When is Duck Season?
Duck Hunting

Duck hunters everywhere patiently wait for duck season like the IRS anticipates tax season. Unfortunately, duck season is not a year-round venture. Duck hunters across the country must wait for the official opening date to unleash the hounds, stock up the boat, and pull out their guns. Waterfowl hunting seasons is ruled by a set of legislation and regulations that developed through sound science and as a way to keep duck stock plentiful.
Waterfowl regulations occur at a federal level that is continuously adjusted to account for each flyway, and account for the migration timing of ducks and the majority of hunter’s preferences. Each region receives decisions based on the latest scientific knowledge, century’s worth of experience, and input from the public at a state and county level.
No matter your opinion on the process, the rules are put in place for the well-being of hunters and the beloved waterfowl creatures. However, the chances are that no matter which season we are in (open or closed) you are probably getting antsy to hunt. If you need to know the official date in your neck of the woods, here is a list that we rounded up of every opening and closing dates throughout the United States.
State |
Season Dates |
Daily Bag Limits |
Possession Limits |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama (AL) |
SPECIAL TEAL SEASON September 12 – September 27 DUCK, COOT, MERGANSER SPECIAL GOOSE SEASON |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 mottled duck 1 black duck |
3 times daily bag limit |
Alaska (AK) |
Sept 16 to Dec 31 |
7 (Max 1 canvasbacks) |
3 times daily bag limit |
Arizona (AZ) |
Mountain Zone: Oct 2 to Jan 10 Dessert Zone: Oct 23 to Jan 31 |
7 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 7 mallards (Max 2 hens OR Mexican-like ducks) 7 mergansers 2 redheads 2 pintails 2 canvasback 25 Coots |
3 times daily bag limit |
Arkansas (AR) |
EARLY TEAL DUCK, COOT AND MERGANSER Dec 11 to 23 Dec 26 to Jan 31 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
California (CA) |
Northeastern Zone Balance of State Zone Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone Southern California Zone |
7 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 7 mallards (Max 2 hens) 2 pintail 2 canvasback 2 redheads |
3 times daily bag limit |
Colorado (CO) |
CENTRAL FLYWAY Northeast Zone: Southeast Zone: Mountain/ Foothills: PACIFIC FLYWAY Western Zone Eastern Zone |
N/A |
N/A |
Connecticut (CT) |
North Zone: Oct 8 to Oct 18 Nov 11 to Jan 7 South Zone: Oct 9 to Oct 11 Nov 17 to Jan 20 |
4 mallards (max 2 hens) 3 wood duck 1 black duck 2 scaup 2 redhead 2 pintail 1 canvasback 2 hooded merganser |
3 times daily bag limit |
Delaware (DE) |
Oct 23 to Nov 3 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 6 teal 6 shovelers 6 gadwall 6 wigeon 6 goldeneye 6 ring necked ducks 6 bufflehead 6 ruddy ducks 6 eiders 6 long tailed ducks 4 scoters 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 black duck 1 mottled duck 1 fulvous whistling duck |
3 times daily bag limit |
Florida (FL) |
Nov 21 to Nov 29 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (Max 2 hen) 4 scoters 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 black 1 mottled duck (Florida duck) 1 fulvous whistling-duck No harlequin ducks |
3 times daily bag limit |
Georgia (GA) |
Nov 21 to 29 |
6 in aggregate with no more than: |
18 |
Hawaii (HI) |
CLOSED |
N/A |
N/A |
Idaho (ID) |
Area 1: Oct 4 to Jan 16 Area 1 Scaup Season: Oct 25 to Jan 16 Area 2: Oct 11 to Jan 23 Area 2 Scaup Season: Nov 1 to Jan 23 |
7 of any kind except: Shall not include more than the following: 2 female mallards 2 redheads 2 pintails 1 canvasback 3 scaup |
3 times daily bag limit |
Illinois (IL) |
North Zone: Oct 17 to Dec 15 Central Zone: Oct 24 to Dec 22 South Central Zone: Nov 14 to Jan 12 South Zone: Nov 26 to Jan 24 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 mottled 1 black duck |
3 times daily bag limit |
Iowa (IA) |
North: Oct 3 to 18 Oct 24 to Dec 18 South: Oct 3 to 7 Oct 17 to Dec 10 |
6 in aggregate with no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Kansas (KS) |
High Plans: Oct 11 to Dec 8 Dec 20 to Jan 25 Low Plains Early: Oct 11 to Dec 7 Dec 20 to Jan 4 Low Plains Late: Nov 1 to Jan 4 Jan 17 to Jan 25 Low Plains Southeast: Nov 8 to Nov 9 Nov 15 to Jan 25 |
Six ducks including no more than 5 mallards of which only 2 may be hens; 3 wood ducks; 3 scaups; 3 pintails; 2 redtails; 1 canvasback |
3 times daily bag limit |
Louisiana (LA) |
Coastal Zone |
Ducks 6 |
3 times daily bag limit |
Maine (ME) |
North Zone: Sept 29 to Dec 6 South Zone: Oct 18 to Oct 18 Nov 3 to Dec 23 Coastal Zone: Oct 1 to Oct 18 Nov 14 to Jan 3 |
6 (no more than 4 of any species) |
18 (no more than 12 of any species) |
Maryland (MD) |
Oct 10 to Oct 17 Nov 14 to Nov 27 Dec 15 to Jan 30 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Massachusetts (MA) |
Berkshire: Oct 13 to Nov 29 Dec 8 to Dec 27 Central: Oct 14 to Nov 29 Dec 8 to Dec 27 Coastal: Oct 15 to Oct 25 Nov 22 to Jan 19 |
6 ducks in aggregate with no more than: 1 black duck 1 canvasback 1 fulvous whistling 2 hooded merganser 4 mallard (2 female) 1 mottled 2 pintail 2 redhead 2 scaup 3 wood duck 4 all other species |
18 |
Michigan (MI) |
North Zone: Sept 26 to Nov 22 Nov 28 to Jan 29 Middle Zone: Oct 3 to Nov 29 Dec 12 to Dec 13 South Zone: Oct 10 to Dec 6 Dec 26 to Dec 27 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 black duck |
3 times daily bag limit |
Minnesota (MN) |
North Zone: Sept 27 to Nov 25 Central Zone: Sept 27 to Oct 5 Oct 11 to Nov 30 South Zone: Sept 27 to Sept 29 Oct 11 to Dec 9 |
6 ducks daily that include no more than the following: 4 mallard (2 hen mallard) 3 scaup 3 wood ducks 2 pintails 2 redheads 1 black duck 1 canvas back |
3 times daily bag limit |
Mississippi (MS) |
Nov 27 to Nov 29 Dec 4 to Dec 6 Dec 9 to Jan 31 |
6 ducks in aggregate with no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Missouri (MO) |
Middle Zone: Nov 5 to Jan 7 North Zone: Oct 31 to Dec 29 South Zone: Nov 26 to Jan 24 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Montana (MT) |
Central Flyway: Oct 4 to Jan 20 Pacific Flyway: Oct 4 to Jan 17 |
N/A |
N/A |
Nebraska (NE) |
Zone 1: Oct 10 to Dec 22 Zone 2 Low Plains: Oct to Oct 15 Zone 2 High Plains: Oct 3 to Dec 15 Jan 6 to Jan 27 Zone 3 Low Plains: Oct 24 to Jan 5 Zone 3 High Plains: Oct 24 to Jan 5 Jan 6 to Jan 27 Zone 4: Oct 3 to Dec 15 |
6 ducks in aggregate no more than: 5 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 redheads 2 pintails 2 canvasbacks 5 Merganser (Max 2 hooded mergansers) 15 Coot Mergansers & Coots do not count toward the daily bag limits for ducks |
3 times daily bag limit |
Nevada (NV) |
Northeast Zone: Sept 26 to Oct 25 Oct 28 to Jan 10 Northwest Zone: Oct 10 to Oct 25 Oct 28 to Jan 24 South Zone: Oct 10 to Oct 25 Oct 28 to Jan 24 Moapa Valley: Oct 31 to Jan 24 |
7 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 2 hen mallards 3 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback |
3 times daily bag limit |
New Hampshire (NH) |
Inland Zone: Oct 2 to Nov 2 Nov 16 to Dec 13 Coastal Zone: Oct 3 to Oct 13 Nov 16 to Jan 3 Northern Zone: Oct 2 to Nov 30 |
6 ducks in aggregate no more than: 1 black duck 4 mallard (2 hens) 2 scaup 3 wood duck 2 redhead 2 hooded merganser 15 coot 2 pintail 1 canvasback |
6 |
New Mexico (NM) |
Central: Oct 4 to Jan 2 Central South: Oct 23 to Jan 19 Pacific: Oct 11 to Jan 23 |
6 ducks in aggregate no more than: 5 mallards (2 female) 3 scaup 3 wood ducks 2 redhead 2 hooded merganser 2 pintail 1 canvasback |
3 times daily bag limit |
New Jersey (NJ) |
North Zone: Oct 10 to Oct 22 Nov 14 to Jan 9 South Zone: Oct 17 to Oct 24 Nov 14 to Jan 14 Coastal Zone: Oct 31 to Nov 3 Nov 26 to Jan 30 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
New York (NY) |
Western Zone: Oct 24 to Dec 6 Dec 26 to Jan 10 Northeast Zone: Oct 3 to Oct 11 Oct 24 to Dec 13 Lake Champlain Zone: Oct 10 to Oct 14 Oct 24 to Dec 17 Southeast Zone: Oct 10 to Oct 18 Nov 7 to Dec 27 Long Island Zone: Nov 26 to Nov 29 Dec 7 to Jan 31 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 2 hooded mergansers 1 black duck no harlequin ducks |
18 |
North Carolina (NC) |
Oct 7 to 10 |
6 in aggregate with no more than: 4 scoters 4 mallards (only 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 redheads 2 pintail 2 canvasback 1 black or mottled duck 1 fulvous whistling duck Mergansers: 5 (Max 2 hooded) Coots: 15 |
3 times daily bag limit |
North Dakota (ND) |
Low Plains: Sept 27 to Dec 7 High Plain: Sept 27 to Dec 7 Dec 13 to Jan 4 |
N/A |
N/A |
Ohio (OH) |
Lake Erie Marsh Zone: |
6 in aggregate with no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit (After Day 2) |
Oklahoma (OK) |
Oct 17 to Jan 13 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Oregon (OR) |
Zone 1: Oct 11 to Oct 26 Oct 29 to Jan 25 Zone 1 Scoup: Nov 1 to Jan 25 Zone 2: Oct 11 to Dec 7 Dec 10 to Jan 25 Zone 2 Scoup Oct 11 to Dec 7 Dec 10 to Jan 6 |
7 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 3 scaup 2 hen mallard 2 pintail 2 redheads 1 canvasback |
3 times daily bag limit |
Pennsylvania (PA) |
North Zone: Oct 10 to Nov 28 Dec 19 to Jan 7 South Zone: Oct 17 to Oct 24 Nov 14 to Jan 14 Northwest Zone: Oct 10 to Dec 12 Dec 29 to Jan 2 Lake Erie Zone: Oct 26 to Jan 2 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Rhode Island (RI) |
Nov 26 to Nov 30 Dec 6 to Jan 25 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallard (2 hen) 1 black duck 3 wood duck 2 redhead 2 pintail 15 coot 1 canvasback 2 scaup 5 merganser (2 hooded) |
18 |
South Carolina (SC) |
Nov 21 to Nov 28 Dec 12 to Jan 31 |
6 in aggregate with no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
South Dakota (SD) |
High Plains: Oct 11 to Jan 15 Low Plains North: Sept 27 to Dec 9 Low Plains Middle: Sept 27 to Dec 9 Low Plains South: Oct 11 to Dec 23 |
6 in aggregate with no more than: 5 mallards (2 hens) 3 scaup 3 wood ducks 2 redheads 2 pintail 1 canvasback |
3 times daily bag limit for each species |
Tennessee (TN) |
Coastal Zone |
Ducks 6 |
3 times daily bag limit |
Texas (TX) |
North Zone |
6 in aggregate |
3 times daily bag limit |
Utah (UT) |
Oct 3 to Jan 16 |
7 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Vermont (VT) |
Lake Champlain Zone: Oct 8 to Oct 12 Interior Vermont Zone: Oct 8 to Dec 6 Connecticut River Zone: Oct 2 to Nov 2 Nov 16 to Dec 13 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (2 hens) 1 black duck 3 wood ducks 2 pintails 1 canvasback 2 redhead 2 scaup 4 scoters |
18 |
Virginia (VA) |
Oct 1 to Oct 10 Nov 9 to Nov 14 Dec 18 to Jan 30 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: |
3 times daily bag limit |
Washington (WA) |
Oct 11 to Oct 15 Oct 18 to Jan 25 (except scaup season closed Oct 11 to Oct 31) |
N/A |
N/A |
West Virginia (WV) |
Oct 1 to Oct 10 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 4 long-tailed ducks 4 scoters 3 wood ducks 2 pintails 2 scaup 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 black duck |
3 times daily bag limit |
Wisconsin (WI) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Wyoming (WY) |
Pacific Flyway: Sept 26 to Jan 8 Central Flyway: Oct 3 to Dec 31 Jan 31 to Feb 14 Central Flyway Zone C1: Oct 3 to Oct 21 Oct 31 to Jan 16 Central Flyway Zone C2: Sept 26 to Dec 6 Dec 12 to Jan 5 |
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 5 mallards (Max 2 hens) 2 pintails 3 wood ducks 2 canvasbacks 2 redheads 3 scaup In addition to the regular limit of 6 ducks, 2 blue winged teal may be taken during the dates October 3 to October 18 |
18 |
For additional information contact Mud Buddy Motors.
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