Delaware Waterfowl Season 2025-26
Delaware waterfowl season dates start with Oct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026. The table below keeps every listed waterfowl row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Delaware's listed 2025-26 waterfowl season runs Oct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026.
Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans opens Oct 25, 2025 and closes Feb 7, 2026.
Regular Season Coots opens Nov 1, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Delaware DNREC.
Waterfowl
15 listed rowsBrant
Regular Season
Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (Migratory), including White-fronted Geese
Regular Season
Two segments: Dec. 20–Jan. 3 and Jan. 17–Jan. 31. Includes White-fronted geese.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (Resident)
Regular Season
Special hunting methods allowed. Sept. 1–Sept. 25.
Zone: Outside the September Teal Zone
Canada Goose (Resident)
Regular Season
Sept. 1–Sept. 19: Special hunting methods throughout the Resident Canada Goose Season. Sept. 20–Sept. 25: Special hunting methods NOT allowed inside the September Teal Zone.
Zone: Inside the September Teal Zone
Coots
Regular Season
Season dates same as Regular Duck Season (Nov. 1–Nov. 9, Nov. 26–Nov. 30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31).
Zone: Statewide
Ducks (Regular Season)
Regular Season
Three separate date segments: Nov. 1–Nov. 9, Nov. 26–Nov. 30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31. Daily limit of 6 ducks may include up to: 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, 6 teal, 6 shovelers, 6 gadwall, 6 wigeon, 6 goldeneye, 6 ring-necked ducks, 6 bufflehead, 6 ruddy ducks, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling-duck, 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin duck season closed.
Zone: Statewide
Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans
Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt
Two special hunt dates: Oct. 25 and Feb. 7. Youth must be age 10-15. Participating eligible hunters may harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Daily bag limit for each species same as regular seasons.
Zone: Statewide
Mergansers
Regular Season
Season dates same as Regular Duck Season (Nov. 1–Nov. 9, Nov. 26–Nov. 30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31). Daily bag limit may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers (6 in possession).
Zone: Statewide
Mute Swan
Regular Season
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Legal to take during any open waterfowl season. Closed during the Snow Goose Conservation Order.
Zone: Statewide
Sea Ducks (Scoters, Eiders, Long-tailed ducks)
Regular Season
No longer a special sea duck zone with separate season dates. Season dates same as Regular Duck Season. Crippled waterfowl may be shot from motorboat under power in area not less than 800 yards seaward from Delaware Bay or Atlantic Ocean shore.
Zone: Statewide
Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)
Regular Season
Also open Feb. 7 (25/day, no possession limit). Bombay Hook NWR open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager. Feb. 7 is the Youth/Veteran/Active Military special hunt; no liberal Conservation Order methods on that day, bag limit of 25 applies.
Zone: Statewide
Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)
Conservation Order
Two segments: Feb. 1–Feb. 6 and Feb. 8–Apr. 10. Closed Feb. 7 (Youth/Veteran/Active Military special hunt). Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed. Shooting hours extended to 1/2 hour after sunset. Free annual permit required through Digital DNREC licensing system (after Jan. 1). Harvest must be reported after CO closes.
Zone: Statewide
Teal (September)
September Teal Season
Limited to designated teal zone. Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
Zone: Special Teal Zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1
Trumpeter Swan
Closed Season
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed Season.
Zone: Statewide
Tundra Swan
Special Permit Season
By special permit only.
Zone: Statewide
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Nearby waterfowl seasons
Delaware Waterfowl Season FAQ
When does waterfowl season open in Delaware?
September 1, 2025 is the earliest listed waterfowl opener in Delaware — regular season canada goose (resident) runs Sep 1-25, 2025. Confirm zone and permit details with Delaware DNREC.
What are the 2025-26 waterfowl season dates in Delaware?
Delaware lists 13 waterfowl season windows: Regular Season Brant (Dec 20, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Regular Season Canada Goose (Migratory), including White-fronted Geese (Dec 20, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Regular Season Canada Goose (Resident) (Sep 1-25, 2025); Regular Season Canada Goose (Resident) (Sep 1-25, 2025); Regular Season Coots (Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Regular Season Ducks (Regular Season) (Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans (Oct 25, 2025-Feb 7, 2026); Regular Season Mergansers (Nov 1, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); and more. Always verify against Delaware DNREC before hunting.
Are there different waterfowl seasons in Delaware?
Yes — Delaware lists separate waterfowl seasons for Regular Season Brant, Regular Season Canada Goose (Migratory), including White-fronted Geese, Regular Season Canada Goose (Resident), Regular Season Coots, Regular Season Ducks (Regular Season), Youth, Veteran's, Active Military Waterfowl Hunt Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Brant, Swans. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Delaware DNREC.
Do I need a license to hunt waterfowl in Delaware?
Yes. Delaware generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and waterfowl hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Delaware DNREC.