Waterfowl Season-Setting and Places to Hunt

Season Setting Process

Most migratory game bird seasons are set based on five hunting zones that have been approved by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service. For written descriptions of these zones see the waterfowl zones page.

Choosing the “best” duck season in New York has always been a challenging task, because duck abundance and migration, land and water access, weather, and habitat vary widely across the state and through the year. In addition to the annual variation in environmental factors (i.e. weather), season dates preferred by hunters chasing wood ducks on small ponds and wetlands may be very different than seasons preferred by someone who hunts diving ducks on large water bodies. To select the season dates in each zone that may work best for most hunters, we need to understand what is important to hunters and pair those values with actual data on duck abundance, migration, and recent weather patterns.

Based on input from duck hunters, DEC developed the following objectives and asked all licensed duck hunters to prioritize them from most to least important:  

1. Maximize the opportunity to hunt when ducks I like to hunt are most abundant; 
2. Maximize the opportunity to hunt when ducks I like to hunt are migrating; 
3. Maximize the opportunity to hunt when ducks are likely to be concentrated due to ice; and 
4. Maximize the opportunity to go hunting (i.e., holidays). 

These objectives represent desired changes to different, measurable, attributes of what would make the “best” duck season. If all the objectives could be fully met, we'd have an obvious "best" duck season and a complex process wouldn’t be necessary. However, with duck seasons, any potential season date configuration will only partially meet each objective. Abundance of ducks is clearly important, but more important is the abundance of specific duck species that are most pursued by hunters (i.e., mallards are significantly more important to hunters than scoters). Also of note, while duck hunters appreciate the increased effectiveness of decoying ducks during migration, many also considered the concentration of ducks due to icing to be even more important. Because icing may create the illusion of migration as ducks forced off small water bodies by ice make short-distance movements to larger, open waterbodies, we incorporated the two objectives separately.

In 2023, DEC surveyed all duck hunters to gauge the relative importance of the objectives listed above. By using a survey, DEC gave all duck hunters a voice in the decision process and could analyze the data distinctly for each duck hunting zone. DEC then combined hunter values with migration, abundance, and weather data to determine the duck season dates for the next 3 years of in each zone. Establishing a framework for duck season dates over a 3-year period allows hunters to plan time off and trips well ahead of time.

Season dates for each waterfowl zone 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 (barring federal changes to season length) 

For an explanation of season dates and how the chosen alternative best fit duck migration and hunter values: 

• Western Zone Season Dates Explanation (PDF)
• Southeast Zone Season Dates Explanation (PDF)
• Northeast Zone Season Dates Explanation (PDF)
• Long Island Zone Season Dates Explanation (PDF)

Also, DEC has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

Waterfowl Season Task Forces

Below is the contact information for the task force members in the Western, Southeastern, Northeastern and Long Island Waterfowl Hunting Zones. The names and contact information for current task force members can be found below. Task Force members act as representatives of all duck hunters in each zone, and they meet each spring to make suggestions to DEC for Canada goose, brant, youth, and other special season dates.

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.

You can provide input on Canada goose, brant, youth season dates or any other general comments about waterfowl hunting in New York by:

• directly contacting one of the task force members in your zone - the list of members can be found on the DEC website, or
• sending an email to the Waterfowl Season Input Mailbox - suggestions sent to this inbox will be forwarded to all task force members in the zone.

DEC Waterfowl Season Setting Team

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

DEC established youth waterfowl days in 1996. This special two-day hunt prior to the regular season in each waterfowl hunting zone provides young waterfowl hunters (ages 12-15) with the opportunity to spend time afield with an experienced adult hunter pursuing ducks, geese, and brant. The timing of the Youth Waterfowl Hunt allows for a break in hunting between the youth hunt and the beginning of the regular waterfowl season (usually 1-3 weeks depending on the zone). Holding the youth waterfowl hunt before the start of the regular season allows participants an increased opportunity to harvest local and early migrating waterfowl. Preseason Youth Days also tend to have milder weather and help young hunters develop the skills needed to be successful during the regular season.

Daily bag limits are equal to the maximum daily bag limit during the regular season. Junior hunters must be fully licensed and registered with HIP (see link for HIP above; a federal duck stamp is not required for 12-15 year-olds). The junior hunter must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter (including current HIP registration and duck stamp) in accordance with all New York State regulations. Only the junior hunter may take birds on these days, unless the respective regular season is open.

Migratory game bird hunting regulations are set by the Federal government in the spring and final waterfowl seasons and bag limits are announced in July. Be sure to visit the Waterfowl Hunting Seasons page or review the Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide prior to going afield.

Long Island Youth Waterfowl Program

This two-day program is a special event to help junior hunters prepare for and participate in the Youth Waterfowl Days. 

All applicants will be required to attend the instructional day at the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club. Certified Hunter Education Instructors, knowledgeable volunteers, and Environmental Conservation Police Officers will be present to guide you through the program and help you learn to become a part of the long tradition of waterfowl hunting on Long Island.

Participants must:

• Be 12-15 years of age on or before the first Youth Waterfowl Day
• Have a completed Hunter Education Course prior to the instructional day
• Possess a Junior Hunting License by the first Youth Waterfowl Day
• Register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP): information on how to do this will be provided on the instructional day

View the Annual Youth Program pamphlet (PDF) for information on dates and requirements.

To register for the Youth Waterfowl Program, please call or email the Region 1 Hunter Education Office at (631) 444-0255 no later than October 11, 2024.

Space is limited to 25 students.

Places to Hunt Waterfowl

Click on a waterfowl hunting zone below for a list of places to hunt:

• Western
• Southeastern
• Northeastern
• Lake Champlain
• Long Island

Western Zone

Southeastern Zone

Northeastern Zone

Lake Champlain Zone

Long Island Zone