Season Dates stink

A

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Its been awhile for me to be back on here. Been reading so many of your great post. But here is my beef. I live in upstate New York Hudson Valley almost Capital District area. Our Duck Season dates are not good if you ask me. I know we have talked about this so many times over the last few years. But with one week to go and the weather is going to be in the sixties tomorrow. The Hudson River hunting is going to stink. When the creeks and ponds freeze up. Then its time to hit the River big time. We had a few days of cold but the birds were not here yet. It just makes me so mad. The format is going to last two or three more years. Sorry I just had to vent. I been out a whole lot this year. We can only shoot one goose and only hunt them thirty days. So dragging a few dozen goose decoy isn't even worth it. Good news is I got a few new people into duck hunting. And my drive will keep me going. But come on New York State and the Feds. You can do better then that. Don't tell me about your data. Because I'm out there.And so are all my friends on here. Duck season should be spread out. Not running from October to end of November and closing for a week the running for a short time until December 19. Good duck hunting (here in New York State Southern zone) should run into late December . And if the ice comes in so be it. Then the ducks win and the Long Island hunters will have a great season. I been Duck Hunting for just about forty years and I think I know what I am talking about. Flock after flock of migratory geese have been moving threw the area. So why can we only shoot one but miles down the road they can shoot the same geese and bag three or more. I'll never understand. Thanks for letting me vent God Bless and Merry Christmas to you all.
p.s After Christmas we will start building wood duck boxes.
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I was in S. Louisiana last week. The lack of ducks was abysmal. I'm used to shooting ducks in warmer weather but they're not coming South like they used to. No need with warm weather, plenty of food and open water up North. Our season is open until Jan 30th which is a week or more later than usual, not sure if that'll help or not.

I agree that Northern states need to consider adjusting their seasons and allowing y'all to hunt December / January. I am betting this big storm front pushing through the Midwest today with 50 mph SW winds would be an incredible time to hunt the lee side of Lake Erie!
 
Anthony, it's good to see you post. I'm in agreement regarding our season dates. I used to love hunting the Hudson, in the same areas you do. However these past few years have been abysmal. I was out on the river this past Wednesday and saw two ducks fly over, before shooting time. The only birds I decoyed (or saw while hunting) were mergansers. I spoke with other hunters out there and they similarly saw nothing. Zero shots heard. For the hell of it I went into every bay along that stretch of river and saw very, very few ducks. I said to heck with the river and went back to all my smaller water spots and have had good hunts each of the past several days. I was planning on trying the river again tomorrow morning but you have me rethinking it.
 
With warmer temps now being the norm, I also think all northern states will need to rethink their season dates. Ducks are going to stay as far north as food and open water allow. Which Is getting later and later every year.
 
Anthony
I'm also in New York. So far the big water season is terrible, swamp hunters season has been better.
This leads to the question of who do you make happy, the swamp hunters or big water hunters.
To completely different seasons in my book. One wants cold and freezing temperatures the other wants milder temperatures so the swamps do not freeze. So we have to adapt and find what's here and hunt those birds.
The DEC biologist set the season, but they can't set the weather.
You should call the biologist in your area and let them know what your preferences are for a season.
I feel that they are willing to listen to the people who are in the field.
That's my 2 cents
 
Carl

My friend you are 100% right ! Times have changed and so is the weather. Here is the North we like the early season for teal and wood duck. But after a few days they are gone. So I wish we had a teal season like some States. I am far from being smarter then those who set the dates. But a hunter knows better then a person that goes out a few times a year to make up their data. We had a task force of hunters that made a huge difference. But now they just hear what they have to say. And make their own judgement. I think their hearts are in the right place. But more input from hunters would help. Part of the problem is the State does send out paper work. But most people do not take the time to fill it out. Or they will not tell the truth about their season or bag limits. Anyway thank you.
 
Anthony, i assume you have an advisory council who set dates? Go to meetings, bring a group, or petitions, expresing displeasure with the abysmal season for the Hudon. Enoughdigruntled folks showe up enough, things WILL GET CHANGED!
 
For what it's worth I did go out on the river this morning. The ramp had zero other vehicles there when I launched and when I returned. Seems like word has spread that the ducks are absent on the Hudson this year. I tucked into one of the bays and in the first two minutes of shooting time got a drake mallard and a drake black duck. Had 15-20 birds fly by in the fifteen minutes leading up to shooting time. About ten minutes later a drake wood duck paddled into the decoys. I stuck around for a while and saw no other ducks fly in the bay or on the main river. Heard one other hunter shoot once or twice. By far the emptiest I've ever seen the river, both as far as ducks and as far as hunters.

I was surprised to see the drake woodie still around. It was worthwhile going out and the trifecta of drakes was nice. Yesterday I spoke with two guys who hunted Tivoli. They saw only a couple ducks and got no shots. In my years of hunting the river it has never been this devoid of ducks. Last year was sad. This year is just terrible. Every year is getting worse.
 
I agree it is getting worse and worse every year on the river.... The habitat is there just baffling why birds aren't using it like they should be...
 
The duck season dates in New York used to be fine when the task force set the dates, unfortunately the DEC got rid of the task force and set their own dates based on their BS surveys sent out. in Western NY they shut the season down during peak migration which is historically the first two weeks in November. The DEC is catering to the casual opening day waterfowler and no longer listening to the hardcore waterfowlers.
 


I'm gonna veer off course here just for the sake of it.

Before covid hit I read that folks in the USA are staying put, not moving, or traveling less more than ever in recent history of the automobile.


Waterfowl seasons have been short, long, split, and not satisfactory for hunters as long as I can remember.

But there are seasons OPEN somewhere, and we would pack up and away we go. For better or worse, it was always a eventful road trip and new experience.

The birds are migratory, and so have been the hunters in the past. Equal balance.

Now folks wanna sit and wait for the game to come to them. Tree stand deer hunting is one example. When the game does not. Who Ya Gonna Blame? Usually the powers that be.


Times they are a changing, but we can still adapt and overcome if we have a mind to.


my 2 cents
 
Anthony - I am on the other side of the state and hunt the Niagara River and while the dates are different, the experience is exactly the same. We get our birds after Long Point Ontario freezes up and we used to have dates that went into the second week of January. Not any more, and like you said, we are stuck for the next 3 years.
 
The strange thing is that I have yet to talk to or meet a waterfowl hunter that was surveyed. And we're stuck with this framework for 5 years. I think if they are going to split the season the way they do, at least give a bigger rest between splits (currently only 5 days), and let it run to the end of December for the South East zone.
 
peter lowe said:
The strange thing is that I have yet to talk to or meet a waterfowl hunter that was surveyed. And we're stuck with this framework for 5 years. I think if they are going to split the season the way they do, at least give a bigger rest between splits (currently only 5 days), and let it run to the end of December for the South East zone.
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I was sent a survey, and replied.


This season the US Fish & Wildlife Service sent me a Snipe, Rail, Gallinule, and Coot Hunting Record for 2021-22.


George Williams has stated to make your thoughts and ideas known to the proper agencies. I agree 100%, and have done so for many years by letter, through the US Mail. Hard copy gets results that other input from hunters does not.


my 2 cents
 
I get the FWS questionnaire seems like every year and every year I send it in. I also get the Illinois DNR survey. I send them in as well. So, what does Illinois do? They publish a five-year season plan. Yep, taking nothing into account, no surveys, no suggestions, no weather patterns, no duck migration information and one public meeting in Springfield, IL that wasn't advertised and got around word of mouth. They just published season dates from 2021 thru 2025!

On the upside I finely got a duck!....LOL. Season ends on Dec 20th!


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So far during the regular season, Ed, you have taken one more duck than I have.
Congratulations on the great looking greenhead.
Allan
 
Al Hansen said:
So far during the regular season, Ed, you have taken one more duck than I have.
Congratulations on the great looking greenhead.
Allan
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Thanks Al. I imagine you're still in a drought down there. As weird as this year has been I shouldn't complain. I'm still on the right side of the grass and I'm still able to go hunting. My feast of beast for Christmas is coming together. 1 Woodie, 1 pheasant, 1 Mallard and venison fillet mignon. What can be better. I'm like the last in my house that eats this stuff anymore anyway. I hope you have a great holiday Al.
 
I still am on the task force for the NE zone. A few years back the state did send out approx 6000 survey. The majority like warm weather hunting (October). The task force was replaced so far as actually setting Duck season dates. Now a computer Matrix set the seasons. It used those survey numbers and input by the task force and DEC Bio's who for the most part are hard core waterfowlers to build the Matrix.The state will revisit the process after 5 years. 2024 Maybe?

I for one dislike the Matrix and enjoyed the back and forth debate for early or late dates. I remember it getting so hot one year that the following years the state used a moderator for our meeting,fun times.

As far as numbers ,Mallards are basically crashing in the east and have been on a decline for over 10 years. I was out this morning and saw 10 total a few Blacks and a pair of singles. I'm not sure if different dates are going to matter if the mallard numbers are low.

December 17th and the lakes in the Adirondacks are still open. Cold is coming this week but Lake Champlain closes the 23rd (Vt sets season) just when it might get good. Later is better.
 
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