Waterfowl Seasons and Information
Most migratory game bird seasons are set based on five hunting zones that have been approved by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service. The season dates and bag limits listed below will become final as soon as Federal and State rule-making procedures are completed in September. For written descriptions of these zones see migratory game bird zones.
ALL New York waterfowl hunters are required to register for the Harvest Information Program (HIP). HIP is a federally mandated program which is used solely to survey migratory game bird hunters. For more information about HIP and how to register, see Harvest Information Program (HIP).
You may download a copy of the 2008-09 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide (PDF, 268 Kb).
Youth Waterfowl Hunt
DEC established youth waterfowl days in 1996. This special two-day hunt prior to the regular season in each waterfowl hunting zone provides young waterfowl hunters with the opportunity to spend time afield with an experienced adult hunter pursuing ducks, geese, and brant. The timing of the Youth Waterfowl Hunt allows for a break in hunting between the youth hunt and the beginning of the regular waterfowl season (usually 1-3 weeks depending on the zone). Holding the youth waterfowl hunt before the start of the regular season allows participants an increased opportunity to harvest local and early migrating waterfowl. Preseason Youth Days also tend to have milder weather and help young hunters develop the skills needed to be successful during the regular season.
Daily bag limits for ducks are the maximum allowed for ducks during the regular season and two/day for geese. Junior hunters must be fully licensed and accompanied by a licensed adult hunter (including current HIP registration and duck stamp) in accordance with all New York State regulations (see link for HIP above). Only the junior hunter may take birds on these days, unless the respective regular season is open.
Migratory game bird hunting regulations are set by the Federal government in late summer and final waterfowl seasons and bag limits are announced in September. Be sure to visit the Waterfowl Hunting Seasons page or review the Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide (see link above) prior to going afield.
More about Waterfowl Seasons and Information:
- 2009-10 Waterfowl Seasons - Current season dates and bag limits for ducks, snow geese, and brant for each waterfowl hunting zone in New York.
- September Canada Goose Season - Map of New York State showing the Canada goose September hunting season dates and regulations.
- Regular Canada Goose Seasons - Map of New York State showing the Regular Canada goose hunting season dates, bag limits, and other regulations. Canada goose seasons are set based on "Goose Hunting Areas" rather than the five waterfowl hunting zones.
- Late Canada Goose Season - Current season dates and bag limits for the Special Late Canada Goose Hunting Area.
- Snow Goose Season - Waterfowl hunters in New York will have a special opportunity to harvest snow geese in most areas of the state beginning in spring 2009.
- Waterfowl Season Input - DEC invites waterfowl hunters to submit recommendations for the dates of future waterfowl hunting seasons to regional Waterfowl Season Task Forces or DEC's waterfowl season-setting team.
- Rationale for Waterfowl Hunting Seasons - The Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces for each zone provided recommendations for duck season and youth waterfowl hunting dates, and they provided the following rationale for those dates.
- Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces - To allow waterfowl hunters the opportunity to become directly involved with the duck hunting season-setting process, a group of selected hunter representatives sit as a Citizen Task Force (CTF) to discuss and decide, by consensus, recommendations for opening and closing dates for the upcoming duck hunting and other seasons.
- Waterfowl Hunting Zones - Boundary Descriptions of the Western Zone, the Northeastern Zone, the Lake Champlain Zone, the Southeastern Zone, and the Special Sea Duck Area
- Road Boundary Descriptions for Goose Hunting Areas - Descriptions of New York State's Goose hunting areas based on road boundary descriptions rather than Wildlife Management Units.
- Duck Hunting on Oak Orchard and Tonawanda - Hunters who would like to hunt ducks on Oak Orchard and Tonawanda must have a permit for Opening Day and the first weekend
