RJ
08-16-2007, 03:45 PM
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.
The season selections for 2007-2008 are as follows:
2007-2008 WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASONS
Species Western
Zone Northeastern
Zone Lake Champlain Zone Southeastern
Zone Long Island
Zone
Ducks* Coot and
Mergansers Oct 23 - Dec 6
Dec 29 - Jan 12 Oct 6 - Oct 14
Oct 24 - Dec 13 Oct 10 - Oct 14
Oct 27 - Dec 20 Oct 13 - Oct 21
Nov 10 - Dec 30 Nov 29 - Jan 27
Sea Ducks* same as above same as above same as above same as
above Oct 13 - Jan 27*
Youth Days Oct 13 & Oct 14 Sept 22 & Sept 23 Sept 29 & Sept
30 Sept 22 & Sept 23 Nov 10 & Nov 11
Canada Geese Sept 1 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 1 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 4 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 1 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 4 - Sept 30
see map below
Snow Geese Nov 3 - Dec 6
Dec 29 - Mar 10 Oct 6 - Dec 10
Jan 30 - Mar 10 Oct 10 - Dec 29 Oct 27 - Jan 19
Feb 18 - Mar 10 Nov 1 - Feb 15
Brant Oct 1 - Nov 19 Oct 6 - Nov 24 Oct 10 - Nov 28 Oct 13 - Oct 21
Nov 10 - Dec 20 Dec 9 - Jan 27
* in Special Sea Duck Area described below.
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 .
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.
The season selections for 2007-2008 are as follows:
2007-2008 WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASONS
Species Western
Zone Northeastern
Zone Lake Champlain Zone Southeastern
Zone Long Island
Zone
Ducks* Coot and
Mergansers Oct 23 - Dec 6
Dec 29 - Jan 12 Oct 6 - Oct 14
Oct 24 - Dec 13 Oct 10 - Oct 14
Oct 27 - Dec 20 Oct 13 - Oct 21
Nov 10 - Dec 30 Nov 29 - Jan 27
Sea Ducks* same as above same as above same as above same as
above Oct 13 - Jan 27*
Youth Days Oct 13 & Oct 14 Sept 22 & Sept 23 Sept 29 & Sept
30 Sept 22 & Sept 23 Nov 10 & Nov 11
Canada Geese Sept 1 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 1 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 4 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 1 - Sept 25
see map below Sept 4 - Sept 30
see map below
Snow Geese Nov 3 - Dec 6
Dec 29 - Mar 10 Oct 6 - Dec 10
Jan 30 - Mar 10 Oct 10 - Dec 29 Oct 27 - Jan 19
Feb 18 - Mar 10 Nov 1 - Feb 15
Brant Oct 1 - Nov 19 Oct 6 - Nov 24 Oct 10 - Nov 28 Oct 13 - Oct 21
Nov 10 - Dec 20 Dec 9 - Jan 27
* in Special Sea Duck Area described below.
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 .