Shooting Hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Non-toxic Shot: Required
Season Zones: Most waterfowl seasons are set based on five waterfowl hunting zones that have been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
NOTE: (1) The following hunting season dates have been finalized. Be sure to check all regulations before going hunting; and (2) You must register with HIP to hunt any of these species.
| Species | Western | Northeast | Lake Champlain |
Southeast | Long Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Days | Oct 13 & 14 | Sept 22 & 23 | Sept 29 & 30 | Sept 29 & 30 | Nov 10 & 11 |
| Ducks, Coots, Mergansers |
Oct 27 – Dec 9 Dec 29 – Jan 13 |
Oct 6 – Oct 14 Oct 27 – Dec 16 |
TBD | Oct 13 – Oct 21 Nov 10 – Dec 30 |
Nov 23 – Nov 25 Dec 2 – Jan 27 |
| Sea Ducks | same as above | same as above | same as above | same as above | Oct 13 – Jan 27 |
| Snow Geese | Oct 1 – Apr 15 | Oct 1 – Apr 15 | TBD | Oct 1 – Apr 15 | Nov 23 – Mar 9 |
| Brant | Oct 6 – Nov 24 | Oct 6 – Nov 24 | TBD | Oct 13 – Dec 1 | Nov 23 – Nov 25 Dec 12 – Jan 27 |
| Canada Goose Seasons |
see map for Canada Goose Seasons | ||||
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 2011-12 hunting license is needed to hunt on any Youth Day in September 2012.
In the special sea duck area only.
TENTATIVE 2012-13 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 map | |
| Snow geese | 25 | no limit |
| Brant | 2 | 4 |
* The daily limit of 6 ducks includes all species of mergansers, and may include no harlequin ducks and no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be hens), 1 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 canvasback, 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. Blue geese and Ross’ geese may be taken as part of the snow goose limits.
