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2009-10 Waterfowl Seasons

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset in all hunting zones

Non-toxic Shot: Required

FINAL 2009-10 Waterfowl Hunting Season Dates

Most waterfowl seasons are set based on five hunting zones that have been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Note: You must register with HIP to hunt any of these species.

Species Western Northeast Lake
Champlain
Southeast Long
Island
Youth Days # Oct 10 & 11 Sept 19 & 20 Sept 26 & 27 Sept 19 & 20 Nov 7 & 8
Ducks, Coots,
Mergansers
Oct 24 - Dec 6
Dec 26 - Jan 10
Oct 3 - Oct 11
Oct 23 - Dec 12
Oct 10 - Oct 13
Oct 24 - Dec 18
Oct 10 - Oct 18
Nov 7 - Dec 27
Nov 25 - Nov 29
Dec 8 - Jan 31
Sea Ducks same as above same as above same as above same as above Oct 17 - Jan 31*
Snow Geese Oct 24 - Dec 16
Dec 26 - Jan 10
Feb 2 - Mar 10
Oct 1 - Dec 31
Feb 24 - Mar 10
Oct 1 - Dec 29 Oct 10 - Jan 14
Mar 1 - Mar 10
Nov 24 - Mar 10
Brant Oct 3 - Nov 21 Oct 3 - Nov 21 Oct 10 - Nov 28 Oct 10 - Nov 28 Nov 25 - Nov 29
Dec 18 - Jan 31
Canada Geese
September Season^
Sept 1 - Sept 25 Sept 1 - Sept 25 Sept 8 - Sept 25 Sept 1 - Sept 25 Sept 8 - Sept 30
Canada Geese
Regular Season
see map for Regular Canada Goose Seasons

* In the special sea duck area only.

# Youth Days are additional days for Junior Hunters only. Young hunters, 12 to 15 years of age, possessing a junior hunting license may hunt ducks, coots, mergansers, Canada geese, and brant on 2 special days in each zone. Daily bag limits for ducks are the maximum allowed during the regular duck season, and 2 per day for Canada geese. Young hunters must be accompanied by a licensed (including current HIP registration and duck stamp) adult hunter, but the adult may not shoot any birds unless the respective regular season is open. Note: A 2008-09 hunting license is needed to hunt on any Youth Day in September 2009.

^ See map for September Canada Goose Season

2009-10 Waterfowl Bag Limits

The daily bag limit is the maximum number of birds of each species that any person may take or possess in the field during any one day. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for all waterfowl species except snow geese. The possession limit is the maximum number of birds that any person may possess in total in the field, at home, in transit or in storage.

Species Daily Limit Possession Limit
Ducks* 6 12
Sea Ducks** 7 14
Coot 15 30
Canada geese # see map
Snow geese 15 no limit
Brant 2 4

* The daily limit of 6 ducks includes all species of mergansers, and may include no harlequin ducks and no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be hens), 1 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 canvasback, 4 scoters or 2 hooded mergansers.

** The daily limit of 7 sea ducks (scoters, eiders and long-tailed ducks - formerly called oldsquaw) is in addition to the regular duck bag in coastal waters of the Long Island Zone only. No more than 4 scoters may be included in the daily bag of sea ducks. In all other areas, sea ducks are part of the regular duck bag limit.

# Cackling geese and white-fronted geese may be taken as part of the Canada goose daily and possession limits. Snow geese and Ross' geese may be taken as part of the snow goose limits.