6
Daily duck limit
8
Daily goose limit
6
Teal limit (early)
$22.00
Waterfowl license (res.)
Season Information
Season DatesEarly Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 1 – Dec 31 (zone-specific); Sea Duck: Oct – Jan 26
FlywayAtlantic Flyway
Zone InformationNew York has multiple waterfowl zones: Long Island Zone, Hudson Zone, Lake Zone (Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Champlain), Southern Zone, and Northern Zone. Season dates and some bag limits vary by zone. Long Island has extended sea duck seasons.
Species NotesDucks: 6/day; mallard 4 (2 hens); black duck 2; pintail 1; canvasback 1; redhead 2; scaup 2; wood duck 3. Sea ducks: 7/day (eider, scoter, long-tailed). Geese: Canada 8/day; snow/blue/Ross's 20/day; brant 2/day.
License & Permit Requirements
State Hunting License
✅ Required
Federal Duck Stamp
✅ Required
HIP Registration
✅ Required
HIP Registration Info
HIP registration is required annually for all waterfowl hunters in New York at no cost. Register online at dec.ny.gov or at any license issuing agent. Your DEC customer ID and HIP number are both required in the field.
How to Get Licensed for Waterfowl Hunting
1
Purchase a New York hunting license ($22.00 resident) from New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
2
Complete HIP Registration (free) — available when purchasing your hunting license or through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website.
3
Purchase the Federal Duck Stamp ($25) — required for all waterfowl hunters age 16+. Available at USPS offices or online.
Additional Notes: New York offers extraordinary waterfowl diversity from the Great Lakes to Long Island Sound, covering a full spectrum of Atlantic Flyway habitats. Lake Ontario's Braddock Bay, the Montezuma Marshes in the Finger Lakes region, and the Hudson River estuary are among the most important waterfowl staging areas in the eastern United States. Long Island's Great South Bay and the ocean bays support large brant populations as well as sea duck concentrations. The state's extensive public land network includes numerous Wildlife Management Areas specifically managed for waterfowl.
Buy NY License — New York Department of Environmental Conservation