Virginia Waterfowl Season 2026-27
Virginia waterfowl season dates start with Sep 1-25, 2026. The table below keeps every listed waterfowl row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Virginia's listed 2026-27 waterfowl season runs Oct 9-12, 2026.
September Early Season Canada Goose opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Sep 25, 2026.
Early Teal September Teal opens Sep 19, 2026 and closes Sep 27, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Virginia DWR.
Waterfowl
21 listed rowsAtlantic Brant
Regular Season
Dec 19-31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Atlantic Brant
Regular Season
Jan 15-31, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose
September Early Season
Sep 1-25, 2026
East of I-95: Sep 1-18 half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset, shotguns holding more than 3 shells allowed; Sep 19-25 half-hour before sunrise to sunset, shotguns >3 shells prohibited. West of I-95: Sep 1-21 extended hours; Sep 22-25 standard hours. Not permitted in Amelia and Dick Cross WMAs. Requires HIP, federal duck stamp, and VA Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Goose (including White-fronted Geese)
Regular Season
Nov 18-29, 2026
Includes White-fronted geese. One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Resident Population (RP) Zone
Canada Goose (including White-fronted Geese)
Regular Season
Nov 24-29, 2026
Includes White-fronted geese. One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Atlantic Population (AP) Zone
Canada Goose (including White-fronted Geese)
Regular Season
Dec 19, 2026-Feb 21, 2027
Includes White-fronted geese. One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Resident Population (RP) Zone
Canada Goose (including White-fronted Geese)
Regular Season
Dec 24, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Includes White-fronted geese. One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Atlantic Population (AP) Zone
Coots
Regular Season
Oct 9-12, 2026
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Coots
Regular Season
Nov 18-29, 2026
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Coots
Regular Season
Dec 19, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Ducks
Regular Season
Oct 9-12, 2026
Black duck closed Oct 9-12. One-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Harlequin ducks closed.
Zone: Statewide
Ducks
Regular Season
Nov 18-29, 2026
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Harlequin ducks closed.
Zone: Statewide
Show 9 more waterfowl rows
Ducks
Regular Season
Dec 19, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Scaup: 1/day Oct 9-12, Nov 18-29, Dec 19-Jan 11; 2/day Jan 12-31. One-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Harlequin ducks closed.
Zone: Statewide
Light Goose (Greater/Lesser Snow Geese and Ross's Geese)
Conservation Order
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Offering of 2027 Light Goose Conservation Season determined in September 2026. Special methods allowed: electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, extended shooting hours (half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset). Registration required; begins December 4, 2026.
Zone: Conservation Order Zone (AP Zone)
Light Goose (Greater/Lesser Snow Geese and Ross's Geese)
Regular Season
Nov 25, 2026-Mar 10, 2027
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns permitted when other waterfowl seasons are closed.
Zone: Statewide
Mergansers
Regular Season
Oct 9-12, 2026
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Mergansers
Regular Season
Nov 18-29, 2026
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Mergansers
Regular Season
Dec 19, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: Statewide
September Teal
Early Teal
Sep 19-27, 2026
Requires HIP registration, federal duck stamp, and Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp. One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: East of I-95
September Teal
Early Teal
Sep 22-27, 2026
Requires HIP registration, federal duck stamp, and Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp. One-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Zone: West of I-95
Tundra Swan
Regular Season
Nov 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Permit required via special drawing; deadline September 25, 2026. No more than 475 permits issued. Hunters must complete tundra swan hunt questionnaire by February 15, 2027.
Zone: East of I-95 and south of Prince William/Stafford County line
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