DEC will meet with waterfowl hunters on Aug. 28

Posted 12 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Press release, Department of Environmental Conservation

BASOM – As part of Gov. Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a waterfowl hunter informational meeting on Aug. 28 at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters.

The meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Refuge on Casey Road in the Town of Alabama. Topics will include:

Highlights of waterfowl management and research programs at two National Wildlife Refuges, Iroquois and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; and four of the state’s Wildlife Management Areas – Tonawanda, Braddock Bay, Oak Orchard and Northern Montezuma

Regional and statewide waterfowl news and updates

Atlantic Flyway news

Waterfowl population status survey results

New York waterfowl hunting season-setting process; and

Tentative 2014-15 duck and goose hunting seasons.

Wildlife biologists from DEC and the two National Wildlife Refuges will discuss items of interest to waterfowl hunters in an informational and interactive forum. They will present results of local and international surveys of waterfowl breeding populations and discuss habitat conditions and habitat management efforts. Updates of waterfowl management issues in the Atlantic Flyway will be presented, and this year’s tentative waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits will be discussed.

The NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.

In support of this initiative, this year’s budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas.

In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state’s fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.

This year’s budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders.