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🦆 Waterfowl Hunting by State 2026

Duck, goose, and teal hunting regulations, season dates, bag limits, and license requirements by state and flyway. Includes HIP registration and federal duck stamp requirements.

🎫 Federal Duck Stamp required in all states
📋 HIP Registration required in most states
🗺️ 4 Flyways
What You Need to Hunt Waterfowl
  • ✅Federal Duck Stamp ($25) — Required for all hunters age 16+. Purchase at USPS, USFWS, or online at store.usgs.gov.
  • ✅State Hunting License — Required in every state. Fees vary from ~$15–$40 resident.
  • ✅HIP Registration (Harvest Information Program) — Free, required in most states. Register when purchasing your hunting license or separately through your state agency.
  • ⚠️State Waterfowl Stamp — Required in some states (varies). Check your state's requirements below.
  • ⚠️Steel Shot or Non-Toxic Shot — Required federally for all waterfowl hunting. Lead shot is prohibited.
🗺️ Atlantic Flyway
17 states
State Season Dates Duck Bag Goose Bag State Stamp Res. License Details
CT Connecticut Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 7 – Jan 26 (split dates); Sea Duck: Oct – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
DE Delaware Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 7 – Jan 26 (split); Canada Goose Early: Sept 1–25 6 8 No — View
FL Florida Zone A (NW): Nov 9 – Jan 26; Zone B (NE/Central/SW): Nov 16 – Jan 26; Zone C (SE): Nov 23 – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
GA Georgia Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 8 – Jan 26 (split) 6 8 No — View
ME Maine Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Main Season: Oct 1 – Dec 31; Special Black Duck Season varies 6 8 No — View
MD Maryland Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 7 – Jan 26 (split); Canada Goose Early: Sept 1–25 6 8 No — View
MA Massachusetts Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Sea Duck: Oct 1 – Jan 26; Regular Season: Oct 1 – Nov 30 and Dec 14 – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
NH New Hampshire Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Main Season: Oct 1 – Dec 15 6 8 No — View
NJ New Jersey Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 7 – Jan 26 (split); Canada Goose Early Season: Sept 1–25 6 8 No — View
NY New York Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 1 – Dec 31 (zone-specific); Sea Duck: Oct – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
NC North Carolina Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 8 – Jan 26 (split); Canada Goose Early: Sept 1–25 6 8 No — View
PA Pennsylvania Early Canada Goose: Sept 1–25; Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Nov 30 and Dec 14 – Jan 26; Special Late Canada Goose: Jan 6 8 No — View
RI Rhode Island Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 1 – Dec 15; Sea Duck: Oct – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
SC South Carolina Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 8 – Jan 26 (split) 6 8 No — View
VT Vermont Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Main Season: Oct 1 – Dec 15 6 8 No — View
VA Virginia Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 2 – Jan 26; Canada Goose Early: Sept 1–25 6 8 No — View
WV West Virginia Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 7 – Nov 30 and Dec 9 – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
🗺️ Mississippi Flyway
14 states
State Season Dates Duck Bag Goose Bag State Stamp Res. License Details
AL Alabama Teal: Sept 1–30; Main Season: Nov 22 – Jan 31 (split); Canada Goose: Nov 22 – Jan 31; Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb 1 – Mar 10 6 5 No — View
AR Arkansas Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 2 – Jan 26; Mississippi Alluvial Valley Duck Hunting: Nov–Jan 6 8 Yes ($7.00) — View
IL Illinois Early Teal: Sept 1–16; North Zone: Oct 5 – Dec 8; Central Zone: Oct 19 – Dec 22; South Zone: Nov 2 – Jan 19 6 8 No — View
IN Indiana Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Dec 1 and Dec 14 – Jan 12 6 8 No — View
IA Iowa Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 12 – Dec 8 (split); Snow Goose Conservation Order: Feb–Mar 6 8 No — View
KY Kentucky Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 2 – Dec 31 (split) 6 8 No — View
LA Louisiana Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Zone A: Nov 2–Dec 1 and Dec 14–Jan 19; Zone B: Nov 9–Dec 8 and Dec 14–Jan 26 6 8 Yes ($5.50) — View
MI Michigan Early Teal: Sept 1–16; North Zone: Sept 28–Nov 17; South Zone: Oct 5–Dec 1; Late Goose: Dec–Jan 6 8 Yes ($5.00) — View
MN Minnesota Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Zone A (North): Oct 5–Dec 8; Zone B (South): Oct 19–Dec 22; Metro Zone: Oct 19–Jan 5 6 8 Yes ($9.00) — View
MS Mississippi Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 2 – Jan 26 (split) 6 8 No — View
MO Missouri Early Teal: Sept 1–16; North Zone: Oct 19 – Nov 26; Middle Zone: Oct 19 – Dec 3; South Zone: Nov 2 – Dec 17 and Dec 21 – Jan 5 6 8 No — View
OH Ohio Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Dec 1 and Dec 14 – Jan 12 6 8 No — View
TN Tennessee Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 2 – Jan 26 (split) 6 8 No — View
WI Wisconsin Early Teal: Sept 1–16; North Zone: Sept 28–Nov 3 and Dec 7–Jan 5; South Zone: Oct 12–Nov 3 and Nov 22–Jan 5 6 8 Yes ($6.75) — View
🗺️ Central Flyway
10 states
State Season Dates Duck Bag Goose Bag State Stamp Res. License Details
CO Colorado Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Jan 19 6 8 No — View
KS Kansas Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 26 – Jan 26 6 8 No — View
MT Montana Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Dec 29 6 8 No — View
NE Nebraska Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Dec 15 6 8 No — View
NM New Mexico Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Nov 2 – Jan 19 6 8 No — View
ND North Dakota Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Dec 8; Light Goose Conservation Order: Mar–Apr 6 8 No — View
OK Oklahoma Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 26 – Jan 26 (split) 6 8 No — View
SD South Dakota Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Dec 8 6 8 No — View
TX Texas North Zone: Oct 26–Jan 26; South Zone: Oct 26–Nov 3 and Nov 29–Jan 26; High Plains Mallard Zone: Oct 12–Jan 26 6 8 No — View
WY Wyoming Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 1 – Dec 22 6 8 No — View
🗺️ Pacific Flyway
9 states
State Season Dates Duck Bag Goose Bag State Stamp Res. License Details
AK Alaska Early Season (Interior): Sept 1 – Oct 16; Coastal Zones: Sept 1 – Dec 16; various zone-specific dates 7 4 No — View
AZ Arizona Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 19 – Jan 19 7 4 No — View
CA California Pacific Flyway Zone 1: Oct 19–Jan 31; Zone 2: Oct 26–Jan 31; Zone 3: Nov 2–Jan 31; Zone 4 (Valley): Oct 19–Jan 31; Zone 5 (Southern): Oct 26–Jan 31 7 4 Yes ($14.37) — View
HI Hawaii No traditional migratory waterfowl hunting season established <span class="fee-na">—</span> <span class="fee-na">—</span> No — View
ID Idaho Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 5 – Jan 26 (zone-specific) 7 4 No — View
NV Nevada Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 19 – Jan 19 7 4 No — View
OR Oregon Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 12 – Jan 26 (zone-specific) 7 4 Yes ($9.25) — View
UT Utah Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 19 – Jan 19; Tundra Swan: Oct–Nov (permit) 7 4 No — View
WA Washington Early Teal: Sept 1–16; Regular Season: Oct 12 – Jan 26 (zone-specific) 7 4 Yes ($13.30) — View