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Providing Input on Future Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

DEC invites waterfowl hunters to submit recommendations for the dates of the 2006/07 waterfowl hunting seasons to regional Waterfowl Season Task Forces or DEC's waterfowl season-setting team.

DEC established hunter task forces in 1997 to get specific recommendations for duck hunting season dates for areas of the State where hunter preferences vary widely. These Waterfowl Season Task Forces have helped DEC establish season dates that provide equitable duck hunting opportunities for the various interests in each zone.

DEC recently appointed task forces for the Western, Southeastern, and Northeastern Waterfowl Hunting Zones. The names and contact information for each member is provided below. The Task Force for each zone includes representatives from the New York State Conservation Council (NYSCC), established waterfowl hunting organizations, and individual waterfowl hunters who were chosen to provide a broad range of input. Task Force members act as representatives of all duck hunters in each zone, and they meet in spring to recommend a season for the coming year that best satisfies the diverse interests.

Seasons in the Long Island Zone will continue to be set by DEC's season-setting team, while seasons in the Lake Champlain Zone are set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Management Board, with consultation from DEC and input from hunters in New York and Vermont. Although there are no formal task forces in these two zones, sportsmen and women may send their input directly to DEC for consideration.

Input on duck seasons may be provided by contacting any Task Force member directly, or submit your comments using the link below and we will forward those to all members. Specific suggestions for opening and closing dates, including "split seasons" that divide the season into two periods (if desired), would be most useful. The recommended dates should be within the federal guidelines expected for this year, which is a 60-day duck season in each zone, scheduled in one or two time periods between September 23 and January 28.

Suggestions for duck seasons should be submitted by March 31, 2006, to be fully considered for this year's seasons, since the Task Forces are scheduled to meet in April. Input may be submitted after that date for future consideration.

Input on hunting seasons for other migratory game birds, including Canada geese, snow geese, brant, woodcock, snipe, rails and crows should be submitted using the link below or mailed to DEC, Attn: Waterfowl Seasons, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. Suggestions for these other migratory game bird seasons should be submitted by April 15.

We will select tentative hunting season dates for most waterfowl species in May, and these will be posted on the DEC website and announced by news release in June so hunters can make early vacation or travel plans. However, all hunters should confirm the final hunting seasons in September after all federal and state regulations have been finalized.

To see last year's hunting seasons, go to our 2005/2006 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons page.

2006/07 WATERFOWL SEASON TASK FORCES

Note: these lists were updated on March 16, 2006 to reflect some last minute changes in membership

The 2006/07 Waterfowl Season Task Force members are listed below in alphabetical order. You may contact anyone on these lists or submit comments to 2006/07 Waterfowl Season Input

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• Contact for this Page:
• NYSDEC
  Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources
  625 Broadway
  Albany, NY 12233-4750
  518-402-8924
  email us