New York is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through January 25, 2026, with 48 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Environmental Conservation within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 30 Northeastern Zone Duck Season - Split 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 13 – Dec 21 Northeastern Zone Duck Season - Split 2 | |||
| Southeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Oct 19 Southeastern Zone Duck Season - Split 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 8 – Dec 28 Southeastern Zone Duck Season - Split 2 | |||
| Western Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 2 Western Zone Duck Season - Split 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 11 Western Zone Duck Season - Split 2 | |||
| Lake Champlain Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 2 Lake Champlain Duck Season - Split 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 22 – Dec 28 Lake Champlain Duck Season - Split 2 | |||
| Long Island Zone1 | Nov 22 – Nov 30 Long Island Duck Season - Split 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Long Island Duck Season - Split 2 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Greater Scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Lesser Scaup | 1 | 3 |
1Verified: All 5 zone duck dates match DEC. 6/18 correct. Pintail updated 1→3 daily (2025-26 national change). Scaup has variable limits (1 early, 2 late 20 days) - DB shows flat 1/3. Species sub-limits confirmed: 4 mallard (2 hen), 2 black duck, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead, 3 wood duck.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Canada Goose | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 11 – Nov 30 Regular Canada Goose - Split 1 | |||
| Dec 13 – Dec 21 Regular Canada Goose - Split 2 | |||
| Southeastern Zone1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Canada Goose | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 11 – Oct 19 Regular Canada Goose - Split 1 | |||
| Nov 8 – Dec 28 Regular Canada Goose - Split 2 | |||
| Western Zone1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Canada Goose | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 11 – Nov 2 Regular Canada Goose - Split 1 | |||
| Dec 6 – Jan 11 Regular Canada Goose - Split 2 | |||
| Long Island Zone1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Canada Goose | 8 | 24 |
| Nov 22 – Nov 30 Regular Canada Goose - Split 1 | |||
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Regular Canada Goose - Split 2 | |||
| Lake Champlain Zone1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Canada Goose | 8 | 24 |
| Oct 11 – Nov 2 Regular Canada Goose - Split 1 | |||
| Nov 22 – Dec 28 Regular Canada Goose - Split 2 |
1Verified Sept goose dates Sept 1-25. Fixed bag: Western/NE/SE updated 8→15 daily per DEC (LC/LI remain 8). MAJOR GAP: Regular goose uses different zone structure (NE/West Central/East Central/Hudson Valley/South/LI/LC) than duck zones. DB incorrectly maps goose to duck zones with wrong dates and limits. Regular goose bag should be 1-8/day varying by zone, DB has 3/9.
2Verified as placeholder. MAJOR GAP: Regular Canada goose zones differ from duck zones in NY. DB copies duck zone dates to goose which is incorrect. Actual regular goose: NE zone 8/day Nov 8-Feb 22, West/East Central 1/day Oct 25-Nov 14, Hudson Valley 1/day Nov 8-Dec 7, LC 1/day Oct 11-Nov 9, South 5/day Oct 25-Jan 12, LI 2-5/day varying. Needs restructure.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 9 Brant Season | 1 | 3 |
| Long Island Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 9 Brant Season Split 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 27 – Jan 25 Brant Season Split 2 |
1Verified Brant 1/3. PARTIAL GAP: DEC shows Brant Oct 11-Nov 9 most zones, Dec 27-Jan 25 LI. DB has different dates. Only LI and SE brant in DB, other zones missing. Youth days (Sept 27-28 upstate, Nov 8-9 LI) and Veterans days not in DB.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 30 Snow Goose Season - Split 1 | 25 | – |
| Dec 13 – Dec 21 Snow Goose Season - Split 2 | |||
| Southeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Oct 19 Snow Goose Season - Split 1 | 25 | – |
| Nov 8 – Dec 28 Snow Goose Season - Split 2 | |||
| Western Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 2 Snow Goose Season - Split 1 | 25 | – |
| Dec 6 – Jan 11 Snow Goose Season - Split 2 | |||
| Lake Champlain Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 2 Snow Goose Season - Split 1 | 25 | – |
| Nov 22 – Dec 28 Snow Goose Season - Split 2 | |||
| Long Island Zone1 | Nov 22 – Nov 30 Snow Goose Season - Split 1 | 25 | – |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Snow Goose Season - Split 2 |
1Verified bag 25/null correct. MAJOR GAP: Snow goose dates are WRONG - DB copies duck dates but actual snow goose season is Oct 3-Apr 15 statewide (LC: Oct 1-Dec 31 + Jan 16-Apr 15, LI: Nov 24-Mar 10). Conservation order Jan 16-Apr 15 not in DB. Needs date correction.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 30 Coot Season - Split 1 | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 13 – Dec 21 Coot Season - Split 2 | |||
| Southeastern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Oct 19 Coot Season - Split 1 | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 8 – Dec 28 Coot Season - Split 2 | |||
| Western Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 2 Coot Season - Split 1 | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 11 Coot Season - Split 2 | |||
| Lake Champlain Zone1 | Oct 11 – Nov 2 Coot Season - Split 1 | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 22 – Dec 28 Coot Season - Split 2 | |||
| Long Island Zone1 | Nov 22 – Nov 30 Coot Season - Split 1 | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Coot Season - Split 2 |
1Verified: 15/45 correct. Dates concurrent with duck seasons per zone. Gallinule 1/day not separately tracked.
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2025-2026 season. This data has not yet been verified against official sources for this season. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.