New York
214,300
Duck Statewide Harvest
121,500
Goose Statewide Harvest
25,200
No. Waterfowl Licenses Sold Annually
10.5
Ducks Per Hunter
7.1
Geese Per Hunter
$22
Cost of Resident Waterfowl Hunting License
$25
Federal Duck Stamp
$100
Cost of Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunting License
$25
Federal Duck Stamp
Photo by Krumpelman Photography
When you combine loads of enthusiastic hunters with diverse waterfowl opportunities, you see some impressive numbers.
New York hunters shot more than 214,000 ducks and almost 122,000 geese in 2024-'25. The usual suspects — mallards, buffleheads, wood ducks, black ducks and green-winged teal — led the way, but Empire State waterfowlers also took good numbers of wigeon, pintails, redheads, bluebills, goldeneyes, scoters, eiders and long-tailed ducks. Honkers topped the goose category, of course, but New York hunters also shot more than 5,000 brant.
Various waterfowl habitats — including inland wetlands, Lake Champlain, the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Niagara River — and abundant public land give New York a solid A grade.
