Canada Goose seasons and rules in New York

Every goose season row

23 rows for Canada geese, as the 2026-27 guide lists them; the last column checks each against today.

Canada Goose row details

• WMUs 4A, 4F, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7M, 7P; parts of 7F and 7J south of Route 31 and east of I-81. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• WMUs 3F, 3J, 3M, 4B, 4C, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4Y, 4Z, 5R; part of 5S south of the Route 29/22/153 line; part of 3G in Dutchess County. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• Same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl Hunting Zone. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• Same as the Northeastern Waterfowl Hunting Zone. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3K, 3N, 3P, 3R, 4G, 4H, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4W, 7R, 7S, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9A, 9C, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X, 9Y; part of 8G south and west of the Thruway/Route 98 line; part of 3G in Putnam County; part of 3S north of I-95. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• WMUs 7A, 7H, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8H, 8J, 8R, 8S; part of 6K west of the Salmon River/I-81 line; parts of 7F and 7J west of I-81; part of 8G north and east of the Thruway/Route 98 line. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• Suffolk County between the Western and Eastern Long Island goose areas. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• Suffolk County east of the Roanoke Ave.-Riverhead-Westhampton Beach line. Hours to 1/2 hour after sunset during September seasons.
• Same as the Lake Champlain Waterfowl Hunting Zone.
• WMUs 4A, 4F, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7M, 7P; parts of 7F and 7J south of Route 31 and east of I-81.
• Same as the Northeastern Waterfowl Hunting Zone.
• WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3K, 3N, 3P, 3R, 4G, 4H, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4W, 7R, 7S, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9A, 9C, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X, 9Y; part of 8G south and west of the Thruway/Route 98 line; part of 3G in Putnam County; part of 3S north of I-95.

From DEC guide page, checked October 27, 2026.

Canada Goose areas and WMU groups

Area lists for Canada geese, read from the guide maps.

Waterfowl zone guide

guide Canada goose map, checked October 27, 2026.

How to hunt Canada geese legally

Canada Goose: daily hours

Canada geese may be shot from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. In the September goose seasons, hours extend 30 minutes past sunset.

Sunday goose hunting

Sunday hunting for Canada geese is legal everywhere in New York; the old county restrictions are gone.

Blaze and goose hunting

For Canada geese, orange or pink is advice only; the legal requirement is limited to big game with firearms.

Canada Goose bait rules

For Canada geese, bait makes an area illegal to hunt for 10 days after it is taken away.

Reporting Canada geese

Goose hunters carry HIP registration; there is no tag.

shooting hours, orange and pink rule, Sunday hunting, baiting rules, tagging and reporting, checked October 27, 2026. Legal shooting hours · Hunting laws.

Gear rules for Canada geese

Canada Goose: how you may take them

• Baiting: No hunting big game, upland game birds, turkey or waterfowl with bait or over a baited area; no feeding deer/bear any time.
• Migratory bird possession: Field possession one daily bag; head or a fully feathered wing attached in transport; possession 3x daily (snow geese unlimited).
• Wanton waste: Reasonable effort to retrieve crippled migratory birds required.

Canada Goose violations

• General Fish and Wildlife Law violations: Violation: up to 15 days and/or up to $250 (ECL 71-0923(1)), plus schedule penalties of $200 + $100 per animal (71-0925(1)).

From the DEC guide and ECL Articles 11 and 71 on the NY Senate site, checked October 27, 2026. New York hunting laws.

Hunts that pair with Canada geese