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For Release: Wednesday, September 29, 2004

DEC Announces Final 2004-2005 Waterfowl Hunting Dates

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced the final dates and regulations for New York State's 2004-05 waterfowl hunting seasons and encouraged sportsmen and women to renew their licenses to take advantage of the excellent hunting opportunities expected this fall.

"Healthy waterfowl populations and favorable habitat conditions are expected to provide an excellent hunting experience throughout New York this upcoming hunting season," Commissioner Crotty said. "Hunters will also benefit from the sustained recovery of migratory goose populations in northern Quebec, which allows DEC to offer generous Canada goose seasons in addition to the outstanding duck hunting opportunities normally available across the State."

Commissioner Crotty also urged hunters to adhere to simple safety guidelines to ensure a safe, enjoyable and successful season.

The season dates, summarized in the following table, were developed by a team of DEC biologists from around the State, with input from waterfowl hunting enthusiasts. New York's waterfowl seasons are based on federal regulatory requirements, plus input received from the public over the past several years. The final 2004-2005 season dates are as follows:

Duck Bag Limits

Daily bag limits for ducks are unchanged from last year. The total daily bag limit for ducks will be 6 birds, and may include no more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be hens), 1 black duck, 2 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 3 scaup, 4 scoters, 1 canvasback and no harlequin ducks. Pintails and canvasbacks may be taken only during half (30 days) of the regular duck season in each zone this year (see table above).

The special sea duck season listed above for the Long Island Zone applies to outer coastal waters only, defined as the coastal waters of New York State lying in Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Great Peconic Bay and associated bays, and any ocean waters lying south of Long Island. The daily bag limit for this season is 7 sea ducks (scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks - formerly called "oldsquaw"), including no more than 4 scoters.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days

Two Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days will be held in each zone, allowing junior hunters (12-15 years of age) to hunt ducks, coot, mergansers and Canada geese. This special opportunity is intended to encourage experienced waterfowl hunters to help teach young hunters the techniques and ethics of this sport. The junior hunter must be fully licensed and accompanied by a licensed adult hunter (possessing a HIP registration and duck stamp) in accordance with all New York State regulations, but only the junior hunter may take birds on this day. For Youth Days in September, a hunting license is required. Daily bag limits for Youth Days are the same as during regular waterfowl seasons, including 1 pintail, 1 canvasback and 2 Canada geese per day in all areas.

Canada Goose Seasons

Traditional fall Canada goose hunting seasons were suspended throughout most of New York during 1995-1998 in response to a dramatic decline in the number of geese breeding in northern Quebec. The population has made a strong recovery, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to allow 45-day seasons with a higher daily limit of 3 geese per day in most areas of New York. This increase in the daily bag limit was based on the large number of geese observed in northern Canada this spring, despite poor production this year. Longer seasons will be open in areas where migrant geese come from more stable Canadian populations and where local-nesting or resident geese make up most of the birds harvested. DEC has adopted goose hunting regulations that provide the maximum allowable hunting opportunity consistent with federal regulations.

Hunters should take note of some important changes that were made in the way regular Canada goose hunting seasons were established in New York, beginning in 2002. Instead of the 5 traditional zones that the USFWS allows New York to use for duck hunting seasons, the state is divided into nine "goose hunting areas" with seasons and bag limits set for each (see map below).

This new approach allows Canada goose hunting seasons to be tailored according to the origins of birds that occur in each area. In general, more liberal seasons (more days, higher bag limits) are allowed where resident geese make up a larger proportion of the harvest. Hunters should carefully study the new hunting areas and corresponding regulations before going afield. Detailed area descriptions, based largely on Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) and waterfowl zone lines, are listed in the annual waterfowl regulations brochure and on DEC's website.

One other change from last year is that in the Lake Champlain Goose Hunting Area only, all Canada goose and snow goose hunting ends at noon daily during the month of October. This regulation was adopted by Vermont (and applies to the Lake Champlain area) on an experimental basis. The intention of this regulation is to give birds migrating through this region time to feed undisturbed, which may extend hunting opportunities later into the season. Hunters in this area are encouraged to comment to DEC on this approach.

A map of the Canada goose hunting areas can be found at: www.dec.state.ny.us

Snow Goose and Brant Seasons

Hunting regulations for snow goose remain very liberal, with 107-day seasons, a daily bag limit of 15 per day, and no possession limit. Snow goose hunting seasons in most zones include an open period from February 24 - March 10, when some of these birds may begin their spring migration back through New York State. The Atlantic Flyway snow goose population has grown from 25,000 birds in the 1960s to more than 900,000 birds this spring, and biologists are concerned that these birds are causing long-term habitat and agricultural damage in breeding, migration and wintering areas.

As noted above, snow goose hunting in the Lake Champlain Zone ends at noon daily during the month of October.

Brant seasons have been reduced to 50 days, with a 2-bird daily bag limit this year, in response to lower population levels and poor production in the Canadian Arctic this summer.

Non-toxic Shot

Non-toxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting in New York State. Nine different non-toxic shot materials (steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-bronze, tungsten-iron, tungsten-matrix, tungsten-nickel-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-tin-bismuth, tungsten-tin-iron-nickel ) have been approved for waterfowl hunting in New York during the 2004-2005 season.

License and Stamp Requirements

All waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older must have a 2004 federal duck stamp to hunt during any of the 2004-2005 seasons, including those held in September 2004. Federal duck stamps cost $15 and are available at most post offices and some sporting goods stores. They are also available by calling toll-free 1-800-382-5499 or visiting the website www.duckstamp.com. Stamps must be signed across the face by the hunter before they become valid, but they do not have to be attached to the hunting license.

All migratory game bird (waterfowl, woodcock, snipe, rails and gallinules) hunters must also be registered with New York's Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) for the 2004-05 season and carry proof of compliance whenever going afield. Hunters must register for each license year and for each state in which they plan to hunt migratory game birds. To register in HIP, call toll-free 1-888-427-5447 (1-888-4 ASK HIP) or visit the website: http://www.wetland.net/. Registration takes only about 5 minutes, at the end of which a confirmation number is given as proof of compliance. Confirmation numbers issued this fall will be valid from September 1, 2004 through the end of the 2004-2005 license year (September 30, 2005).

Report Banded Birds

Hunters are encouraged to report any banded birds they shoot to the Federal Bird Banding Lab by calling the toll-free service at 1-800-327-BAND (2263). The best time to call is weekdays between 7 a.m.-5 p.m., but extended hours and weekend coverage are planned. The operator will want to know the band number and also how, when, and where it was recovered. Bands can also be reported to www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage/call800.htm. Tens of thousands of ducks and geese are banded in eastern North America every year and band reporting by hunters helps managers determine appropriate hunting regulations for each species.

Hunting Ethics

Hunters are reminded to be considerate of property owners and other people using the outdoors or residing close to waterfowl hunting areas. Following regulations, avoiding interference with other activities, and safe shooting all help to ensure a positive hunting experience and continued public support for hunting in New York State.

For More Information

Copies of New York's 2004-2005 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations brochure will be available soon at most license-issuing agents, DEC regional offices, and some post offices. A copy of the brochure will also be mailed to everyone who registered in HIP last year.

Final season dates and regulations have been posted on the DEC website at www.dec.state.ny.us. For additional information about waterfowl hunting contact any DEC regional wildlife office.

DEC encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to consider purchasing a Habitat/Access Stamp when they purchase their license. The Habitat/Access Stamp is a new optional stamp that is available to people who want to support the DEC's efforts to conserve habitat and increase public access for fish and wildlife related recreation. Buying a $5.00 habitat stamp is the perfect way for young or old, angler or hunter, birder or photographer to help conserve New York's fabulous wildlife heritage. More information is available on DEC's website.

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