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 SEASONSeptember 12 – September 27
DUCK, COOT, MERGANSERNovember 27 – November 28December 5 – January 31
SPECIAL GOOSE SEASONNote: At the time of posting, federal guidelines were not final. See Alabama Waterfowl Hunting Guide.September 1 – September 30
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 TEALSept. 15 to 30
DUCK, COOT AND MERGANSERNov 21 to 30
Dec 11 to 23
Dec 26 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 1 black duck 1 mottled duck
3 times daily bag limit
California (CA)
Northeastern ZoneOct 3 to Jan 13
Balance of State ZoneOct. 24 to Jan 31
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneOct. 24 to Jan. 31
Southern California ZoneOct. 24 to Jan. 31
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: Oct 10 to Nov 30Dec 19 to Jan 31
Southeast Zone: Oct 28 to Jan 31
Mountain/ Foothills: Oct 3 to Nov 30Dec 26 to Jan 31
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Western ZoneOct 3 to Oct 21Nov 7 to Jan 31
Eastern ZoneOct 3 to Jan 15
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 Nov 23 to Dec 5 Dec 18 to Jan 30
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 Dec 12 to Jan 31
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 Dec 12 to Jan 31
6 in aggregate with no more than: 4 mallards (only 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 redheads 2 pintail 2 canvasback 1 black OR mottled duck
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: 4 mallards (only 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 redheads 2 pintail 2 canvasback 1 black duck
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 Nov 7 to Dec 6 Dec 19 to Jan 24 West Zone Nov 14 to Dec 6 Dec 19 to Jan 31 East Zone Nov 21 to Dec 6 Dec 19 to Jan 17
Ducks 6 Coots 15 Mergansers 5 1 Mottled Duck 1 Black Duck 2 Canvasbacks 2 Redheads 2 Pintails 3 Scaup 3 Wood Ducks Max 4 mallards (Max 2 females)
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: 5 long-tailed ducks 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 4 scoters 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 2 hooded mergansers 1 fulvous tree duck 1 mottled duck up to 6 of all other species except harlequin ducks
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: 4 mallards (2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 redheads 2 canvasback 2 pintails 1 mottled duck 1 black duck 5 mergansers (2 hooded) 15 coots
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: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 2 hooded mergansers 1 black duck 1 mottled duck
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: 6 goldeneye 6 long-tailed duck 6 ruddy duck 6 wigeon 6 shovel 6 blue-winged teal 6 eiders 6 gadwall 6 bufflehead 6 green-winged teal 6 ring-necked duck 4 mallards (Max 2 hen) 4 scoters 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 black
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 Nov 14 to Dec 5 Dec 19 to Jan 30
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: Oct 17 to Nov 1 Nov 14 to Dec 27 North Zone: Oct 24 to Nov 8 Nov 21 to Jan 3 South Zone: Oct 24 to Nov 8 Dec 19 to Jan 3
6 in aggregate with no more than: 4 mallards (only 1 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 redheads 2 pintail 2 canvasback 1 black 1 mottled duck Coots: 15 Mergansers: 5 (Max 2 hooded)
3 times daily bag limit (After Day 2)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oct 17 to Jan 13
6 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 5 mallards (Max 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback
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: 4 mallards (Max 2 hens) 4 scoters 3 wood ducks 2 scaup 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 mottled 1 black duck 1 fulvous whistling duck
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: 4 mallards (only 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 2 redheads 2 canvasbacks 2 scaup 2 pintails 1 fulvous whistling duck 1 black-bellied whistling duck 1 black duck OR 1 mottled duck
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 Nov 7 to Dec 6 Dec 19 to Jan 24 West Zone Nov 14 to Dec 6 Dec 19 to Jan 31 East Zone Nov 21 to Dec 6 Dec 19 to Jan 17
Ducks 6 Coots 15 Mergansers 5 1 Mottled Duck 1 Black Duck 2 Canvasbacks 2 Redheads 2 Pintails 3 Scaup 3 Wood Ducks Max 4 mallards (Max 2 females)
3 times daily bag limit
Texas (TX)
North Zone Nov 7 to 29 Dec 12 to Jan 31 South Zone Oct 31 to Nov 29 Dec 12 to Jan 24 High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct 31 to Nov 1 Nov 6 to Jan 31
6 in aggregate with no more than: 5 mallards (only 2 hens) 3 wood ducks 3 scaup 2 redheads 2 pintail 2 canvasback 1 “dusky” duck “dusky” ducks season closes after first 5 days of the season
3 times daily bag limit
Utah (UT)
Oct 3 to Jan 16
7 Ducks in aggregate no more than: 2 canvasbacks 2 mallard hens 2 pintails 2 redheads 2 wood ducks
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: 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
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 Nov 9 to Nov 14 Dec 18 to Jan 30
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.
