Introduction to Waterfowl Hunting on Long Island
The following is a brief description of waterfowl hunting on Long Island. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather to serve as a starting point for waterfowl hunters unfamiliar with hunting here. For waterfowl regulations and season dates in all of New York, including Long Island, please see Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Regulations.
The Island
Hunting on Long Island is done in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, since there is no waterfowl hunting in Queens or the rest of New York City. The island is heavily urbanized in the west, gradually becoming less so as you travel east. Roughly halfway across Suffolk County, development becomes interspersed with tracts of agricultural areas. The north shore is best described as an abrupt change from the land to the Long Island Sound, with deep water just off shore. The south shore has a more gradual transition, with most of the Long Island being separated from the ocean by a barrier island. This geography provides a multitude of shallow bays, salt marshes and estuaries.
The tide is a major consideration in waterfowl hunting on the island. It influences the behavior of birds, and significantly affects navigation. The tide range (the difference between high and low tide) varies greatly across Long Island, from as much as 8 to 10 feet in Port Washington (western north shore), to as little as a foot or less in Moriches Bay. Most areas fall in between, with a 3 to 5 foot range.
There is approximately 12 hours between one high tide and the next, with low tide falling half-way in between. The highs and lows for the following day occur roughly 1 hour later. The specific details of each tide cycle (how high and how low, how quickly it changes, and at what time they occur) is influenced by many factors, including: location, geography (juxtaposition of islands vs. open water), distance to the nearest inlet(s), lunar phase, wind and storm surges (both local and ones out to sea).
It is important for a hunter to know the tides (both times and their extent) to get the most out of a hunting trip, and to return safely. Even a one foot drop in water level can leave a hunter stranded with water too shallow to navigate, and muck too thick to walk through. Strong, fast currents can develop that can challenge a boater's navigational skills, or even sweep a boat out to sea. Tide tables are available from many sources, including: newspapers, local TV stations, local marinas and bait shops, weather services, computer software (eg; Tides & Currents), or from websites such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Birds
Long Island has terrific waterfowling opportunities. It's a major wintering area for greater scaup, Atlantic brant, and black ducks. We are blessed/cursed (depending on who you talk with and when) with an abundance of Canada geese, and have plenty of mallards. Our zone has the Special Sea Duck Area, with its extended season and bag limits for scoter, eider and oldsquaw (see regulation guide for details). Just about every other species of duck common to New York can be found at one time or another, somewhere on the island. This includes species with no open season, such as an occasional harlequin duck or white-fronted goose, so hunters must be certain to identify their target before they shoot.
Proper waterfowl identification is critical for ethical and legal hunting. Novice and veteran hunters alike are encouraged to take the Waterfowl Hunter Education class, offered free by the DEC. Call the Sportsman Education Office (631-444-0255) for more information and to be added to the notification list for the next available class. See Sportsman Education Classes for additional courses available elsewhere in the state. With or without the Waterfowl Hunter Education class, Ducks at a Distance, an online waterfowl identification guide, can help hunters get a start on duck ID.
Areas
There are several DEC-managed tidal wetlands that are huntable from shore, but a dog or boat is generally needed for retrieving downed birds. A free 3-year seasonal access permit (42k pdf) is required, available from NYS DEC, ATTN: Sporting Licenses; SUNY@ Stony Brook, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409.
The Suffolk County Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Conservation also has six areas that are open to waterfowl hunting. These include T. Roosevelt (formally Montauk County Park, in Montauk); Cedar Point (Sag Harbor), Hubbard (via Sears-Bellows Park in Flanders), and Southaven (Southaven) Parks. Access to hunting is also available through Smith Point Park (Shirley) and Cupsogue Beach (in West Hampton Dunes). County residents are given preference, but nonresidents are accommodated, space permitting. For more information, contact: Suffolk County Parks, P.O. Box 144, West Sayville, NY 11796; (631) 854-4949.
Fire Island National Seashore (F.I.N.S.), run by the National Park Service, has five areas open to waterfowling: near Smith's Point (at the eastern end of F.I.N.S.), Long Cove, Saxton Island and Fire Island East and West (near Fire Island Inlet). Access permits are available at the Smith Point check station and the Fire Island Lighthouse check point (via Robert Moses parking field 5). Permits are available in person (only) generally starting the week before the season opens. Hunters need to bring their driver's license, hunting license, HIP number and Federal duck stamp to get the permit. For more information, view the F.I.N.S. website or contact the Smith Point station (631-281-3010), or the headquarters (631-289-4810) at F.I.N.S., 120 Laurel St., Patchogue, NY 11772.
Access
Most of Long Island waterfowl hunting is done on the bays. Unfortunately, access to the water is difficult. Finding access to the place you want to hunt is even harder. It is advisable to avoid crossing the bay, or any large expanse of open water during the winter. Dangerous weather conditions can form quickly.
There are a few public ramps, mostly operated by the town or county, that are left open during the winter. Some are free; some require a permit or a fee. In general, town-owned ramps require a permit (the fee for which is generally higher for nonresidents). Contact the town in which you plan to hunt to determine any specific requirements for accessing town-owned boat launches.
The NYS DEC Marine Fishing Access Unit also publishes a list of Boat Ramps in the Long Island Region. Contact the Marine Fishing Access Unit at NYSDEC Marine Resources, 205 N. Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY 11733-3400 (631) 444-0439 for more information or see Boat Launch Sites for Suffolk County.
Protect The Future of The Sport
Regardless of where you hunt, whether you hunt alone or with a guide or group, you should always be conscious of others, and the effects that your actions will have. You should act as if your every move is under close scrutiny, because it may be. This is particularly so in urbanized areas, like Long Island, where the majority of the population does not hunt, and may not understand hunting. Whatever you do may effect the sport for others. Don't turn non-hunters into anti-hunters. Long Island has some of the best waterfowling opportunities in the state; let's keep it that way.
