Season dates and updated regulations for the 2016-17 waterfowl hunting season in the North Country have been finalized by federal wildlife officials and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

With the early release of federal season dates and regulatory changes, final season dates are available well in advance of the fall hunting seasons, providing ample time to plan hunting activities.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting

Duck hunting seasons begin with designated “youth waterfowl hunts” in each zone of the state. These youth hunts are great opportunities for junior hunters (12 to 15 years of age) to be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter (including those with current Harvest Information Program registration and duck stamp – see below) and learn the skills necessary to become a successful waterfowl hunter. The adult should not possess a firearm while accompanying a youth who is hunting ducks on any of these days. The daily bag limits during the youth hunts is the same as during the regular season. The youth hunts are held on weekends in the Northeastern Zone Sept. 17-18.

Duck Season

There are notable changes to the Northeast Zone regular duck season. The Northeast Zone opens Oct. 8.

The Northeast Zone task force chose to maximize the number of hunting days in October, while avoiding overlapping opening dates. Possession limits for all ducks remains three times the daily bag limit. The Southeast task force sought to provide early opportunity for locally-nesting and early-migrating ducks by starting the season on Oct. 1.

A full explanation of hunting season rationales, developed by the hunter task forces, can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28513.html.

Goose and Brant Season

The September Canada goose seasons begin Sept. 1 throughout Upstate New York providing an additional 50 days to pursue these popular game birds during this fall and winter.

Resident geese remain abundant in many areas of the state with the population estimated to be approximately 240,000 birds statewide, and migratory populations that pass through New York were estimated to be similar to recent years.

Hunters are reminded that Canada goose seasons are set for different geographic areas of the state than other waterfowl seasons, so be sure to review the maps and season dates closely here. Canada goose season dates and bag limits in most areas are similar to last year.

A special conservation season for snow geese, in addition to the regular hunting seasons in each zone, will be open in all of Upstate New York from January 16 through April 15. These birds have become so abundant that they are causing harm to wetland habitats throughout their range. Special seasons have been established in many eastern states and provinces to increase hunter harvest and help reduce this population. The daily limit for snow geese is 25 per day, and there is no possession limit.

Electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells may be used to take snow geese at any time when all other waterfowl hunting seasons are closed.

Due to higher than anticipated mid-winter brant counts, the daily bag limit has increased from one bird to two birds and the season length has increased from 30 days to 60 days.