Turn right onto Northwest Road. Bear left and continue to Alewive Brook Road. The park entrance is about 100 yards ahead.

At Fire Island National Seashore, which is managed by the National Park Service, there are five areas open to waterfowl hunting. Access permits are available in person only, starting about a week before the season opens at either the Smith's Point Check Station or at the Fire Island Lighthouse Check Point. Hunters must possess a driver's license, hunting license, HIP registration number and a federal duck stamp.

More information may be obtained by phoning the Smith's Point Station at (631) 281-3010 or the headquarters office at 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772. Or phone (631) 289-4810.

The bay bottom below the high tide mark is considered public domain, but there are exceptions. It's up to hunters to be aware of these exceptions, which should be available through local municipalities.

Sea and weather conditions can be treacherous during winter, so hunters should not attempt to cross large expanses of open water.

The DEC's Marine Fishing Access Unit publishes a list of boat ramps. Phone (631) 444-0439, or contact them at NYS DEC Marine Resources, 205 North Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY 11733-3400.

The New York sea duck season runs from Nov. 29 through Jan. 27 for the Long Island Zone. Tentative dates for the Canada goose season are Nov. 29 through Feb. 6 for western Long Island and Nov. 29 through Jan. 27 for eastern Long Island.

Note that all waterfowl hunters must register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) for every state in which they hunt, in addition to holding the small-game hunting license or appropriate combination hunting license.

A hunting license must be purchased before registering with HIP. This program is essential in helping wildlife managers.

To register by phone, call 1-888-764-7343 for a live operator, or dial 1-888-427-5447 for an automated system that you can use 24/7.

Hunters may also register over the Internet at www.wetland.net. When you register, you will be assigned a registration number that you must have while hunting. (It is recommended that you write the number on the back of your hunting license.)

Waterfowl hunters ages 16 years and older must buy a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. These are available at U.S. Postal Service offices and at some sporting goods stores. These must be signed and carried while hunting. The federal duck stamp is valid in any state, but most states also require an additional state duck stamp.

For information about sea duck hunting in the Long Island area, contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Region One, Bureau of Wildlife, Stony Brook University, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409. Phone (631) 444-0310; or log onto www.dec.ny.gov.

For travel information in the Long Island Sound area, phone the New York State Travel Information System at 1-800-CALL-NYS, or log onto www.iloveny.com.