When Does Duck Season Start? 2026–27 Opening Dates for All 50 States
Duck season opens as early as August 15, 2026 in North Dakota and as late as November 28, 2026 in Tennessee, with most states opening in October.
Most states manage duck hunting as part of one combined waterfowl season rather than tracking it separately — the dates below reflect that combined season.
Duck season opening dates by state
46 states
- North DakotaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 1
- AlaskaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 22
- ArkansasOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- ConnecticutOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 19
- DelawareOpens in 34 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- MaineOpens tomorrow
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 5
- MassachusettsOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 27
- New HampshireOpens in 5 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 17
- New JerseyOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 29
- PennsylvaniaOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 18
- Rhode IslandOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 13
- South CarolinaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- AlabamaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- GeorgiaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- MinnesotaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Dec 6
- NebraskaOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 9
- OhioOpens in 20 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- MissouriOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 6
- WisconsinOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Dec 16
- FloridaOpens in 55 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- LouisianaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 7
- MississippiOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- TexasOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- MichiganOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Dec 13
- NevadaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- New MexicoOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- South DakotaOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 14
- WyomingOpen now
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 8
- CaliforniaOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- IdahoOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 15
- IowaOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Dec 22
- MontanaOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 19
- UtahOpens in 6 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 23
- VirginiaOpens in 12 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- MarylandOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 30
- New YorkOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- OklahomaOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- OregonOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- VermontOpens in 13 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Dec 27
- North CarolinaOpens in 18 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 30
- WashingtonOpens in 20 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- ArizonaOpens in 26 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- IllinoisOpens in 27 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Jan 31
- IndianaOpens in 27 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 14
- KentuckyOpens in 60 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 15
- TennesseeOpens in 62 days
- Archery open
- —
- Firearm open
- —
- Closes
- Feb 14
| Region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | Midwest | — | — | Jan 1 | Open now |
| Alaska | West | — | — | Jan 22 | Open now |
| Arkansas | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| Connecticut | Northeast | — | — | Jan 19 | Open now |
| Delaware | Northeast | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 34 days |
| Maine | Northeast | — | — | Jan 5 | Opens tomorrow |
| Massachusetts | Northeast | — | — | Jan 27 | Opens in 13 days |
| New Hampshire | Northeast | — | — | Jan 17 | Opens in 5 days |
| New Jersey | Northeast | — | — | Jan 29 | Open now |
| Pennsylvania | Northeast | — | — | Jan 18 | Opens in 13 days |
| Rhode Island | Northeast | — | — | Feb 13 | Open now |
| South Carolina | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| Alabama | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| Georgia | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| Minnesota | Midwest | — | — | Dec 6 | Open now |
| Nebraska | Midwest | — | — | Feb 9 | Opens in 6 days |
| Ohio | Midwest | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 20 days |
| Missouri | Midwest | — | — | Feb 6 | Opens in 6 days |
| Wisconsin | Midwest | — | — | Dec 16 | Open now |
| Florida | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 55 days |
| Louisiana | South | — | — | Feb 7 | Open now |
| Mississippi | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| Texas | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| Michigan | Midwest | — | — | Dec 13 | Open now |
| Nevada | West | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| New Mexico | West | — | — | Jan 31 | Open now |
| South Dakota | Midwest | — | — | Jan 14 | Open now |
| Wyoming | West | — | — | Jan 8 | Open now |
| California | West | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 6 days |
| Idaho | West | — | — | Feb 15 | Opens in 6 days |
| Iowa | Midwest | — | — | Dec 22 | Opens in 6 days |
| Montana | West | — | — | Jan 19 | Opens in 6 days |
| Utah | West | — | — | Jan 23 | Opens in 6 days |
| Virginia | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 12 days |
| Maryland | South | — | — | Jan 30 | Opens in 13 days |
| New York | Northeast | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 13 days |
| Oklahoma | South | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 13 days |
| Oregon | West | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 13 days |
| Vermont | Northeast | — | — | Dec 27 | Opens in 13 days |
| North Carolina | South | — | — | Jan 30 | Opens in 18 days |
| Washington | West | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 20 days |
| Arizona | West | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 26 days |
| Illinois | Midwest | — | — | Jan 31 | Opens in 27 days |
| Indiana | Midwest | — | — | Feb 14 | Opens in 27 days |
| Kentucky | South | — | — | Feb 15 | Opens in 60 days |
| Tennessee | South | — | — | Feb 14 | Opens in 62 days |
Duck seasons opening this week
Earliest and latest openers
Duck seasons by region
Northeast
10 states covered
Earliest open
Sep 1
South
14 states covered
Earliest open
Sep 1
Midwest
11 states covered
Earliest open
Aug 15
West
11 states covered
Earliest open
Sep 1
Archery vs. firearm vs. muzzleloader: how seasons are split
Most states don't run one continuous duck season — they split it into method-specific segments. Archery seasons typically open first and run longest, often overlapping with the rest of the calendar. Muzzleloader segments are usually short windows before or after the main firearm season. General firearm (gun) season is usually the shortest and most heavily hunted segment, and dates can differ by zone within the same state.
- Archery
- 0
- states with an archery segment
- Muzzleloader
- 0
- states with a muzzleloader segment
- Firearm
- 0
- states with a general gun segment
Frequently asked questions
Duck season opens as early as August 15, 2026 in North Dakota and as late as November 28, 2026 in Tennessee, with most states opening in October.
Regulations change every year and can vary by county or unit. Hunting Season by State is a reference tool, not a substitute for the official regulation book — always verify dates, zones, and bag limits with the state wildlife agency before you hunt.