New York › Species › Youth and Military Waterfowl
Migratory birds
New York Youth and Military Waterfowl, 2026-27
Dates by WMU or zone, limits, licenses and where to go for waterfowl on the youth and military days.
Photo: born1945 (CC BY 2.0)
Junior and veteran hunters in New York work from the DEC guide; this page lays out its waterfowl rows, Sep 26, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026, and the rules around them.
Youth and Military Waterfowl: the short version
- Limits: Regular limits
- Season shape: Two days per zone.
DEC guide page (as of Aug 25, 2026), checked October 27, 2026.
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Youth and Military Waterfowl dates, 2026-27
Each waterfowl row with its area, WMU count, legal methods and length in days.
| Season | Covers | WMUs | Gear | Opening | Closing | Span | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Youth waterfowl) | Lake Champlain Zone | Junior hunters 12-15 (HIP required; no duck stamp needed); mentor unarmed and licensed wit | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Youth waterfowl) | Northeastern Zone | Junior hunters 12-15 (HIP required; no duck stamp needed); mentor unarmed and licensed wit | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Youth waterfowl) | Southeastern Zone | Junior hunters 12-15 (HIP required; no duck stamp needed); mentor unarmed and licensed wit | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Youth waterfowl) | Western Zone | Junior hunters 12-15 (HIP required; no duck stamp needed); mentor unarmed and licensed wit | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt (Youth waterfowl) | Long Island Zone | Junior hunters 12-15 (HIP required; no duck stamp needed); mentor unarmed and licensed wit | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Military and veteran days (Veteran waterfowl) | Northeastern Zone | Active military or veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) with license, HIP and duck stamp; ID required | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Military and veteran days (Veteran waterfowl) | Southeastern Zone | Active military or veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) with license, HIP and duck stamp; ID required | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Military and veteran days (Veteran waterfowl) | Long Island Zone | Active military or veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) with license, HIP and duck stamp; ID required | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 2 | ||
| Military and veteran days (Veteran waterfowl) | Western Zone | Active military or veterans (38 U.S.C. 101) with license, HIP and duck stamp; ID required | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 2 | ||
| No military days (Veteran waterfowl) | Lake Champlain Zone | – | Not open |
Notes on the waterfowl rows
- Ducks, coots, mergansers, Canada geese and brant; regular-season bag limits (not September goose limits).
- Lake Champlain dates must match Vermont, which offers no military days.
From DEC guide page, checked October 27, 2026.
Where waterfowl rules change in New York
Waterfowl on the youth and military days follow area lines drawn from WMUs.
| 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.
State land that lists waterfowl on the youth and military days
Acreage, county and WMU for each public tract that lists waterfowl.
| Place | Category | Acres | Counties | WMU | Species tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 · | 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 | ||
| Green Lakes | State Park | 2,211 | waterfowl | ||
| Gould Corners | State Forest | 2,065 | 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.
Youth and Military Waterfowl limits, licenses and costs
Limits for waterfowl on the youth and military days as printed in the guide, then the licenses DEC sells for this hunt.
| Group | Bag |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Canada goose | By goose hunting area: September 8-15/day; regular 2-8/day (see seasons). Cackling and white-fronted geese count as Canada geese. Possession 3x daily. |
| Brant | 1 per day, 3 in possession. |
Licenses for waterfowl on the youth and military days
| License | Who | Category | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Youth and Military Waterfowl: hours, blaze, bait and reporting
Youth and Military Waterfowl shooting hours
Sunset, not a half hour after, is the close for waterfowl on the youth and military days.
Can waterfowl on the youth and military days be hunted on Sunday?
The 2026-27 guide allows Sunday hunting in all areas, so waterfowl on the youth and military days are open seven days a week in season.
Youth and Military Waterfowl and the orange rule
Waterfowl and webless bird hunters such as those after waterfowl on the youth and military days are not covered by the orange-or-pink rule, which DEC treats as a recommendation for them.
Youth and Military Waterfowl: bait and feed
Waterfowl on the youth and military days fall under the federal migratory bird bait rule: no hunting over bait, and a 10-day wait after cleanup.
After the waterfowl hunt
No harvest report for waterfowl on the youth and military days; register with HIP each year and report any band.
shooting hours, orange and pink rule, Sunday hunting, baiting rules, tagging and reporting, checked October 27, 2026. Legal shooting hours · Hunting laws.
Youth and Military Waterfowl methods and violations
| Applies to | Permitted | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Methods that matter for waterfowl on the youth and military days
- Migratory bird possession: Field possession one daily bag; head or a fully feathered wing attached in transport; possession 3x daily (snow geese unlimited).
From the DEC guide and ECL Articles 11 and 71 on the NY Senate site, checked October 27, 2026. New York hunting laws.
Youth and Military Waterfowl questions
What are the daily and possession limits for waterfowl on the youth and military days?
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. By goose hunting area: September 8-15/day; regular 2-8/day (see seasons). Cackling and white-fronted geese count as Canada geese. Possession 3x daily.
How much is a license for waterfowl on the youth and military days?
From the 2026-27 DEC fee table: Junior Hunting License (resident) $5; Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (anyone) $25; Harvest Information Program (anyone) Free. Licenses are sold through DECALS: online, by phone and at license agents and town clerks.
When does shooting stop for waterfowl on the youth and military days?
Sunset, not a half hour after, is the close for waterfowl on the youth and military days.
Does any Sunday rule affect waterfowl on the youth and military days?
The 2026-27 guide allows Sunday hunting in all areas, so waterfowl on the youth and military days are open seven days a week in season.
What are the orange rules for waterfowl on the youth and military days?
Waterfowl and webless bird hunters such as those after waterfowl on the youth and military days are not covered by the orange-or-pink rule, which DEC treats as a recommendation for them.
What are the bait rules for waterfowl on the youth and military days?
Waterfowl on the youth and military days fall under the federal migratory bird bait rule: no hunting over bait, and a 10-day wait after cleanup.
Must waterfowl on the youth and military days be tagged or reported?
No harvest report for waterfowl on the youth and military days; register with HIP each year and report any band.
Where can you hunt waterfowl on the youth and military days on public land in New York?
Start with Five Ponds and Pepperbox Wildernesses, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Siamese Ponds Wilderness and Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest; 169 properties in all list waterfowl.
What weapons are legal for waterfowl on the youth and military days?
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.
When can you hunt waterfowl on the youth and military days in New York?
Sep 26, 2026 is the earliest opener and Nov 8, 2026 the latest closer for waterfowl on the youth and military days this license year.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Chris Sorge (CC BY-SA 2.0); eflon (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).