Long Island Zone Season Dates for 2015-2016

[Frank Lopez]

It's about that time again. Kelly is already putting the Task Force together, so it won't be long before we meet and make our recommendations. Next year is the complete opposite of this past year. The last possible day within the Federal Framework will be Jan 31. Many will hail this as a good thing, and I believe it very well could be. But, it causes some issues with the opening/s. Some folks like the traditional opener around Thanksgiving,, others prefer to have the season open as late as possible. Either way, the Task Force needs to hear from you. Since there seems to be a reluctance to contact the task force directly, I created a poll with three options for the coming year and an "other" button, if you feel like being creative. Please take a moment to answer tis poll, your input is valued and needed.

Thanks

http://www.poll-maker.com/poll23705...s=10203583890063194&fb_action_types=og.shares

 

[Kevin B]

Frank ,what a great idea!I look forward to seeing your final results. I may incorporate this into my NE zone inquiry .

 

[CGeminski]

I love the Thanksgiving opener... it's a wonderful day to hunt with family, then have a great dinner and watch some football in the afternoon. Most people have Friday off as well, so it ends up being a 4 day holiday weekend spent in the blind. It's especially nice when goose and duck both open on the same day, I am not a fan of having different opening days.

 

[Kevin B]

Having the openers coincide is nice but the state task force doesn't have any input on the Goose opener (Federal),but we can try. On the flip side,not having them coincide gives you bonus hunting days from the 60 day duck season.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Frank~

That poll is a great idea - congratulations!

I chose the middle one - split with a Thanksgiving opener. Interesting that the second opener is December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day. I try not to be superstitious, but - over the years, December 7 has given me some truly memorable hunts - usually in a big blow.

Also, having just reviewed the regs for Long Island over the years, here is a summary I prepared for the March 7 Show:


[font=Candara, sans-serif]In [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]1937, [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]s[/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]hortly after the Battery was replaced by the open bay Scooter, the seasons and limits still reflected the low waterfowl populations of the Dust Bowl days. The season opened on Novem[/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]ber 1 [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]and closed on [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]November 30. [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]The Duck limit was 10. You could shoot 5 [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]Geese [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]but [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]Brant [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]was [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]closed. [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]Ducks Unlimited was founded this same year.[/font]


[font=Candara, sans-serif]The season length grew back to 80 days by 1944 was dropped back to 45 by 1946. The limit was now 7 Ducks + 2 Geese. The next 2 seasons, though, dropped all the way to just 23 days. In 1947 and 1948 the limit was 4 Ducks.[/font]


[font=Candara, sans-serif]In 1953, Long Island got its own zone and so its own season dates. It ran for 60 days from November 6 through January 4. The following year the limit was 4 Ducks + 4 Bonus Scaup (Broadbill). The Great South Bay Waterfowlers Association – now South Shore Waterfowlers – was founded.[/font]


[font=Candara, sans-serif]Days came and went, as did the bag limit and the Scaup Bonus. In 1965, for example, there was a split season - October 16 - October 30 and Dec 10 – Jan 8 (50 days) . The limit was 3 Ducks but an additional 2 Scaup could be taken after November 15.[/font]


[font=Candara, sans-serif]The first Special Scaup Season was allowed in 1967. The regular season ran from November 4 through December 23 - still at 3 Ducks per day. It was followed immediately – December 24 through January 7 - with the 16-day Special Season. Only Scaup could be taken but the limit was 5 birds per day.[/font]




[font=Candara, sans-serif]Similar seasons ran into the 1980s. In 1976, the 50-day regular season ran from November 17 through January 5 with a daily [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]d[/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]uck limit of 4. The Special Scaup Season was pushed later – from January 6 through January 23. [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]By [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]1985 [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]there was [/font][font=Candara, sans-serif]a split regular season and the Special Scaup ran from January 11 through January 26.[/font]

[font=Candara, sans-serif][/font]
[font=Candara, sans-serif]At the Show, I will also have a reg summary that begins in 1629.[/font]

[font=Candara, sans-serif][/font]
[font=Candara, sans-serif]All the best,[/font]

[font=Candara, sans-serif][/font]
[font=Candara, sans-serif]SJS
[/font]

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

I would go with the split season as long as duck and goose open together. As far as the early season to get rid of local birds, I would like to increase the limit on geese increased Nov 21-29 to 4-5 and then go back to the regular limit on the second half. Mostly local birds around then... The early season is a waste, crops still in fields and too warm. Birds spoil to easy...