RJ
05-31-2007, 05:09 PM
Early Announcement Will Allow Hunters to Plan Trips
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the tentative schedule for most of New York’s 2007-2008 waterfowl hunting seasons* allowing sportsmen and sportswomen to plan outdoor activities well in advance.
“We are announcing this schedule in advance to give all hunters who enjoy this sport a better opportunity to plan vacations and activities around the hunting seasons*” said Commissioner Grannis. “Although the dates won’t be final until late summer when federal regulations are official* we expect the tentative season dates will conform with federal requirements for the coming year.”
The September Canada goose season opens September 1* 2007 in most areas of the state. Tentative dates for this season are as follows:
Lake Champlain Zone: September 4-September 25
Long Island Zone: September 4-September 30
All other zones: September 1-September 25
The bag limit for geese during September is 8 per day* with the exception of the Lake Champlain Zone* where the limit will be 5 geese per day. The September season is designed to increase the harvest of local-nesting or “resident” Canada geese* which are causing more problems every year. Approximately 40*000 birds are taken annually by September goose hunters in New York* helping to slow the growth of populations where hunting is allowed.
The annual Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend will be held in each zone this Fall* providing additional days for junior hunters (ages 12-15) to hunt ducks* geese and brant. This special opportunity is intended to encourage experienced waterfowl hunters to help teach young hunters the techniques and ethics of this sport. The junior hunter must be fully licensed and accompanied by an adult hunter in accordance with all New York State regulations* and only the junior hunter may take birds on these days. Tentative dates for Youth Waterfowl hunting weekends (Saturday-Sunday) are as follows:
Northeastern and Southeastern Zones: September 22-23
Western Zone: October 13-14
Long Island Zone: November 10-11
Regular duck hunting seasons will begin during October in most zones and continue well into December or January in all areas. Tentative dates for duck seasons are as follows:
Northeastern Zone: October 6 - October 14 and October 24 - December 13
Southeastern Zone: October 13 - October 21 and November 10 - December 30
Western Zone: October 23 - December 6 and December 29 - January 12
Long Island Zone: November 29 - January 27
Regular fall hunting seasons for Canada geese follow different geographic boundaries than the standard zones for duck hunting* as described in DEC’s annual regulations brochure and on the DEC website. Tentative dates for regular Canada goose seasons are as follows:
Northeastern Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - December 10
West Central Goose Hunting Area: November 3 - December 2 and December 29 - January 12
East Central Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - November 16 and November 24 - December 17
Hudson Valley Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - November 16 and December 15 - January 7
South Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - December 16 and December 26 - January 13
Western Long Island: November 29 - February 6
Eastern Long Island: November 29 - January 27
These tentative season dates were developed by a team of DEC biologists representing all regions of New York State. The season selections are based on anticipated federal regulations for the coming year and hunter input* including recommendations from waterfowl hunter task forces established by DEC for each zone. DEC has used a task force approach since 1997* and it has been very helpful for setting seasons where hunter preferences are diverse.
No dates are available for the Lake Champlain Zone because they will be determined by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board following a mid-August public hearing in Burlington* Vermont. The dates will be based on recommendations received from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department* DEC* and public comments presented at the hearing. DEC urges New York waterfowl hunters to attend that hearing and provide input on Lake Champlain seasons.
As soon as the final federal waterfowl hunting regulations are known* the official State regulations for all the 2007-2008 waterfowl seasons will be posted on DEC’s website and announced by a statewide news release. Hunters should confirm the final season dates before going afield.
Copies of the 2007-2008 regulations brochure will be available in late September wherever hunting licenses are sold. DEC also plans to mail a copy of the brochure to everyone who registered in New York's Harvest Information Program (HIP) last year. HIP provides hunter names and addresses that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses for harvest surveys and DEC uses to mail hunters the annual regulations brochure. Hunters must register with HIP every year for every state where they intend to hunt. The HIP registration website and phone number will be activated in mid August.
For more information about waterfowl hunting in New York* visit the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov .
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the tentative schedule for most of New York’s 2007-2008 waterfowl hunting seasons* allowing sportsmen and sportswomen to plan outdoor activities well in advance.
“We are announcing this schedule in advance to give all hunters who enjoy this sport a better opportunity to plan vacations and activities around the hunting seasons*” said Commissioner Grannis. “Although the dates won’t be final until late summer when federal regulations are official* we expect the tentative season dates will conform with federal requirements for the coming year.”
The September Canada goose season opens September 1* 2007 in most areas of the state. Tentative dates for this season are as follows:
Lake Champlain Zone: September 4-September 25
Long Island Zone: September 4-September 30
All other zones: September 1-September 25
The bag limit for geese during September is 8 per day* with the exception of the Lake Champlain Zone* where the limit will be 5 geese per day. The September season is designed to increase the harvest of local-nesting or “resident” Canada geese* which are causing more problems every year. Approximately 40*000 birds are taken annually by September goose hunters in New York* helping to slow the growth of populations where hunting is allowed.
The annual Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend will be held in each zone this Fall* providing additional days for junior hunters (ages 12-15) to hunt ducks* geese and brant. This special opportunity is intended to encourage experienced waterfowl hunters to help teach young hunters the techniques and ethics of this sport. The junior hunter must be fully licensed and accompanied by an adult hunter in accordance with all New York State regulations* and only the junior hunter may take birds on these days. Tentative dates for Youth Waterfowl hunting weekends (Saturday-Sunday) are as follows:
Northeastern and Southeastern Zones: September 22-23
Western Zone: October 13-14
Long Island Zone: November 10-11
Regular duck hunting seasons will begin during October in most zones and continue well into December or January in all areas. Tentative dates for duck seasons are as follows:
Northeastern Zone: October 6 - October 14 and October 24 - December 13
Southeastern Zone: October 13 - October 21 and November 10 - December 30
Western Zone: October 23 - December 6 and December 29 - January 12
Long Island Zone: November 29 - January 27
Regular fall hunting seasons for Canada geese follow different geographic boundaries than the standard zones for duck hunting* as described in DEC’s annual regulations brochure and on the DEC website. Tentative dates for regular Canada goose seasons are as follows:
Northeastern Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - December 10
West Central Goose Hunting Area: November 3 - December 2 and December 29 - January 12
East Central Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - November 16 and November 24 - December 17
Hudson Valley Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - November 16 and December 15 - January 7
South Goose Hunting Area: October 27 - December 16 and December 26 - January 13
Western Long Island: November 29 - February 6
Eastern Long Island: November 29 - January 27
These tentative season dates were developed by a team of DEC biologists representing all regions of New York State. The season selections are based on anticipated federal regulations for the coming year and hunter input* including recommendations from waterfowl hunter task forces established by DEC for each zone. DEC has used a task force approach since 1997* and it has been very helpful for setting seasons where hunter preferences are diverse.
No dates are available for the Lake Champlain Zone because they will be determined by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board following a mid-August public hearing in Burlington* Vermont. The dates will be based on recommendations received from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department* DEC* and public comments presented at the hearing. DEC urges New York waterfowl hunters to attend that hearing and provide input on Lake Champlain seasons.
As soon as the final federal waterfowl hunting regulations are known* the official State regulations for all the 2007-2008 waterfowl seasons will be posted on DEC’s website and announced by a statewide news release. Hunters should confirm the final season dates before going afield.
Copies of the 2007-2008 regulations brochure will be available in late September wherever hunting licenses are sold. DEC also plans to mail a copy of the brochure to everyone who registered in New York's Harvest Information Program (HIP) last year. HIP provides hunter names and addresses that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses for harvest surveys and DEC uses to mail hunters the annual regulations brochure. Hunters must register with HIP every year for every state where they intend to hunt. The HIP registration website and phone number will be activated in mid August.
For more information about waterfowl hunting in New York* visit the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov .