Fishing
Hunting Opportunities in the Region
By
Apr 20, 2006, 14:58

 Waterfowl

With over 256 miles of shoreline on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, approximately 150 inland ponds, lakes and reservoirs and nearly 1,800 miles of rivers and streams, it is easy to see why Jefferson County and the 1000 Islands Region is one of the largest staging areas of migratory waterfowl on the Atlantic Flyway.

To sports enthusiasts, the region offers prime waterfowling in a variety of settings. Over the past few years, a Canada goose season has been available during the month of September. Stretching over half of New York’s Northeastern Zone season the bulk of the waterfowling occurs on the inland swamps, marshes and ponds for wood ducks, mallards, black ducks and teal. The second half of the season produces good wing shooting for both puddle ducks and divers. Diving ducks, most of which are hatched in central Canada, show in numbers around the beginning of November. The diving duck family is made up of such birds as canvasbacks, redheads, goldeneyes, ringnecks, buffleheads, and most common in the 1000 Islands Region, broadbills or bluebills.

Upland Birds

Thousands of acres of private and public land make for fantastic upland game bird hunting opportunities. Tracking ringneck pheasant, bobwhite quail and chukar partridge is an exhilarating way to spend a fall or winter day. Ruffed grouse or partridge, a wild native upland bird species, are abundant in Jefferson County. New York State also has a stocking program for pheasants on many public hunting lands. Combine this sport with a morning fishing excursion or hunting trip for a pleasant outdoor sporting sampler.

Other Small Game

A spring and fall season for the vigilant turkey and a fall-winter season for cotton-tail rabbit, snowshoe hare and gray squirrel offer another form of outdoor sporting activity in the region.

Whitetail Deer

The whitetail are in good shape here in the Lake Ontario Plain and St. Lawrence River Valley because of good soil conditions. The less extreme snow conditions such as those seen in higher elevations also give deer in the area ample opportunity to grow.

In recent years, the growing deer population in this region of the state has allowed the DEC to add more deer hunting opportunities. Muzzleloading hunters have both early and late special seasons and regular season hunters can apply for deer management permits to take an extra antlerless deer.

Hunting in Ontario Province of Canada

In General

Game that is hunted in Ontario include whitetail deer, moose, black bear, turkey, waterfowl/migratory game birds, and small game such as fox, beaver, squirrel, rabbits, hares, weasel, etc.   Call MNR at 1.800.667.1940 or go on-line to www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html to view the current “Hunting Regulations Summary” publication for current fees, guidelines, and regulations for hunting by residents and non-residents, as well as locations and usage of Wildlife Management Units & Areas (WMUs & WMAs), Crown Game Preserves and Provincial Parks.