NOTICE to Waterfowl Hunters:
We will no longer have a waterfowl hunting phone-in reservation system or waterfowl hunting self-serve permit system at the Hunter Check Station.
Waterfowl Hunting Permits for the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge will be available online through RecAccess - https://montezuma.recaccess.com/ Permits for each hunt day will be available at 6:00 pm two days before the hunt day (this includes the Youth Hunt and Opening Day).
The area once known as the Montezuma Marshes drew tens of thousands of waterfowl making their annual fall migration. However, the development of the Erie Canal in the early 1900s led to the construction of smaller canals that enabled farmers to drain the marshes. At one point, the marshes were almost completely drained, and the ducks were gone. In 1938, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge was established to restore the wetland habitat. Today, the refuge consists of 10,000 acres, and the ducks – mallard, black duck, green- and blue-winged teal, gadwall, wood duck, shoveler, wigeon, merganser – are back, along with other thriving wildlife populations.
The refuge offers opportunities to hunt white-tailed deer, waterfowl (including September Canada goose and regular Canada goose seasons, and snow/light goose), wild turkey and small game (squirrel and cottontail rabbit). Except for waterfowl, permits are available daily during the respective seasons from the hunter check station on New York Route 89. Waterfowl hunting permits for the regular season are available via RecAccess - https://montezuma.recaccess.com
