Waterfowl Season Input
DEC annually invites waterfowl hunters to submit recommendations for the dates of upcoming 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 Hunter Task Forces have helped DEC establish season dates that provide equitable duck hunting opportunities for the various interests in each zone.
DEC has appointed task forces for the Western, Southeastern, Northeastern and Long Island Waterfowl Hunting Zones. The names and contact information for current year members is provided below. Each Task Force 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.
There is no task force for the Lake Champlain Zone because seasons there 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 is no formal task force for this zone, interested hunters 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 the coming year (PDF, 15 KB), which is a 60-day duck season in each zone, split into no more than two segments per zone, and opening no earlier than the Saturday nearest September 24 and closing no later than the last Sunday in January.
Suggestions for duck seasons should be submitted by March 30 to be fully considered for the coming year's seasons, since the Task Forces usually meet in late March or 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 mailed to:
NYSDEC
Attn: Waterfowl Seasons
Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4754
Input can also be provided by e-mailing the Waterfowl Season Input mailbox (please leave "2013-14 Waterfowl Season Input" in the subject line).
We select tentative hunting season dates for most waterfowl species in May, and these are 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 view the most recent waterfowl hunting seasons, go to the Waterfowl Hunting Seasons page.
2013-14 Waterfowl Season Task Forces
The 2013-14 Waterfowl Season Task Force members are listed below in alphabetical order. You may contact anyone on these lists or send an email to the Waterfowl Season Input mailbox.
| Name | Address | Telephone & E-mail |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Adriance (Southeastern Area) |
1930 Cole Place Vestal, NY 13850 |
607-768-1528 (h) adriance@uic.com |
| Jim Eckler (NYS DEC) |
1385 Morgan Rd Savannah, NY 13146 |
315-365-2134 jteckler@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
| Ron Falkowski (Central NY Wildfowlers) |
767 Nichols Pt Rd Bridgeport, NY 13030 |
315-633-9567 ronfalkowski@netscape.net |
| George Gibbs (NYSCC - R7) |
159 Center St PO Box 264 Cleveland, NY 13042 |
315-675-6072 biggeo555@twcny.rr.com |
| Randy Holden (South Central Area) |
219 Breesport Rd Horseheads, NY 14845 |
607-739-6735 (h) 607-742-9886 (c) rholdenIII@stny.rr.com |
|
Wes Hopkins |
464 County Road 4 |
585-694-0754 (c) w_shopkins@yahoo.com |
| Bill Howell (Niagara Frontier Area) |
5859 Stinson Rd Arcade, NY 14009 |
585-496-5162 blhowell1@gmail.com |
| Bill Kalwas (Finger Lakes & Western NY Waterfowl Assn) |
39 Caledonia Ave Scottsville, NY 14546 |
585-749-4948 wkalwas@yahoo.com |
| Darin J. Katta (Southwestern New York) |
15 Seel Street Dunkirk, NY 14048 |
716-785-0713 dk007w@hotmail.com |
| Mark Kircher (NYSCC - R8) |
1023 Buffalo Road Rochester, NY 14624 |
585-303-5491 mailto:mark@upstatek.com |
| Nick Wansha (Lake Plains Waterfowl Assn) |
90 Kearney Dr Rochester, NY 14617 |
585-482-4594 nwansha@gmail.com |
| Ken Zolnowski (NYSCC - R9) |
30 Danbury Drive Cheektowaga, NY 14225 |
716-836-2239 (h) krz@pce.net |
| Name | Address | Telephone & E-mail |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Alexander (NYSCC - R3) |
170 Clinton Corners Rd Salt Point, NY 12578 |
845-266-5747 ekoroc@gmail.com |
| Tim Barnard (NYSCC - R4) |
21 Balsam Way Albany, NY 12205 |
518-527-0508 barnardtl@aol.com |
| John O'Connor (NYSDEC) |
1115 Route 86 Ray Brook, NY 12977 |
518-897-1296 jroconno@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
| Vince Olechnowicz (Catskill Area) |
258 Braymer Lane Delhi, NY 13753 |
607-746-6180 gwpoley@delhi.net |
| Jon Paninski (Central NY Wildfowlers) |
120 Campbell Rd Mattydale, NY 13211 |
315-427-0926 jonpaninski@gmail.com |
| Nathan Pieruzzi (Hudson River Waterfowlers) |
58 Salvino Drive Athens, NY 12015 |
518-469-3822 npieruzzi@hotmail.com |
| Mike Podgorski (NYSCC - R7) |
2287 Ferndell Rd Cazenovia, NY 13035 |
315-655-8067 goosedr@windstream.net |
| Dan Spigner (Waterfowl Improvement Assn) |
9 Academy St Greenwich, NY 12834 |
518-692-0017 spigs13@yahoo.com |
| Gary Will (Chenango Valley area) |
225 River Rd Hamilton, NY 13346 |
315-691-3168 gwill@twcny.rr.com |
| Name | Address | Telephone & E-mail |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Andruckiewicz (Saratoga-Lake George area) |
157 Cramer Rd Ballston Spa, NY 12020 |
518-587-9942 |
| Pete Barney (Northern New York Area) |
64 Old State Rd Potsdam, NY 13676 |
pmb10@cornell.edu |
| Kevin Bodmer (Central Adirondacks) |
236 Keese Mills Rd Paul Smiths, NY 12970 |
518-327-3022 kebodmer@roadrunner.com |
| Doug Carr (Central NY Wildfowlers) |
109 Roosevelt Ave Canastota, NY 13032 |
315-744-2114 dpcarr0306@yahoo.com |
| George Gedney (Waterfowl Improvement Assn) |
15 Stonehurst Dr Queensbury, NY 12804 |
518-361-9918 gedney@roadrunner.net |
| Tom Humberstone (North Central Area) |
2081 Coon Hill Rd Skaneateles, NY 13152 |
315-685-6819 |
| Andrew MacDuff (NYS DEC) |
317 Washington St Watertown, NY 13601 |
315-785-2534 ajmacduf@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
| Nick McNamara (Northern WMAs) |
1125 Co. Rt. 14 Rensselaer Falls, NY 13680 |
315-344-6580 mcnamara624@yahoo.com |
| Bill Saiff III (Ontario - St. Lawrence Area) |
PO Box 111 Brownville, NY 13615 |
315-771-3514 saiff@gisco.net |
| Kurt Snyder (Oneida Lake Assn) |
6429 Long Point Rd Brewerton, NY 13029 |
315-668-9156 lakerat2@twcny.rr.com |
| James Tracy (Upper Mohawk Area) |
5525 Marsh Rd Lee Center, NY 13363 |
315-337-6829 |
| Name | Address | Telephone & E-mail |
|---|---|---|
| John Adams (South Shore Waterfowlers Assoc) |
30 Diane Dr Manorville, NY 11949 |
631-618-5728 michjon30@msn.com |
| Robert Christensen (Oysterponds Rod & Gun Club) |
PO Box 14 Orient, NY 11957 |
631-566-0879 foxtrotter@optonline.net |
| Kelly Hamilton (NYS DEC) |
50 Circle Rd - SUNY Stony Brook, NY 11790 |
631-444-0255 kahamilt@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
| James Iannacone (Peconic River Sportsmans Club) |
275 Islip Blvd Islip Terrace, NY 11752 |
631-581-2977 blkdukdwn@verizon.net |
| Ron Kee (Smith Point Fish & Hunt Club) |
11 Skyhaven Dr Patchogue, NY 11772 |
917-753-4054 dipmaster10@aol.com |
| Steve Laurino (Manhasset Bay Sports Club) |
9 Corchaug Ave Prot Washington, NY 11050 |
516-729-9189 stevelaurino@gmail.com |
| Rich Otterstedt (Suffolk Co Alliance of Sportsmen) |
18 Ashford Dr Lake Grove, NY 11755 |
631-789-2480 rrcn98@aol.com |
| Jack Passie (South Fork of Long Island Area) |
8 South Fulton Street St. James, NY 11954 |
631-668-5741 charterboatwindy@yahoo.com |
| Ron Sineo (NYSCC - R1) |
10 Rutherford St St James, NY 11780 |
631-862-8518 duckboater@gmail.com |
| Erik Tallbe (Nassau Co Fish & Game Assn) |
10 Skylark Rd, Suite 101 Massapequa Park, NY 11762 |
631-427-0200 estallbe@aol.com |
| Name | DEC Region | Address & Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Kelly Hamilton kahamilt@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 1 | 50 Circle Rd - SUNY Stony Brook, NY 11790 631-444-0255 |
| Patricia Vissering plvisser@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 3 | 21 So Putt Corners Rd New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-3088 |
| Karl Parker keparker@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 4 | 1130 N. Westcott Rd Schenectady, NY 12306 518-357-2154 |
| John O'Connor jroconno@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 5 | Route 86, PO Box 296 Ray Brook, NY 12977 518-897-1296 |
| Andrew MacDuff ajmacduf@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 6 | 317 Washington St Watertown, NY 13601 315-785-2534 |
| Tom Bell tjbell@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 7 | 1285 Fisher Ave Cortland, NY 13045 607-753-3095 |
| Jim Eckler jteckler@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 8 | 1385 Morgan Rd Savannah, NY 13146 315-365-2134 |
| Connie Adams cmadams@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Region 9 | 270 Michigan Ave Buffalo, NY 14203 716-851-7010 |
| Bryan Swift blswift@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
Central Office | 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-4754 518-402-8922 |





