Waterfowl Season-Setting and Places to Hunt

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Duck Seasons

Most migratory game bird seasons in New York are determined based on five hunting zones approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To view detailed descriptions of these zones, visit the migratory bird hunting zone boundary descriptions page.

Determining the “best” duck season has always been a complex challenge due to the diverse factors affecting waterfowl hunting across the state. Duck abundance and migration patterns, access to land and water, weather conditions, and habitat vary significantly from one region to another—and throughout the year. Season preferences also differ among hunters; for instance, those pursuing wood ducks on small ponds may prioritize different timing compared to hunters targeting diving ducks on larger water bodies.

To create hunting season dates that best align with the needs of most hunters in each zone, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) developed a strategy to integrate hunter values with scientific data on duck abundance, migration, and recent weather patterns. In collaboration with the duck hunting community, DEC identified four key objectives for selecting duck season dates.   These were shared with licensed duck hunters, who were then asked to rank them from most to least important:

1. Hunting When Preferred Ducks Are Most Abundant
  Setting the season to align with peak abundance of the specific duck species hunters pursue, such as mallards over common mergansers.

2. Hunting During Peak Migration
  Scheduling the season when fresh waves of ducks arrive, rather than when populations are declining.

3. Hunting When Ducks Are Concentrated Due to Ice  
  Selecting dates when ice conditions cause ducks to gather in specific areas, enhancing the hunting experience.

4. Maximizing Opportunities to Hunt 
  Including as many holidays as possible to provide greater opportunities for hunters to participate. 

While these objectives highlight measurable factors contributing to the “ideal” duck season, they often compete with one another. For example, while duck abundance is crucial, the abundance of certain species—like mallards—is more relevant than others, such as scoters. Similarly, while migration is highly valued, many hunters place even greater importance on the concentration of ducks due to icing. Since icing can sometimes mimic migration patterns by forcing ducks to shift from smaller water bodies to larger, open water areas, DEC considered these two objectives separately. To ensure the decision process reflects the diverse priorities of hunters, DEC surveyed the entire duck hunting community in 2023. This survey provided every hunter with a voice in the process and enabled DEC to analyze responses for each hunting zone individually. By combining these insights with the latest data on migration, abundance, and weather, DEC established duck season dates for a three-year period. This multi-year framework allows hunters to plan trips and time off well in advance.

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

Canada Goose Seasons

Building on the approach used for setting duck season dates, DEC has developed a method to involve a broader segment of the waterfowl hunting community and directly integrate their values into the decision-making process. 

In January 2025, DEC conducted a survey of Harvest Information Program participants, seeking their input on key factors to consider when selecting Canada Goose season dates. With over 3,800 responses, DEC gained valuable insights into the preferences of goose hunters across different zones. Participants were asked to weigh the importance of factors such as Canada goose abundance, migration timing, overlap with duck seasons, ensuring harvested cornfields are cut, and avoiding conflicts with the southern zone firearms deer season. Additionally, DEC explored whether hunters’ priorities shifted if the bag limit was reduced to one bird per day.

Unlike the relatively stable frameworks for duck seasons (e.g., fixed season lengths and bag limits), Canada Goose frameworks are more dynamic and subject to frequent changes. Consequently, decisions regarding Canada Goose seasons will be made annually, guided by the latest abundance and migration data, as well as the allowable season length and bag limits.

Click on your zone below to learn more about the rationale behind the selected season dates.

Canada Goose Hunting Areas

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the Northeast area with info on abundance, corn cut and open dates for hunting
  • This area is considered a migratory Atlantic Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for Atlantic Population Canada geese allows for a 30-day hunting season.
  • In the Northeast Area, the season cannot open until the 4th Saturday in October.  Although peak abundance of Canada geese occurs prior to that, opening then captures the highest abundance possible.
  • Goose and duck seasons overlap perfectly, the 2nd most important objective to goose hunters in this area.
  • Although geese are leaving the Area as soon as the season opens, extending the season later in November allows for a higher percent of corn to be cut while geese are still abundant. 

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the West Central area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This area is considered a migratory Atlantic Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for Atlantic Population Canada geese allows for a 30-day hunting season.
  • In the West Central Area, the season cannot open until the 4th Saturday in October.  Opening then provides some overlap with duck season, captures the migration of Canada geese, and increasing abundance.
  • The split in the season avoids overlap with almost all the firearms deer season.
  • Reopening with the second split of duck season captures peak abundance and occurs after most of the corn has been harvested in this area.
  • Although overlap with duck season was the most important objective to goose hunters in this area, perfectly overlapping goose and duck seasons would miss migration and omit when geese are most abundant in the area.

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the East Central area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This area is considered a migratory Atlantic Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for Atlantic Population Canada geese allows for a 30-day hunting season.
  • In the East Central Area, the season cannot open until the 4th Saturday in October. That also coincides with peak abundance of Canada geese.
  • The later the season extends into November and December, fewer geese remain in the area.
  • Although overlap with duck season was the 2nd most important objective to goose hunters in this area, perfectly overlapping goose and duck seasons would omit when geese are most abundant in the area.
  • Similarly, although corn being cut was moderately important to goose hunters, waiting until when most corn is cut in the state would omit when geese are most abundant in the area.

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the Hudson Valley area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This area is considered a migratory Atlantic Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for Atlantic Population Canada geese allows for a 30-day hunting.
  • In the Hudson Valley Area, the season cannot open until the 4th Saturday in October.  Canada geese are still migrating into the Area at that point with abundance increasing.
  • Opening goose season concurrently with the second split of the duck season in November captures peak abundance, migration, 100% overlap of duck season, and the final harvest of corn. 

  • Lake Champlain is a shared area with Vermont.  Federal regulations require that the New York and Vermont Waterfowl season dates be identical.  The Vermont Fish & Wildlife board selects the dates for this area. Hunters wishing to provide their comments on this season can e-mail them to [email protected]

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the South area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This area is considered a Resident Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for Resident Population Canada geese allows for an 80-day hunting season.
  • In the South Area, the season cannot open until the 4th Saturday in October.  Although the first wave of Canada goose migration occurs prior to this, abundance is high, which was the most important objective to goose hunters in this area.
  • A second wave of goose migration and peak abundance is captured in late November and December, as corn harvest nears completion.
  • Overlapping the goose and duck seasons was the 2nd most important objective to goose hunters in this area.  Since both the Western and Southeastern Duck Areas are in this goose area, only one week of goose season doesn’t overlap a duck season. 

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the Western Long Island area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This area is considered a Resident Population goose area.  Because this area does not have a September season (due to perceived conflicts with other user groups), the current harvest strategy for Resident Population Canada geese allows for a 105-day hunting season.
  • In the Western Long Island Area, the season can open as early as September 1, however very few Canada geese are in the Area at that time.
  • The number of Canada geese migrating into the area rapidly increases in November.
  • A 105-day season starting in early November and running to late February captures peak abundance, migration, and 100% overlap with duck season. 

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the Central Long Island area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This zone is considered a low-harvest migratory North Atlantic Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for North Atlantic Population Canada geese allows for a 70-day hunting season with a 3-bird bag limit.
  • In the Central Long Island Area, the season can open as early as October 1, however very few Canada geese are in the area at that time.
  • Overlap with duck season was the 2nd most important objective to goose hunters in this area.  Starting the goose season with the first split of duck season captures the first wave of goose migration, with increasing abundance.
  • The second split of goose season captures peak abundance, overlaps with duck season, and occurs when most row crops have been harvested. 

Canada Goose Season Date Selections for the Eastern Long Island area with info on abundance, corn cut, and open dates for hunting
  • This zone is considered a high-harvest migratory North Atlantic Population goose area.  The current harvest strategy for North Atlantic Population Canada geese allows for a 60-day hunting season with a 2-bird bag limit.
  • In the Eastern Long Island Area, the season can open as early as October 1, however very few Canada geese are in the area at that time.
  • Overlap with duck season was the 2nd most important objective to goose hunters in this area.  Starting the goose season with the first split of duck season captures the first wave of goose migration, with increasing abundance.
  • The second split of goose season captures peak abundance, overlaps with duck season, and occurs when most row crops have been harvested. 

To provide feedback or ask questions about waterfowl season setting, please e-mail: Waterfowl Season Input Mailbox.

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Albany, NY 12233

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