Two sections of Fire Island National Seashore, near Smith's Point and near Fire Island Inlet, provide good public sea duck hunting. This is one of the better opportunities for newcomers to sea duck hunting. It is managed by the National Park Service.

Seasonal permits must be obtained in person starting about a week before hunting season opens. For information, call Smith's Point Station at (631) 281-3010, or write to Fire Island National Seashore Headquarters, 120 Laurel Street, Patchogue, NY 11772; call (631) 289-4810.

Boats can be launched at Captree State Park for access to the waters off Fire Island. The park is 48 miles from Manhattan by way of the Southern State Parkway to Robert Moses Causeway, Exit 40, and then south to the park. For park information, contact Captree State Park, Box 247, Babylon, NY 11702; or call (631) 669-0449.

Tentative dates of the late duck season for Long Island are Dec. 11 through Jan. 30. The season for sea ducks runs from Oct. 16 through Jan. 30. Final season dates and regulations will be posted on the DEC's Web site at www.dec.state.ny.us. For additional information about waterfowl hunting, contact any DEC regional wildlife office.

The special sea duck season for the Long Island Zone applies to outer coastal waters only, defined as the coastal waters of New York State lying in Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Great Peconic Bay and associated bays, and any ocean waters lying south of Long Island. The daily bag limit for this season last year was seven sea ducks (scoters, eiders and old-squaws), including no more than four scoters.

Brant season is tentatively set for Dec. 12 through Jan. 30 in the Long Island Zone.

The hunting season for ducks and sea ducks in the Southeast Region is tentatively set for Nov. 13 through Jan. 2.

Nontoxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting in New York State. Eight different nontoxic shot materials have been approved for waterfowl hunting in New York.

Hunters are encouraged to report any banded birds they shoot to the Federal Bird Banding Lab at (800) 327-2263. The best time to call is weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., but extended hours and weekend coverage are planned. The operator will want to know the band number and how, when and where it was recovered.

Bands can also be reported online. Tens of thousands of ducks and geese are banded in eastern North America every year. Band reporting by hunters helps managers determine appropriate hunting regulations for each species.

For more about hunting on Long Island, contact NYS DEC, SUNY, Building 40, Stony Brook, New York 11790; call (631) 444-0345.