New York Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 10
- Latest close
- Jan 31
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
Western Zone
Long Island Zone
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
Lake Champlain Zone opens in
17 days
Start your New York log — free. MarshHQ counts every species against these limits as you log, and shows legal shooting light for the spot you’re hunting.
Email only. No card. The log stays free.
Season dates by zone
Duck season, by zone. Always confirm shooting hours with NYSDEC.
Lake Champlain Zone
60 days
- Oct 10 – Nov 1, 2026
- Nov 21 – Dec 27, 2026
East/north of a line along Rt 9B from the NY-Canada border to Rt 9, south along Rt 9 to Rt 22 south of Keeseville (remainder per the NYSDEC zone page).
Long Island Zone
60 days
- Nov 21 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Nassau and Suffolk counties and their tidal waters, plus the part of Westchester County and its tidal waters southeast of I-95.
Northeastern Zone
60 days
- Oct 10 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12 – Dec 20, 2026
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
Northern NY north of a line from Lake Ontario east along the Salmon River to I-81, south to Rt 31, east to Rt 13, north to Rt 49, east via Rt 365/28/29/22/153 to the NY-Vermont border, exclusive of the Lake Champlain Zone. (Full description on the NYSDEC zone page.)
Southeastern Zone
60 days
- Oct 10 – Oct 18, 2026
- Nov 7 – Dec 27, 2026
East of I-81 and south of the Northeastern zone line (I-81 east along Rt 31 to Rt 13, etc.). (Full description on the NYSDEC zone page.)
Western Zone
60 days
- Oct 10 – Nov 1, 2026
- Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
Western NY - west of a line from Lake Ontario east along the north shore of the Salmon River to I-81, then south along I-81 to the NY-Pennsylvania border. (Full metes-and-bounds on the NYSDEC zone-boundary-descriptions page.)
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Brant
Coot
Lake Champlain Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 1, 2026
- Nov 21 – Dec 27, 2026
Coot
Long Island Zone
- Nov 21 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Coot
Northeastern Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12 – Dec 20, 2026
Coot
Southeastern Zone
- Oct 10 – Oct 18, 2026
- Nov 7 – Dec 27, 2026
Coot
Western Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 1, 2026
- Dec 5, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Brant
Statewide
- Oct 10 – Nov 8, 2026
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- Western Zone:
- Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026
- Northeastern Zone:
- Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026
- Lake Champlain Zone:
- Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026
- Southeastern Zone:
- Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026
- Long Island Zone:
- Nov 7 – Nov 8, 2026
Bag limits
Daily limit is 6 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Scaup: 1 daily, 3 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in New York
New York hunting license
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration
Federal Duck Stamp — Required for hunters age 16 and older.
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
- Duck stamps are not required of minors 12 to 15 years of age hunting migratory waterfowl in New York State.
License and permit names and exemptions are set by the state and can change without notice, and fees aren’t listed here for the same reason. MarshHQ is not responsible for errors or out-of-date information — confirm current requirements directly with NYSDEC (opens in a new tab) before you hunt.
Disclaimer: Bag limits and season dates are for reference only and may not reflect the most current regulations. Always verify with USFWS and your state wildlife agency before hunting. Dates and limits above reflect the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-23. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: dec.ny.gov (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.