this approach to select season dates.

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 during August in Whitehall, New York and Burlington, Vermont.

A special sea duck season is available only in the outer coastal waters of the Long Island Zone, defined as the coastal waters of New York State lying in Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Great Peconic Bay and associated bays, and any ocean waters lying south of Long Island.

Regular Canada Goose Seasons

Currently, fall Canada goose-hunting seasons are 45 days long. Longer seasons 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.

Hunters should note that regular Canada goose-hunting seasons do not follow the same hunting zone boundaries as other waterfowl seasons in New York State. Instead of the five traditional zones that New York uses for duck seasons, the state is divided into nine "goose hunting areas" with seasons and bag limits set for each. This approach allows Canada goose-hunting seasons to be tailored according to the origins of birds that occur 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.

Snow Goose and Brant Seasons

Brant season has been extended this year to 60 days

Hunting regulations for snow goose remain very liberal, with a 107-day season. Snow goose seasons in several zones include an open period extending to 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 to nearly 1 million birds in recent years. Biologists are concerned that these birds are causing long-term habitat and agricultural damage in breeding, migration and wintering areas. Consequently, there is a possibility that some additional harvest (after March 10) may be allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in spring 2009, but this will be decided later this fall apart from adoption of normal hunting season regulations. Brant seasons have been increased to 60 days (from 50 days last year), and the bag limit increased to 3/day, following several years of good population levels in the flyway.

More Information

The 2008-2009 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations brochure include specific season dates, bag limits, boundaries, etc. Copies of the brochure will be mailed to everyone who registered in HIP for New York State last year and also will be available this month at most license-issuing agents and DEC regional offices.