Fall waterfowl hunting begins soon with the September goose season.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says the September season is an important tool for managing the population of local-nesting Canada geese, which have become a nuisance in parks and golf courses in many areas of the state.

On average, more than 40,000 Canada geese are taken by hunters each September.

Longer seasons and higher bag limits were enacted in areas of the state with high numbers of resident Canada geese, including Long Island and across the Southern Tier.

DEC staff will work with U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife staff to test wild waterfowl killed by hunters for avian influenza, or "bird flu." Over the past two years, more than 100,000 birds have been tested across North America and none have been found infected with the highly contagious disease.
   
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