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Waterfowl Season by State

Duck and goose dates are set by each state inside federal frameworks, usually by zone. Early teal and goose seasons open in September; regular seasons run from fall into January.

Quick answer

As of October 6, 2026, at least one waterfowl season is open in 26 of the 42 states with listed waterfowl dates.

Next listed openers: Virginia (Oct 9, 2026), Colorado (Oct 10, 2026), Georgia (Oct 10, 2026), and Idaho (Oct 10, 2026).

Dates come from each state's wildlife agency. Open a state for every zone, weapon season, and the agency source.

Waterfowl season key dates, status, and source agency by state
StateKey datesStatus
Alabama WaterfowlOct 17-31, 2026Regular All Geese (Canada, White-fronted, Brant, Snow, Blue, Ross's)Upcoming
Alaska Waterfowldates not listed
Arizona WaterfowlOct 23, 2026-Jan 31, 2027General Ducks (including mergansers), coots, gallinules, geese (white and dark)Upcoming
Arkansas WaterfowlSep 1-Oct 15, 2026Early Season Canada GooseOpen
California WaterfowlOct 3-Dec 19, 2026Regular Season All Canada GeeseOpen
Colorado WaterfowlOct 3-20, 2026Regular - First Season Duck and CootOpen
Connecticut Waterfowldates not listed
Delaware WaterfowlOct 18, 2025-Jan 31, 2026Regular Season Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)Closed
Florida WaterfowlNov 14, 2026-Feb 13, 2027Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days Duck, Light Geese, Canada Goose, Merganser, Coot, Common GallinuleUpcoming
Georgia WaterfowlSep 5, 2026-Jan 31, 2027Statewide Canada GooseOpen
Hawaii Waterfowldates not listed
Idaho WaterfowlSep 1-Dec 31, 2026General Canada GooseOpen
Illinois WaterfowlSep 5-Nov 13, 2026Regular Season Rails (Sora & Virginia)Open
Indiana WaterfowlSep 1, 2026-Feb 14, 2027General Canada Geese, Light Geese & BrantOpen
Iowa WaterfowlSep 26, 2026-Jan 9, 2027General GeeseOpen
Kansas WaterfowlOct 10, 2026-Jan 3, 2027Regular - 1st Segment DuckUpcoming
Kentucky WaterfowlNov 21, 2026-Feb 14, 2027Youth-only WaterfowlUpcoming
Louisiana WaterfowlOct 3-11, 2026Regular (Special Permit Required) Black Bellied Whistling DucksOpen
Maine Waterfowldates not listed
Maryland WaterfowlOct 3, 2026-Jan 30, 2027General DucksOpen
Massachusetts WaterfowlOct 10, 2026-Jan 27, 2027Regular American CootUpcoming
Michigan Waterfowldates not listed
Minnesota WaterfowlSep 26-Dec 30, 2026Regular Goose Season Canada Goose, White-fronted Goose, BrantOpen
Mississippi WaterfowlSep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027Regular Season Canada GooseOpen
Missouri WaterfowlOct 3-11, 2026Early Season Canada Goose and BrantOpen
Montana WaterfowlSep 23, 2026-Jan 7, 2027Falconry Ducks and Coots (Falconry)Open
Nebraska WaterfowlSep 5, 2026-Jan 27, 2027Falconry Duck and CootOpen
Nevada WaterfowlSep 26, 2026-Jan 18, 2027General Canada and Cackling Geese and BrantOpen
New Hampshire Waterfowldates not listed
New Jersey WaterfowlOct 10, 2026-Jan 14, 2027Regular Season Ducks, Mergansers and CootUpcoming
New Mexico Waterfowldates not listed
New York WaterfowlOct 1-Dec 31, 2026Regular Snow GeeseOpen
North Carolina WaterfowlOct 1, 2026-Feb 6, 2027Extended Falconry Ducks, Mergansers and CootsOpen
North Dakota Waterfowlopens Dec 12, 2026Regular - Resident/Nonresident Ducks, Coots, MergansersClosed
Ohio WaterfowlOct 17, 2026-Jan 10, 2027General DuckUpcoming
Oklahoma WaterfowlOct 3, 2026-Jan 30, 2027Youth, Vet and Military Duck, Merganser and CootOpen
Oregon WaterfowlOct 3, 2026-Mar 10, 2027General Fall/Winter - South Coast Zone Canada/Cackling GooseOpen
Pennsylvania WaterfowlOct 10, 2026-Jan 9, 2027General Ducks (including sea ducks, coots and mergansers)Upcoming
Rhode Island WaterfowlNov 10-11, 2026Special Military/Veteran Season Active Military/Veterans Waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, coots, geese, brant)Upcoming
South Carolina WaterfowlOct 28-Nov 20, 2026Falconry Ducks - Extended Falconry SeasonUpcoming
South Dakota WaterfowlSep 26-Dec 8, 2026General DuckOpen
Tennessee WaterfowlSep 1, 2026-Feb 14, 2027General Blue, Snow & Ross's Geese (Light Geese)Open
Texas WaterfowlOct 17-18, 2026Youth/Veterans DuckUpcoming
Utah WaterfowlOct 3, 2026-Jan 31, 2027General Dark Geese (Cackling, Canada, Brant) and White-fronted GeeseOpen
Vermont Waterfowldates not listed
Virginia WaterfowlOct 9-12, 2026Regular Season CootsUpcoming
Washington WaterfowlOct 17, 2026-Jan 31, 2027Regular Season CootUpcoming
West Virginia WaterfowlSep 19-Oct 31, 2026Youth Waterfowl DucksOpen
Wisconsin WaterfowlSep 16-Dec 16, 2026Regular Canada GooseOpen
Wyoming WaterfowlSep 26-Nov 29, 2026General - Split 1 CootsOpen

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Waterfowl Season FAQ

Which states have waterfowl season open right now?

As of October 6, 2026, at least one waterfowl season is open in 26 states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Open seasons can be limited to a weapon type, zone, or permit, so check the state page before you go.

Which waterfowl seasons open next?

The next listed waterfowl openers are Virginia (Oct 9, 2026), Colorado (Oct 10, 2026), Georgia (Oct 10, 2026), Idaho (Oct 10, 2026), Iowa (Oct 10, 2026), and Kansas (Oct 10, 2026). Many states open different zones and weapon seasons on different dates; each state page lists every one.

Where do these waterfowl season dates come from?

Every date is taken from the state wildlife agency that sets the season. Each state page links its agency source and shows when it was last verified. Always confirm zone, tag, and permit rules with the agency before hunting.

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