New York › Species › Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Migratory birds
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots hunting in New York, 2026-27
2026-27 dates, limits, licenses and public land for ducks, from the DEC guide.
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0)
Ducks in New York: 16 season rows between Oct 10, 2026 and Jan 31, 2027, plus bag limits, license prices and the state land that lists them.
Duck rules in one list
- Limit summary: 6 ducks/day with species limits; coot 15
- Seasons in brief: Split seasons in 5 zones.
- Also: HIP + duck stamp; non-toxic shot.
DEC guide page (as of Aug 25, 2026), checked October 27, 2026.
GearHeading out for duck and goose season? Duck and goose gear checklist →
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots calendar by zone and method
16 season lines for ducks, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | WMUs | Implements | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season (split 1) (Ducks) | Lake Champlain Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 23 | ||
| Regular season (split 1) (Ducks) | Northeastern Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 51 | ||
| Regular season (split 1) (Ducks) | Southeastern Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 9 | ||
| Regular season (split 1) (Ducks) | Western Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 23 | ||
| Regular season (split 2) (Ducks) | Southeastern Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 51 | ||
| Regular season (split 2) (Ducks) | Lake Champlain Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 37 | ||
| Regular season (split 1) (Ducks) | Long Island Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 9 | ||
| Regular season (split 2) (Ducks) | Western Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 37 | ||
| Regular season (split 2) (Ducks) | Long Island Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 51 | ||
| Regular season (split 2) (Ducks) | Northeastern Zone | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot; no rifles | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | 9 | ||
| 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | As ducks | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 11 | ||
| 2-scaup window | Lake Champlain Zone | As ducks | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 20 | ||
| 2-scaup window | Southeastern Zone | As ducks | Dec 8, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 20 | ||
| 2-scaup window | Northeastern Zone | As ducks | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | 9 | ||
| 2-scaup window | Western Zone | As ducks | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 20 | ||
| 2-scaup window | Long Island Zone | As ducks | Jan 12, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 20 |
What the duck rows add
- Hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Crippled sea ducks may be taken under power only in the Special Sea Duck Area.
- Daily scaup limit 2 during these days (1 otherwise).
From DEC guide page, checked October 27, 2026.
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots area table
The guide maps split duck seasons into these groups.
| Zone | Boundary |
|---|---|
| Western | 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 Pennsylvania. |
| Northeastern | North of the Salmon River-I-81-Route 31-Route 13-Route 49-Route 365-Route 28-Route 29-Route 22-Route 153 line to Vermont, excluding the Lake Champlain Zone. |
| Lake Champlain | East and north of Route 11 (Canada) – 9B – 9 – 22 (south of Keeseville) – South Bay – Route 22 – Route 4 to Vermont. |
| Southeastern | East of I-81 and south of the Northeastern line, and northwest of I-95 in Westchester County. |
| Long Island | Nassau and Suffolk counties and their tidal waters, plus Westchester County and tidal waters southeast of I-95. |
| Special Sea Duck Area | All coastal waters and all waters of rivers and streams seaward from the first upstream bridge. |
waterfowl zone descriptions, checked October 27, 2026.
Public tracts with ducks
171 WMAs, state forests, Forest Preserve units, refuges and other tracts carry waterfowl in our land data.
| Name | Type | Size (acres) | Counties | Unit | Listed as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Ponds & Pepperbox | Forest Preserve Wilderness | 157,632 | Hamilton · +2 | waterfowl | |
| Wilcox Lake | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 127,860 | Warren · +2 | waterfowl | |
| Siamese Ponds | Forest Preserve Wilderness | 115,124 | Hamilton · | waterfowl | |
| Vanderwhacker Mountain | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 96,577 | Essex · +1 | waterfowl | |
| Debar Mountain | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 88,354 | waterfowl | ||
| Lake George | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 76,871 | Warren · | waterfowl | |
| Fort Drum | Military Installation | 70,000 | waterfowl | ||
| Allegany | State Park | 64,160 | waterfowl, migratory game birds | ||
| Hammond Pond | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 46,850 | 5G, | waterfowl | |
| Pharaoh Lake | Forest Preserve Wilderness | 46,814 | Essex · | waterfowl | |
| Shaker Mountain | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 45,312 | Fulton · | waterfowl | |
| Taylor Pond | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 39,698 | Clinton · +1 | waterfowl | |
| Hoffman Notch | Forest Preserve Wilderness | 38,529 | waterfowl | ||
| McKenzie Mountain | Forest Preserve Wilderness | 37,366 | waterfowl | ||
| Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | Cooperative Hunting Area | 22,479 | Cayuga · | waterfowl | |
| Sterling Forest | State Park | 19,487 | waterfowl, migratory game birds | ||
| Fire Island National Seashore | National Seashore | 18,932 | waterfowl | ||
| Wilmington | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 16,940 | Clinton · | 5C, | waterfowl |
| Lesser | Forest Preserve Wilderness | 13,873 | waterfowl | ||
| Connecticut Hill | Wildlife Management Area | 11,375 | Schuyler · | waterfowl | |
| Iroquois | National Wildlife Refuge | 10,810 | Genesee · | waterfowl | |
| Montezuma | National Wildlife Refuge | 10,240 | Seneca · +1 | waterfowl | |
| Sugar Hill | State Forest | 9,213 | waterfowl | ||
| Happy Valley | Wildlife Management Area | 8,961 | waterfowl | ||
| Upper & Lower Lakes | Wildlife Management Area | 8,803 | waterfowl | ||
| Oak Orchard & Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas | Wildlife Management Area | 8,350 | Erie · +2 | waterfowl | |
| Perch River | Wildlife Management Area | 8,050 | waterfowl | ||
| Little John | Wildlife Management Area | 7,921 | waterfowl | ||
| Paul Smiths College | Conservation Easement Tract | 7,814 | 5C, 5F, | waterfowl | |
| Northern Montezuma | Wildlife Management Area | 7,738 | Cayuga · +1 | waterfowl | |
| Hemlock-Canadice | State Forest | 7,060 | waterfowl | ||
| High Tor | Wildlife Management Area | 6,937 | Ontario · | waterfowl | |
| Stewart | State Forest | 6,653 | waterfowl | ||
| Moreau Lake | State Park | 6,640 | Saratoga · | migratory game birds, waterfowl | |
| Lake Shore Marshes | Wildlife Management Area | 6,442 | waterfowl | ||
| Mongaup Valley | Wildlife Management Area | 6,416 | Orange · | waterfowl | |
| Rattlesnake Hill | Wildlife Management Area | 5,138 | Allegany · | waterfowl | |
| Cicero Swamp | Wildlife Management Area | 5,039 | Madison · | waterfowl | |
| Pharsalia | Wildlife Management Area | 4,676 | waterfowl | ||
| Partridge Run | Wildlife Management Area | 4,592 | waterfowl | ||
| Fish Creek | Wildlife Management Area | 4,556 | waterfowl | ||
| Wilson Hill | Wildlife Management Area | 4,036 | waterfowl | ||
| Three Mile Bay | Wildlife Management Area | 3,966 | waterfowl | ||
| Cedarlands | Conservation Easement Tract | 3,953 | waterfowl | ||
| Tioughnioga | Wildlife Management Area | 3,903 | waterfowl | ||
| Otis Pike Pine Barrens | State Forest | 3,860 | waterfowl | ||
| Three Rivers | Wildlife Management Area | 3,608 | 7A, | waterfowl | |
| Split Rock Mountain | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 3,542 | waterfowl | ||
| Birdseye Hollow | State Forest | 3,496 | waterfowl | ||
| Lakeview | Wildlife Management Area | 3,444 | waterfowl | ||
| Bashakill | Wildlife Management Area | 3,090 | Orange · | waterfowl | |
| Braddock Bay | Wildlife Management Area | 2,865 | 8A, | waterfowl | |
| Wellesley Island | State Park | 2,786 | waterfowl | ||
| Erwin | Wildlife Management Area | 2,770 | waterfowl | ||
| Honeoye Inlet | Wildlife Management Area | 2,763 | waterfowl | ||
| Peck Hill | State Forest | 2,744 | 5H, | waterfowl | |
| Klipnocky | State Forest | 2,711 | waterfowl | ||
| Grafton Lakes | State Park | 2,612 | waterfowl, migratory game birds | ||
| John Boyd Thacher | State Park | 2,475 | migratory game birds | ||
| Green Lakes | State Park | 2,211 | waterfowl |
Game lists from DEC, USFWS, USFS, State Parks and NYC DEP pages in our land data, retrieved 2026-10-27. All public land · Wildlife Management Areas.
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots bag limits and licenses
How many ducks one hunter may keep, and the licenses that cover the hunt.
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| Ducks | 6 ducks/day (incl. mergansers and sea ducks): max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 scaup (2 during the 20-day scaup window), 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 4 sea ducks (max 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, 3 eiders, 1 hen eider); no harlequin. Coot 15/day. Possession 3x daily. |
Licenses and privileges for ducks
| License | Who | Category | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | resident | Annual, ages 16-69 | $22 |
| Hunting License | nonresident | Annual, ages 16+ | $100 |
| Junior Hunting License | resident | Ages 12-15 | $5 |
| Federal duck stamp | anyone | Ages 16+ | $25 |
| HIP registration | anyone | All migratory bird hunters incl. juniors | Free |
DEC guide bag limits and the license fee table, checked October 27, 2026. New York hunting license guide.
Field rules for ducks
Hours for duck hunting
Shooting hours for ducks run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset.
Sunday rules for ducks
A Sunday duck hunt is legal anywhere the season is open.
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots: blaze rules
The fluorescent rule applies to deer and bear firearm hunting, so it does not bind anyone hunting ducks.
Bait and ducks
Baiting ducks is a federal violation, and the area counts as baited for 10 days afterward.
Reporting a duck
The Harvest Information Program, not a tag, tracks ducks.
shooting hours, orange and pink rule, Sunday hunting, baiting rules, tagging and reporting, checked October 27, 2026. Legal shooting hours · Hunting laws.
What you may use on ducks
| Category | Legal gear | Banned |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot (woodcock and crow excepted). | Rifles, pistols, traps, sink boxes, live decoys, recorded calls (except snow geese/September Canada geese), bait. |
Duck method limits
- 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.
- Tree stands and blinds: On DEC lands: labeled stands may be left overnight but removed at season end; no injury to trees; duck blinds in lakes labeled and removed by Mar. 15.
Penalties tied to ducks
- 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.
What hunters ask about ducks
How do you report a duck harvest?
The Harvest Information Program, not a tag, tracks ducks.
Does New York allow bait for ducks?
Baiting ducks is a federal violation, and the area counts as baited for 10 days afterward.
Which methods are legal for duck hunting?
Migratory birds: Shotgun 10 ga. or smaller, plugged to 3 shells, non-toxic shot (woodcock and crow excepted). Not legal: Rifles, pistols, traps, sink boxes, live decoys, recorded calls (except snow geese/September Canada geese), bait.
Where are the biggest public tracts for ducks?
WMAs, state forests, Forest Preserve units and refuges listing waterfowl number 171; by size, Five Ponds and Pepperbox Wildernesses, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Siamese Ponds Wilderness and Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest come first.
What dates cover ducks in New York?
Dates run from Oct 10, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 across 16 dated rows, which vary by WMU or zone.
How many duck zones does New York have?
Five: Western, Northeastern, Southeastern, Lake Champlain and Long Island, plus the Special Sea Duck Area on coastal waters. Canada goose dates follow nine goose hunting areas.
What does it cost to hunt ducks in New York?
Hunting License (resident) $22; Hunting License (nonresident) $100; Junior Hunting License (resident) $5; Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (anyone) $25, as printed in the license fee table.
How many ducks can you take in New York?
6 ducks/day (incl. mergansers and sea ducks): max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 scaup (2 during the 20-day scaup window), 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 4 sea ducks (max 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, 3 eiders, 1 hen eider); no harlequin. Coot 15/day. Possession 3x daily.
Are ducks open on Sundays?
A Sunday duck hunt is legal anywhere the season is open.
How early can you shoot ducks?
Shooting hours for ducks run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset.
Do duck hunters need orange in New York?
The fluorescent rule applies to deer and bear firearm hunting, so it does not bind anyone hunting ducks.
Other photos on this page: Bobolink (CC BY 2.0); Chris Sorge (CC BY-SA 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).