Hunting and Trapping Newsletter

Coyotes On The Move Across New York

Coyote breeding season extends into March, with new pups typically arriving in April and May. During this time of year, we tend to get more reported sightings of these wily creatures. While coyotes will typically avoid contact with humans, conflicts with people and pets may result as coyotes tend to be territorial around den sites during the spring through mid-summer period as they forage almost constantly to provide food for their young.

To reduce the potential for conflicts, DEC recommends that the public follow the common-sense tips outlined below. If a coyote is exhibiting bold behaviors and shows little or no fear of people, contact your Regional Wildlife Office or, in emergency situations, the local police department. For more information on the coyote and preventing conflicts with coyotes, visit these DEC websites: Eastern Coyote and Coyote Conflicts.

DEC and Waterfowl Hunter Task Force Seeking Input on 2021-2022 Canada Goose and Special Season Dates

DEC and the Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces are seeking input on your preferences for Canada goose, brant, scaup, youth, and military hunting season dates. Season frameworks for each zone:

• In the West Central, East Central, Northeast, Lake Champlain, and Hudson Valley are anticipated to be 30 days long with a one-bird bag limit;
• In the South Zone where very few migratory geese are harvested will remain 80 days with a 5-bird bag limit.
• The Long Island goose zone season lengths and bag limits will remain the same length as last year.
• Brant season is expected to be 50 days long with a two-bird bag limit.
• The scaup season will be a “hybrid season” similar to 2020-21, where the bag limit will be two per day for 20 days and a one-bird limit for the remaining 40 days.

Please provide your feedback to: seasonwaterfowl@dec.ny.gov. Comments will be forwarded to the appropriate task force members. Be sure to include the waterfowl hunting zone that your comments apply to in the e-mail subject line.

Anticipated 2021-2022 Duck Season Dates

Starting with the 2019-2020 duck season, DEC, with the assistance of Cornell University and the Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces, implemented a structured process for selecting duck season dates in the four main zones of the state. The process incorporated input from a greater number of duck hunters through a survey and recent duck migration and abundance trends that were specific to each zone to maximize opportunity. With no changes anticipated in the federal frameworks (i.e., season length) for 2021-2022, the duck seasons dates in each zone will be:

• Northeastern Zone: October 2nd - October 24th and October 30st - December 5th
• Southeastern Zone: October 16th - November 28th and December 4th - December 19th
• Western Zone: October 16th - November 7th and November 27th - January 2rd
• Long Island Zone: November 2oth - November 28th and December 11th - January 30th

For more information on how these dates were determined for each zone, visit DEC's website. DEC intends to reassess hunter values after the 2023-2024 hunting season. At that time, DEC will also update duck migration data to ensure there have been no significant changes to the timing of duck movements through each zone.

Lake Champlain Zone Virtual Public Hearing

Waterfowl hunting seasons in the Lake Champlain Zone are set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Management Board with input from DEC and waterfowl hunters in New York and Vermont. Although there is no formal task force for this zone, hunters are invited to attend a virtual public hearing on the status of migratory game bird populations and proposed 2021 migratory game bird hunting seasons for Vermont and the Lake Champlain Zone in New York on Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, including the season recommendation and to join the online hearings, go to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website  and click on the “Public Hearings Schedule” on the home page.

In addition to the public hearings, anyone can provide feedback on the season dates to DEC by email to: seasonwaterfowl@dec.ny.gov or directly to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Management Board by calling 802-265-0043 or by emailing ANR.FWPublicComment@vermont.gov.

The deadline for comments is Wednesday, March 31. Comments received, as well as input and recommendations from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, will be reviewed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board in making final 2021 hunting season decisions.