In an ideal world, every waterfowler would live in a place with an abundance of ducks and geese and access to both. For a total outdoorsman, add in fishing and other hunting opportunities, and you have the whole package. While this may seem like a tall ask, we recently visited Oswego County, New York, and it just might check every box.
Oswego County is positioned on the edge of Lake Ontario and right in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway. Here, waterfowlers have a variety of hunting opportunities and, above all, the birds to support it. Recently, we headed to the Northeast to see what Oswego County had to offer, beginning with early-season honkers.
Early Season in New York
New York is divided into nine different goose hunting zones, each with its own early goose season. Oswego County lies between two of these zones, the West Central and Northeast. Fortunately, for hunters, both zones have a 15-bird daily limit and no plug restrictions for the early season, which this year ran from September 1st to the 25th.
Getting to Oswego is straightforward. We flew into Syracuse, which is a 30-40 minute drive from either Oswego or Pulaski, two towns worth visiting. The city of Oswego is located on the coast of Lake Ontario and was founded as a British trading post in 1722. Pulaski, on the other hand, is a fishing town. It’s positioned along the Salmon River, where anglers flock every fall for their chance at catching salmon and steelhead.
If you’re visiting Oswego to goose hunt, we recommend booking a guide. There are several local outfitters, like James from Unplugged Waterfowl Guide Service, who specialize in hunting geese. They have the birds patterned and the permission on private fields, so you can show up and get right to hunting. The only other thing you need is a New York hunting license ($100) and a federal waterfowl stamp. Your New York license also comes with a deer and bear tag, a nice bonus.
Oswego Honkers
Honker hunting in New York is a mix of targeting resident birds and molt migrators. Depending on what you want to shoot, you can choose when to hunt during the season. Typically, in the first weeks of September, you’ll shoot more resident birds, while later in September, the molt migrators begin to show up. We hunted the last week of the season, with molt migrators on the mind.
For goose hunters in Oswego, there are a variety of areas and ways you can hunt. The most common way is hunting cut ag fields, just as you would in most states, but water is abundant in the county, leaving you the option to hunt loafs. We split our time in Oswego between hunting traffic fields and loafs for the full experience. Timing our hunt with the end of the season brought with it a cold front and fresh molt migrators.
Our first day in the blind consisted of hunting traffic on the edge of a freshly cut corn field. From first light, flocks of geese ranging between five and 20 worked a mixed spread of full bodies and silos. Our edge hide in an A-frame did the trick, landing geese feet down in the spread. With a healthy bag of geese, we set our sights on a loaf pond the next day. Hunting loaf ponds requires a different approach than field goose hunting. Rather than waking up for sunrise, we made it in the blind around 8 am. This allowed the birds to leave to feed in nearby fields. After they finished feeding, they began trickling back to us, and we pulled small groups until noon.
Public Land Ducks
In addition to the abundance of geese, Oswego offers duck hunters ample opportunity. Throughout the county, several public land marshes, sloughs, and ponds hold ducks. The season opens on October 11th, and depending on the area you are hunting and the split, you will have different closing dates, so check the regulations. With ample public access, duck season opens up opportunities for DIY hunters. In most cases, a pair of waders and a good hike will set you up for success.
New York is positioned in the Atlantic flyway with a six-bird limit. However, its proximity to Lake Ontario means hunters will see a mixed bag of birds. Expect to see mallards, black ducks, teal, woodies, pintail, and widgeon. If you prefer to hunt, divers hunt closer to the lake. Common diver species are blue bills, red heads, ring-necks, and the occasional old squaw.
Other Things to Do in Oswego County
For those looking for the full outdoor experience, Oswego County is the place to be. Both the Oswego River and Salmon River get runs of salmon and steelhead in the fall—perfect for a cast and blast. During early goose season, the salmon begin to run and will be in the rivers until about mid-October. Then the steelhead show up, staying until the spring. After a morning hunt, you can hop to either river, grab a quick bite to eat, and fish the rest of the day.
In addition to the excellent fishing, parts of Oswego County hold grouse. While we’re tight-lipped about our specific grouse spots, there is plenty of public land that has them. Look for areas with secondary growth and abundant cover. While a good dog helps, driving through cover will flush birds—just don’t be surprised when one shoots out from under your feet.
Food and Accommodations
There’s no shortage of great places to eat and places to stay in Oswego County, NY. Some local favorites, and places we stopped for a post-hunt meal, were Whacko Gringo, a modern taco shop, and Press Box, a local sports bar with plenty of NY-brewed beers. For those looking for a more luxurious stay, head north to the Salmon River. Options range from classic fishing camps to the world-class Tailwater Lodge in Altmar. There’s also plenty of affordable Airbnb’s in Oswego if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly.
Sportsman’s Paradise
Few places in the Northeast have the variety of hunting and fishing that Oswego County does. While it’s known for its salmon and steelhead runs, the waterfowl hunting is not to be overlooked. From early-season honkers to late-season divers on big water, hunters can chase anything they want. Add to that some great local restaurants and places to stay, and you’ll be right at home. Best of all, a destination trip to Oswego won’t break the bank. For those wanting to experience something new, check out all Oswego County has to offer HERE.