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:
- Maximize the opportunity to hunt when ducks I like to hunt are most abundant;
- Maximize the opportunity to hunt when ducks I like to hunt are migrating;
- Maximize the opportunity to hunt when ducks are likely to be concentrated due to ice; and
- 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)
Zone | 1st Split | 2nd Split |
---|---|---|
Western | Oct 12 - Nov 3 | Dec 7 - Jan 12 |
Southeast | Oct 12 - Oct 20 | Nov 9 - Dec 29 |
Northeast | Oct 12 - Dec 1 | Dec 14 - Dec 22 |
Long Island | Nov 23 - Dec 1 | Dec 7 - Jan 26 |
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).
DEC is in the final stages of developing a similar process for Canada goose season dates that will be posted on this webpage later this spring.
To provide feedback or ask questions about waterfowl season setting, please e-mail: Waterfowl Season Input Mailbox.
Places to Hunt Waterfowl

Click on a waterfowl hunting zone below for a list of places to hunt:
Western Zone
County | Property Name | Special Regulations | Lottery | For More Information Call |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cayuga | Bear Swamp State Forest | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Cayuga, Tompkins | Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | Yes | Yes | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Erie | Beaver Island State Park | Yes | Yes | 716-773-3271 |
Erie | Evangola State Park | Yes | No | 716-549-1760 |
Livingston | Conesus Inlet WMA | No | No | 585-226-5380 |
Monroe | Braddock Bay WMA | No | No | 585-948-5182 |
Niagara | Fort Niagara State Park | Yes | Yes | 716-795-3885 |
Niagara | Golden Hill State Park | Yes | Yes | 716-795-3885 |
Niagara | Wilson-Tuscarora State Park | Yes | Yes | 716-795-3885 |
Onondaga | Cross Lake Island WMA | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Onondaga | Hamlin Marsh WMA | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Onondaga | Three Rivers WMA | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Ontario, Livingston | Honeoye Inlet WMA | No | No | 585-226-5380 |
Ontario, Yates | High Tor WMA | No | No | 607-776-2165 |
Orleans, Genesee | Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge | Yes | Yes | 585-948-5445 |
Orleans, Genesee | Oak Orchard WMA | Yes | Yes | 585-948-5182 |
Orleans, Niagara, Genesee | Tonawanda WMA | Yes | Yes | 585-948-5182 |
Schuyler | Catharine Creek WMA | No | No | 607-776-2165 |
Schuyler | Waneta-Lamoka WMA | No | No | 607-776-2165 |
Seneca, Wayne, Cayuga | Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge | Yes | Yes | 315-568-5987 |
Tompkins | Dryden Lake WMA | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Wayne | Galen WMA | No | No | 315-365-2134 |
Wayne | Lake Shore Marshes WMA | No | No | 315-365-2134 |
Seneca, Wayne, Cayuga | Northern Montezuma WMA | No | No | 315-365-2134 |
Southeastern Zone
County | Property Name | Special Regulations | Lottery | For More Information Call |
---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia | Rogers Island WMA | No | No | 518-357-2152 |
Columbia | Stockport WMA | No | No | 518-357-2152 |
Dutchess | Tivoli Bays WMA | No | No | 845-256-3098 |
Greene | Vosburgh Swamp WMA | No | No | 518-357-2154 |
Greene, Ulster | Great Vly WMA | No | No | 518-357-2154 |
Orange | Stewart State Forest | Yes | No | 845-256-3098 |
Saratoga | Victory Mills WMA | No | No | 518-623-1240 |
Saratoga | Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve | Yes | No | 518-371-6681 |
Sullivan | Bashakill WMA | Yes | Yes | 845-256-3098 |
Northeastern Zone
County | Property Name | Special Regulations | Lottery | For More Information Call |
---|---|---|---|---|
Clinton | Lake Alice WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Franklin | Chazy Highlands WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Jefferson | Perch River WMA | Yes | No | 315-785-2261 |
Oswego | Happy Valley WMA | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
Oswego | Three Mile Bay WMA | No | No | 607-753-3095 x247 |
St. Lawrence | Upper and Lower Lakes WMA | Yes | No | 315-265-3090 |
St. Lawrence | Wilson Hill WMA | Yes | No | 315-705-5539 |
Washington | Carters Pond WMA | No | No | 518-623-1240 |
Lake Champlain Zone
County | Property Name | Special Regulations | Lottery | For More Information Call |
---|---|---|---|---|
Clinton | Ausable Marsh WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Clinton | Kings Bay WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Clinton | Montys Bay WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Essex | Putts Creek WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Essex | Wickham Marsh WMA | No | No | 518-897-1291 |
Washington | Maple Bend Island WMA | No | No | 51-623-1240 |
Washington | East Bay WMA | No | No | 518-623-1240 |
Washington | Poultney River Wetlands | No | No | 802-229-4425 |
Long Island Zone
County | Property Name | Special Regulations | Lottery | For More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Suffolk | Cedar Point County Park | Yes | Yes | 631-852-7260 |
Suffolk | Hubbard County Park | Yes | Yes | 631-852-8290 |
Suffolk | Montauk County Park | Yes | Yes | 631-852-7878 |
Suffolk | Multiple NYSDEC Tidal Wetlands | Yes | No | 631-444-0310 |
Suffolk | Southaven County Park | Yes | Yes | 631-852-1391 |