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Monday, August 20, 2007
2007-2008 NYS Waterfowl Information
DEC ANNOUNCES 2007-2008 WATERFOWL SEASON SELECTIONS
September Goose and Other Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Provide Diverse
Hunting Opportunities Across the State
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the Department’s season
selections and other regulations for waterfowl hunting this fall. These
season selections will become official as soon as federal and state
rule-making procedures are finalized in the next several weeks.
Commissioner Grannis urged experienced as well as novice hunters to make
plans now to spend more time outdoors this fall and take advantage of
the diverse waterfowl hunting opportunities available across the state.
“Most waterfowl populations that hunters encounter in New York
are in excellent shape this year, due to favorable breeding habitat
conditions across North America. This should mean plenty of opportunity
if weather conditions are favorable for hunting this fall and winter,”
Commissioner Grannis said. From September goose hunting across the
state to late January duck and goose seasons on Long Island, New York
hunters have nearly 5 months of opportunity if they are willing and able
to travel and seek out potential hunting areas.
Commissioner Grannis also urged hunters to follow simple safety
guidelines, and use good judgement when choosing a time and place to
hunt. Being considerate of other people enjoying the outdoors or who
live nearby can help avoid potential conflicts and ensure a safe and
enjoyable season. As coastal areas become more populated, new
landowners unfamiliar with the safety, ethics and traditions of
waterfowl hunting often respond by seeking to limit hunter access to
important waterfowl hunting areas. Hunters should consider voluntary
measures to minimize disturbance of local residents whenever possible.
This year’s season selections, summarized in the table below,
were developed by a team of DEC biologists from around the State, with
much input from waterfowl hunting enthusiasts. New York's waterfowl
seasons are based on federal regulatory requirements and input received
from hunters.
Some highlights of this year’s regulations are noted below.
September Canada Goose Seasons
Fall waterfowl hunting begins with the September Canada goose
season, which opens in most of upstate New York on September 1, and will
open on Tuesday, September 4 in the Lake Champlain and Long Island
Zones. The September goose hunting season is a great opportunity for
new waterfowl hunters to get started, since the weather is mild,
identification of geese is easy, and Canada geese are abundant
throughout the state at that time of year. The September season is
timed so that nearly all of the birds taken are local-nesting or
“resident” Canada geese. On average, more than 40,000 geese are
taken by New York hunters each September, and this has helped slow the
growth of these local flocks and can help alleviate problems caused by
geese in areas where hunting is allowed.
The daily bag limit for the September Canada goose season is
eight geese per day (16 in possession), except in the Lake Champlain
Zone, where the bag limit is five per day and 10 in possession. All
other regulations for the September goose season are the same as in
2006-07.
Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days
A Youth Waterfowl Hunting weekend will be held in each zone (see
above table), allowing junior hunters (12-15 years of age) to hunt
ducks, coot, mergansers, Canada geese and brant. This special weekend
provides an opportunity for experienced waterfowl hunters to teach young
hunters the techniques and ethics of this sport. However, most adult
companions report that it is as much fun for them as it is for the youth
hunter!
The junior hunter must be fully licensed and accompanied by a
licensed adult hunter in accordance with all New York State regulations,
but only the junior hunter may take birds on this day (unless the
respective regular season is open, such as Canada geese during
September). Both the adult and youth need to have a new (2007) Harvest
Information Program (HIP) registration, and the adult companion must
also have a new (2007) federal duck hunting stamp. For Youth Hunt Days
in September, a 2006-2007 (last year’s) hunting license is required.
Daily bag limits for Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days are the same as
during regular waterfowl seasons, except that only two Canada geese may
be taken on Youth Days that fall outside of the September Canada goose
season.
Regular Duck Seasons
The duck season selections for each zone were based largely on
hunter input, with the goal being to provide opportunities for the
diverse hunting interests in each zone. In the Western, Northeastern,
Southeastern, and Long Island zones, DEC adopted dates that were
recommended by regional waterfowl hunter task forces that met in April
2007. This approach has helped DEC select equitable seasons in some
zones for nearly a decade. A recent survey of duck hunters in New York
showed strong support for using this approach to select season dates.
Dates for the Lake Champlain Zone were set by the Vermont Fish
and Wildlife Board, based on recommendations received from the Vermont
Fish and Wildlife Department, DEC, and public input at meetings during
August in Whitehall, New York and Burlington, Vermont. Approximately
100 people attended those meetings, and reaction to the season
selections was very favorable.
Duck Bag Limits
Daily bag limits for ducks are similar to last year, with one
notable change. 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, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback,
2 hooded mergansers, 4 scoters, and no harlequin ducks. The change from
last year is that hunters will be allowed to take up to 2 canvasbacks
per day for the first time in more than 20 years, due to record high
populations in North America this year.
Special Sea Duck Season
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.
Regular 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 from less than 30,000 pairs in
1995 to 195,000 pairs in 2007, allowing New York to have 45-day seasons
with a daily limit of 3 geese in most areas of the State. Even longer
seasons will be open on Long Island and across the Southern Tier of New
York, where local-nesting or “resident” geese make up most of the
birds harvested.
Hunters should take note that regular Canada goose hunting
seasons do not follow the same hunting zone boundaries as other
waterfowl seasons in New York. Instead of the five traditional zones
that New York uses for duck hunting seasons, the State is divided into
eight “goose hunting areas” with seasons and bag limits set for each
(see map below). This 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.
This approach has been used since 2002, although some boundary changes
have occurred over the years. The only boundary change this year will
be for goose seasons on Long Island, which will extend the area with
more liberal hunting regulations eastward from the William Floyd Parkway
to near Riverhead.
In the South Goose Hunting Area this year, an additional 10 days
of hunting during early March was selected, pending final approval by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This additional harvest opportunity
should help control the growth of local-nesting populations in this
region, where few if any geese migrating back to Canada are likely to
occur.
Goose hunters should carefully study the hunting area boundaries
and corresponding regulations before going afield. Detailed area
descriptions, based largely on Wildlife Management Units (WMU) and some
waterfowl zone lines, are listed in the annual waterfowl regulations
brochure and on DEC’s website.
Snow Goose and Brant Seasons
Hunting regulations for snow goose remain very liberal, with
107-day seasons, a daily bag limit of 15 geese, and no possession limit.
Snow goose seasons in several zones include an open period extending to
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 nearly 1 million birds in recent
years. Biologists are concerned that these birds are causing long-term
habitat and agricultural damage in breeding, migration and wintering
areas. Due to these concerns, there is a possibility that some
additional harvest (after March 10) may be allowed by U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service in spring 2008, but this will be decided later this
fall apart from adoption of normal hunting season regulations.
Brant seasons have been increased to 50 days (from 30 days last
year), with a 2-bird daily bag limit, following a second year of good
population levels in the flyway last winter. New York has had record
numbers of brant wintering on Long Island the past 2 years (estimated at
more than 50,000 birds), so hunters may find excellent brant hunting
opportunity again this year.
Non-toxic Shot
Non-toxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting in New York
State. At least 10 different non-toxic shot materials have been
approved for waterfowl hunting in New York during the 2007-2008 season.
These are listed in the annual regulations brochure.
License and Stamp Requirements
All waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older must have a 2007
federal duck stamp to hunt during any of the 2007-08 seasons, including
those held in September 2007. 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 1-800-852-4897 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, including junior hunters (age 12-15), must register
with New York’s Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) prior
to hunting in any of the 2007-2008 seasons. HIP registrations are valid
from July 1 through June 30 annually (the same as federal duck stamps),
so every migratory game bird hunter needs to register in HIP for
2007-2008 before going afield on or after September 1 this fall. This
is necessary to accommodate federal harvest surveys. Hunters must
register every year and for each state in which they plan to hunt
migratory game birds, and they must carry proof of compliance whenever
going afield.
To register in HIP, call toll-free 1-888-427-5447 (1-888-4 ASK
HIP) or visit the website: www.wetland.net. Registration is free and
takes only about 5 minutes, after which a confirmation number is given
as proof of compliance.
Report Banded Birds
Hunters are encouraged to report any banded birds they shoot to
the federal Bird Banding Lab. A new internet reporting option is
available this year (www.reportband.gov) in addition to toll-free
telephone reporting (1-800-327-2263). Either reporting system will ask
for the band number and how, when, and where it was recovered. Tens of
thousands of ducks and geese are banded in North America every year and
band reporting by hunters helps managers determine appropriate hunting
regulations for each species. DEC staff and cooperators annually band
more than 5,000 ducks and geese to help monitor populations and harvest
pressure.
Bird Flu Surveillance
DEC staff will be working with U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Wildlife Services staff again this fall and winter to test wild
waterfowl for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (HPAI).
Avian influenza, or “bird flu” is a disease of birds that is often
found in wild waterfowl. There are many strains of the virus, but the
H5N1 virus is of particular concern because it has made many domestic
birds (poultry) and a few hundred people sick in Asia, Europe and
Africa. Sampling and testing of wild birds is part of an international
effort to provide early detection of H5N1 virus in North America.
DEC and USDA plan to sample approximately 1,500 birds in New
York during 2007-2008, most of which we hope to obtain from cooperating
hunters. Last year, more than 1,600 birds were tested from New York
and nearly 100,000 have been tested from across North America. To date,
there have been no detections of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in
North America. A small number of samples have tested positive for less
pathogenic forms of avian influenza that are not of concern to wildlife
or public health officials. DEC requests the cooperation of hunters and
others in the sampling if they are contacted in the field and asked to
allow samples to be collected. Primary species of interest include
mallards, diving ducks, Canada geese and brant. Sampling entails a
simple swab of harvested birds, and recording of information about each
bird and where it was taken.
Hunter Responsibilities and 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, using safe and responsible shooting
practices, and avoiding interference with other activities, all help to
ensure a positive hunting experience and continued public acceptance of
hunting in New York State.
Waterfowl hunters in New York may shoot at migratory birds over
water from within 500 feet of a dwelling, public structure or person, as
long as none of those are in the line of fire and the hunter is not
trespassing. This special provision of New York’s Environmental
Conservation law has been in effect for decades, but some conflicts and
misunderstanding have arisen in recent years, as coastal areas have
become more developed. The South Shore Waterfowlers Association (SSWA)
of Long Island initiated and helped develop a pocket reference card that
explains some of New York’s waterfowl hunting regulations and
encourages waterfowl hunters to follow a code of ethics. The text of
the card appears on page 67 of New York’s 2007-2008 Hunting and
Trapping guide. DEC appreciates SSWA’s leadership in this issue and
can provide copies of the pocket reference card to anyone upon request.
For More Information
Copies of New York’s 2007-2008 Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and
Regulations brochure will be available in September at most
license-issuing agents, DEC regional offices, and some post offices.
However, most regulations and a copy of the official brochure will be
available sooner on the DEC website. In addition, a copy of the
brochure will be mailed to everyone who registered in HIP last year.
For additional information about waterfowl hunting in New York,
contact any DEC wildlife office. Contact infomaration for all regional
offices can be found on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov .
