Yesterday was the official beginning to the Fall Hunting Season in New York with squirrel, crow, and resident goose seasons all kicking off. While many hunters get their feet wet as kids chasing after small game such as squirrels, the equipment required is minimal. Crow hunting is slightly more complicated but I’ve yet to meet anyone who eats them, so I ignore their hunting season for the most part. Goose season, however, holds a place close to my heart. I really gained a lot of my hunting experience from duck and goose hunting in the Finger Lakes as a teenager. I did not get into archery hunting until I was in college, so I spent my autumn weekends in the duck blind rather than in a treestand in high school. Here are some things to know about waterfowl hunting and some equipment I recommend getting if you want to get into waterfowl hunting.

Knowing the regulations and requirements are critical when it comes to hunting ducks and geese. They are migratory birds, so they fall under federal jurisdiction in the form of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). While NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officers enforce the laws and regulations within New York for the most part, they can have USFWS Special Agents come in to conduct investigations. With this, know that the fines and penalties that come with breaking the law or regulations are heftier. The first requirement is that everyone who hunts waterfowl in New York must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP). It is a simple survey asking about hunting migratory birds last year. Once you answer all the questions, you get a HIP number that you must carry with you while afield waterfowl hunting. The second requirement is that hunters age 16 and older must possess a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp while hunting waterfowl. This stamp can be purchased at a United States Postal Service Office and the hunter must sign their name across the face of the stamp in ink. It is worth noting that about 98 cents off each dollar that is spent on Migratory Bird Stamps goes directly to acquiring habitat critical to migratory birds for breeding or for migrating. The third requirement to know is that you must use non-toxic shot, meaning shot other than lead, when hunting migratory birds. The most common choice is steel shot as it is the least expensive option. Tungsten, bismuth, and mixes of those metals are other options that carry a heavier price tag. The last requirement is that a shotgun that can hold more than 3 rounds total in the firearm must be modified so that it can only hold 3 rounds total (this is not required in the September goose season or during the snow goose conservation season). This is usually accomplished by placing a rod in the tubular magazine of a pump or semiautomatic shotgun, often referred to as a “duck plug.” If you have questions about this process, visit a gun shop to ask them for assistance.

When it comes to equipment, the first thing to invest in would be decoys, in my opinion. Using decoys allows you to place them where you want the geese to come in, so you get ethical shots at them. Geese will try to land with decoys without any calling more readily than they will try to land where there is calling but no decoys. If you plan to hunt in fields mostly, get decoys that are in feeding positions. If you plan to hunt over water where the geese come to loaf and nap, get resting and sleeping position decoys. When setting decoys, remember that geese typically land into the wind if it is blowing above 5 mph so leave an open area where they can approach and try to land, this is where you plan on getting your shots at them. The second piece of gear to get would be a goose call. Adding sound to a decoy spread helps make it realistic. Most hunters will start out with a goose flute but over time will go to a short reed call because you can make a wider variety of calls on a short reed than on a flute call. The third piece of equipment to purchase would be a blind. Either a layout blind, which looks like a sleeping bag with doors, or an open-top ground blind will work but in different scenarios. Layout blinds allow you to set up in the middle of fields without a tall profile. This helps get away from hedgerows or wood edges that some birds can shy away from. Open-top ground blinds, like the Avian-X A-Frame, allow you to set up on fence lines, hedgerows, and other areas with more vertical structure to break up the outline of the blind. They are more comfortable to hunt out of but can lead to birds not finishing where you want for easy shots.

If you are interested in starting to waterfowl hunt, make sure you understand the regulations before going out. Remember to stay safe and only shoot in safe directions, because it can get hectic when a big flock comes in and you start shooting.