Hunting 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 January 25, 2027, with 20 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.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Nov 7 – Jan 31 Scaup Season | |||
| North Zone5 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 7 | 21 |
| South Zone5 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 7 | 21 |
Species-by-species limits are being verified against Game and Fish Department. Dates and daily bag limits above are confirmed.
1Scaup: 2/day, 6 in possession. Otherwise same bag limits as general duck season.
2Scaup excluded from general duck season Oct 23 opener; separate entry opens Nov 7, 2025.
32 redheads max; 3 pintails max; 2 canvasback max; 2 scaup max; 1 black-bellied whistling duck max; 7 mallards max (no more than 2 female or Mexican ducks). Possession sub-limits: 6 redheads, 6 female mallards/Mexican ducks, 9 pintails, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, 3 black-bellied whistling ducks. Scaup season starts Nov 7, 2025.
4Includes mergansers. Scaup season opens Nov 7, 2025 (same close date Jan 31, 2026). Nontoxic shot required statewide.
5AZ uses statewide zone (previously Mountain/Desert). Verified against 2025-26 AZ Waterfowl & Snipe Regulations.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 5 | 15 |
| North Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
| South Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
15 dark geese (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted) per day; 15 in possession.
2Dark geese listed under General Waterfowl Commission Order 21.
3AZ uses statewide zone (previously Mountain/Desert). Verified against 2025-26 AZ Waterfowl & Snipe Regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 20 | 60 |
| North Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 20 | – |
| South Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 20 | – |
120 white geese (snow/blue, Ross') per day; 60 in possession.
2White geese (snow/blue, Ross') listed under General Waterfowl Commission Order 21.
3[Bulk fix: possession_limit set to NULL — light geese have no federal possession limit in any flyway]; AZ uses statewide zone (previously Mountain/Desert). Verified against 2025-26 AZ Waterfowl & Snipe Regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
125 coots and gallinules per day singly or in aggregate; 75 in possession.
2Coots and gallinules listed together under General Waterfowl Commission Order 21.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Unit 291 | Nov 20 – Dec 13 | 3 | 6 |
| Crane Units 30A/30B/31/322,3,4,5 | Nov 13 – Nov 15 Archery-only hunt 9018 (12 permits) | 3 | 6 |
| Nov 20 – Dec 20 General fall hunts 9011-9016 (120 permits/hunt) | |||
| Dec 5 – Dec 7 Youth-only hunt 9017 (42 permits) | |||
| Jan 9 – Jan 25 General January hunts 9501-9503 (40 permits/hunt) | |||
| Crane Unit 286,7 | Nov 20 – Dec 13 | 3 | 6 |
1Draw permit-tag only; four 3-day hunt windows within these dates; mandatory check station
2Draw permit-tag; bow/crossbow only
3Draw permit-tag only; six 3-day hunt windows within these dates; Willcox Playa and Whitewater Draw WAs closed; mandatory check station
4Draw permit-tag; hunters under 18
5Draw permit-tag only; three 3-day hunt windows within these dates; mandatory check station
6Draw permit-tag only; six 3-day hunt windows within these dates; 3 cranes per 3-day hunt; mandatory check station; nontoxic shot; max 3 shells; no electronic calls or live decoys
72026-27 per Arizona Hunting Regulations p.64 (Commission Order 24). All hunts draw-only (deadline was Jun 2, 2026); 3 tags per drawn hunter, possession 6 per calendar year; mandatory check station for General hunts; one feathered wing or head attached until final destination; most crane ground is private SE Arizona farmland.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 7 – Feb 8 | 7 | 14 |
1Ducks (incl. mergansers): 7/day; 2 redheads max, 3 pintails max, 2 canvasback max, 2 scaup max, 1 black-bellied whistling duck max, 7 mallards (no more than 2 female/Mexican ducks). Coots/gallinules: 25/day, 50 possession. White geese: 20/day, 40 possession. Dark geese: 5/day, 10 possession. Possession ducks: 4 redheads, 4 female mallards/Mexican ducks, 6 pintails, 4 scaup, 4 canvasback, 2 black-bellied whistling ducks.
2Eligible participants: under 18 years old. Ages 10-17 need valid hunting license; under 10 need not be licensed if accompanied by licensed adult. No falconry allowed.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 1 – Feb 4 Falconry-Only Waterfowl | 3 | 9 |
1Falconry only. Aggregate falconry bag limit of all migratory game birds is 3/day. Falconry bag limit is not in addition to firearms bag limit.
2Ducks including mergansers, coots, and gallinules. Falconry not permitted on National Wildlife Refuges.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Common Snipe | 8 | 24 |
1Falconry bag limit: 3/day (aggregate of all migratory game birds). Falconry possession: 9 aggregate.
2Common snipe season under Commission Order 22. Nontoxic shot required.
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 has not yet been verified against official sources for this season. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.