Read from Game and Fish Department on August 21, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Game and Fish Department before you hunt.
Open the official Arizona regulationsHunting Arizona this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Arizona is part of the Pacific Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from October 23 through February 7, 2027, with 12 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Game and Fish Department within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 7 7 mallards (no more than 2 female/Mexican/Mexican-like ducks); 2 redheads; 3 pintails; 2 canvasback; 2 scaup; 1 black-bellied whistling duck. Scaup season opens Nov 7, 2026. | 21 |
| Nov 7 – Jan 31 Scaup season | 7 Scaup: 2/day (6 possession); overall duck aggregate bag of 7 still applies. Season opens later than general duck season. | 21 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 female, Mexican or Mexican-like ducks | 7 | – |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Season opens Nov 7, 2026 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Season opens Nov 7, 2026 per separate table row | 2 | 6 |
17 mallards (no more than 2 female/Mexican/Mexican-like ducks); 2 redheads; 3 pintails; 2 canvasback; 2 scaup; 1 black-bellied whistling duck. Scaup season opens Nov 7, 2026.
2Scaup excluded until Nov 7, 2026. Includes mergansers in aggregate.
3Scaup: 2/day (6 possession); overall duck aggregate bag of 7 still applies. Season opens later than general duck season.
4Scaup excluded from general season; separate later opening date of Nov 7.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 5 dark geese (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted) per day; 15 possession. | 15 |
15 dark geese (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted) per day; 15 possession.
2Canada, cackling, Brant, and white-fronted geese combined in dark geese aggregate. Concurrent with general waterfowl season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Counted within 5 dark geese aggregate (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted). | 15 |
1Counted within 5 dark geese aggregate (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted).
2Brant included in dark geese aggregate per Commission Order 21. Dates inherited from general waterfowl season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 20 20 white geese (snow/blue, Ross') per day; 60 possession. | 60 |
120 white geese (snow/blue, Ross') per day; 60 possession.
2Concurrent with general waterfowl season. Snow, blue, and Ross' geese combined.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 25 coots and gallinules per day in the aggregate; 75 possession in the aggregate. | 75 |
125 coots and gallinules per day in the aggregate; 75 possession in the aggregate.
2Concurrent with general duck season dates. Coots and gallinules listed together in aggregate.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 7 Counted within the 7-duck aggregate daily bag limit. | 21 |
1Counted within the 7-duck aggregate daily bag limit.
2Mergansers included in the daily duck bag per Commission Order 21. Dates inherited from general duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Units 30A/30B/31/321,2Draw-only hunts; Willcox Playa WA and Whitewater Draw WA closed to crane hunting | Nov 13 – Nov 15 Archery-only hunt 9018 (12 permits) · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 3 Draw permit-tag; bow/crossbow only | 6 |
| Dec 5 – Dec 7 Youth-only hunt 9017 (42 permits) · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 3 Draw permit-tag; hunters under 18 | 6 |
1Draw permit-tag; bow/crossbow only
2Draw permit-tag; hunters under 18
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | 7 Youth only (under 18). 7 ducks incl. mergansers (2 redheads, 3 pintails, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup, 1 black-bellied whistling duck, 7 mallards max 2 females). 25 coots/gallinules aggregate. 20 white geese, 5 dark geese. Possession: 14 ducks; 50 coots; 40 white geese; 10 dark geese. | 14 |
1Youth only (under 18). 7 ducks incl. mergansers (2 redheads, 3 pintails, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup, 1 black-bellied whistling duck, 7 mallards max 2 females). 25 coots/gallinules aggregate. 20 white geese, 5 dark geese. Possession: 14 ducks; 50 coots; 40 white geese; 10 dark geese.
2Eligible participants up to 18th birthday. Adult 18+ must accompany youth (adult may not waterfowl hunt). Participants under 10 need not be licensed if accompanied by licensed adult.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 1 – Feb 4 Falconry-Only Waterfowl | 3 Falconry only. Aggregate falconry bag limit of all migratory game birds is 3. Falconry bag limit is not in addition to firearms bag limit. | 9 |
1Falconry only. Aggregate falconry bag limit of all migratory game birds is 3. Falconry bag limit is not in addition to firearms bag limit.
2Ducks including mergansers, coots, and gallinules. Falconers must be licensed per R12-4-422 or exempted per R12-4-407. Not permitted on National Wildlife Refuges.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Common Snipe | 8 Falconry bag limit: 3/day (aggregate of all migratory game birds). | 24 |
1Falconry bag limit: 3/day (aggregate of all migratory game birds).
2Common snipe only. Commission Order 22.
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on August 21, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.