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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.

• Find on this Page
• • Provide Input to the Task Forces
  • Western Zone Task Force
  • Southeastern Zone Task Force
  • Northeastern Zone Task Force
  • Long Island Zone Task Force
  • DEC Waterfowl Season Setting Team
• Important Links
• • Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces
  • Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
  • Waterfowl Hunting Zones
• Contact for this Page
• NYSDEC
  Bureau of Wildlife
  625 Broadway
  Albany, NY 12233-4754
  518-402-8883
  Send us an email
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