2008-09 Waterfowl Seasons
Waterfowl seasons are set based on five hunting zones that have been approved by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service.Shooting Hours: Migratory waterfowl may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset in all hunting zones.
Non-toxic Shot: Required
2008-09 Duck, Snow Goose, & Brant Hunting Season Dates
Note: You must register with HIP to hunt any of these species.
| SPECIES | WESTERN | NORTHEAST | LAKE CHAMPLAIN |
SOUTHEAST | LONG ISLAND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Days # | Oct 11 & 12 | Sept 20 & 21 | Sept 27 & 28 | Sept 20 & 21 | Nov 8 & 9 |
| Ducks, Coots, Mergansers |
Oct 25 - Dec 7 Dec 27 - Jan 11 |
Oct 4 - Oct 13 Oct 25 - Dec 13 |
Oct 8 - Oct 12 Oct 25 - Dec 18 |
Oct 11 - Oct 19 Nov 8 - Dec 28 |
Nov 27 - Jan 25 |
| Sea Ducks | same as above | same as above | same as above | same as above | Oct 11 - Jan 25* |
| Scaup (2/day) | Dec 4 - Dec 7 Dec 27 - Jan 11 |
Nov 1 - Nov 20 | Oct 25 - Nov 13 | Nov 22 - Dec 11 | Jan 6 - Jan 25 |
| Snow Geese | Oct 25 - Dec 17 Dec 27 - Jan 11 Feb 2 - Mar 10 |
Oct 1 - Dec 31 Feb 24 - Mar 10 |
Oct 8 - Dec 29 | Oct 25 - Jan 17 Feb 17 - Mar 10 |
Oct 27 - Feb 10 |
| Brant | Oct 4 - Dec 2 | Oct 4 - Dec 2 | Oct 8 - Dec 6 | Oct 18 - Nov 2 Nov 8 - Dec 21 |
Nov 27 - Jan 25 |
| Canada Geese September Season |
see map for September Canada Goose Season | ||||
| Canada Geese Regular Season |
see map for Regular Canada Goose Seasons | ||||
* In the special sea duck area only.
# Youth Days are additional days for Junior Hunters only. Young hunters, 12 to 15 years of age, possessing a junior hunting license may hunt ducks, coots, mergansers, Canada geese, and brant on 2 special days in each zone. Daily bag limits for ducks are the maximum allowed during the regular duck season, and 2 per day for Canada geese. Young hunters must be accompanied by a licensed (including current HIP registration and duck stamp) adult hunter, but the adult may not shoot any birds unless the respective regular season is open. Note: A 2007-08 hunting license is needed to hunt on any Youth Day in September 2008.
2008-09 Waterfowl Bag Limits
The daily bag limit is the maximum number of birds of each species that any person may take or possess in the field during any one day. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for all waterfowl species except snow geese. The possession limit is the maximum number of birds that any person may possess in total in the field, at home, in transit or in storage.
| Species | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks* | 6 | 12 |
| SEA Ducks** | 7 | 14 |
| Coot | 15 | 30 |
| Canada geese # | see Canada Goose Seasons | |
| Snow geese | 15 | no limit |
| Brant | 3 | 6 |
* The daily limit for ducks includes mergansers, and may include no harlequin ducks, no canvasbacks, and no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be hens), 1 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 1 scaup (except during 20-day periods specified for each zone in the season date table above, when 2 scaup may be taken daily), 4 scoters or 2 hooded mergansers.
** The daily limit of 7 sea ducks (scoters, eiders and long-tailed ducks - formerly called oldsquaw) is in addition to the regular duck bag in coastal waters of the Long Island Zone only. No more than 4 scoters may be included in the daily bag of sea ducks. In all other areas, sea ducks are part of the regular duck bag limit.
# Cackling geese and white-fronted geese may be taken as part of the Canada goose daily and possession limits.