Hunting California this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
California is part of the Pacific Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 19 through March 10, 2027, with 77 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Fish and Wildlife within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Upland Game Bird Validation also required for certain areas
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2 | Oct 3 – Jan 13 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley3,4 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern California Zone5,6 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Colorado River Zone7,8 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Balance of State3,4 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard Balance of State, Northeastern Zone, Southern San Joaquin Valley · not more than 2 females | 7 | 21 |
| Mallard Colorado River Zone · not more than 2 females or Mexican ducks | 7 | 21 |
| Mallard Southern California Zone · no more than 2 hens | 7 | 21 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Northeastern Zone · Season: 10/3/2026–11/29/2026 and 12/17/2026–1/13/2027 only | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Balance of State, Colorado River Zone, Southern San Joaquin Valley · Season opens 11/7/2026 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Southern California Zone · Scaup season starts 11/7/2026 | 2 | 6 |
17 mallards (2 hens max); 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redhead; 2 scaup (scaup season: 10/3/2026–11/29/2026 and 12/17/2026–1/13/2027 only)
2103-day season; scaup restricted to 58-day first segment and 28-day late segment
37 mallards (2 hens max); 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redhead; 2 scaup (scaup season: 11/7/2026–1/31/2027 only)
4100-day season; scaup restricted to 86-day segment beginning 11/7/2026
57 mallards (no more than 2 hens); 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redhead; 2 scaup. Scaup season: 11/7/2026–1/31/2027
6100-day season; fourth Saturday in October opener; includes mergansers
77 mallards (2 hens or Mexican ducks max); 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redhead; 2 scaup (scaup season: 11/7/2026–1/31/2027 only)
8101-day season; scaup restricted to 86-day segment beginning 11/7/2026; Mexican duck counted within mallard limit
Hunting California’s season? Get the free app.
Drop your email and we’ll send the free BlindBook app — log hunts, ID birds, track your bag limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4 | Sep 19 – Sep 20 | – | – |
| Sep 19 – Sep 20 |
1Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days only; same bag limits as regular season; youth must be 17 or younger and accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+
2This is the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day for the Northeastern Zone, held 14 days before regular opener. Treated here as a youth hunt segment.
3Youth only (17 and under); must be accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+. Same bag limits as regular season.
4Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days — Saturday 14 days before opening of waterfowl season, extending 2 days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Special Management Area1,2,3,4 | Oct 3 – Dec 19 Regular Season | 10 | 30 |
| Feb 12 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| Northeastern Zone5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 | Oct 3 – Jan 10 Klamath Basin Special Management Area — Canada Geese | 30 | 90 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 10 Regular Season | |||
| Jan 1 – Jan 13 Regular Season – White and White-fronted Geese (Second Split) | |||
| Feb 5 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| Feb 5 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley15,16 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 30 | 90 |
| Southern California Zone17,18 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 23 | 69 |
| Klamath Basin Special Management Area19,20,21 | Oct 3 – Jan 10 Canada Geese | 30 | 90 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 15 White-fronted and White Geese | |||
| Sacramento Valley Special Management Area22,23 | Oct 24 – Dec 21 | 3 | 9 |
| Balance of State24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37 | Oct 3 – Oct 5 Early Season – Large Canada Geese | 30 | 90 |
| Oct 3 – Dec 19 North Coast Special Management Area — All Canada Geese | |||
| Oct 24 – Dec 21 Sacramento Valley Special Management Area — White-Fronted Geese | |||
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 Regular Season | |||
| Feb 12 – Mar 10 North Coast Special Management Area — Late Season | |||
| Feb 20 – Feb 21 Late Season – Canada Geese | |||
| Feb 20 – Feb 24 Late Season – White-fronted and White Geese | |||
| Colorado River Zone38,39 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
1All Canada geese; daily bag limit 10 of which only 1 may be a Large Canada goose
278-day regular season; Large Canada geese closed during early season (Balance of State)
3All Canada geese; bag limit of Large Canada geese is zero during Late Season. Hunting only on private lands with landowner permission.
427-day late season; Large Canada goose bag = zero
5Daily bag 30: 20 white geese; 10 dark geese (not more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese). Klamath Basin SMA boundaries apply.
6Klamath Basin SMA Canada geese: first Saturday in October extending 100 days.
7Daily bag includes up to 20 white geese and 10 dark geese, of which no more than 6 may be white-fronted geese or 3 Large Canada geese. White-fronted/white geese: 10/3/2026–11/29/2026 and 1/1/2027–1/13/2027. Canada geese: 10/3/2026–1/10/2027 (100 days).
8Canada geese open 100 days; white-fronted and white geese split into two sub-periods within the 100-day Canada frame
9White-fronted and white geese only; 20 white geese, up to 6 white-fronted within 10-dark-goose sub-limit. Hunting only on Type C wildlife areas, navigable waters, and private lands.
10Late Season; hunting prohibited on Type A/B areas, Klamath Basin NWR, and Modoc NWR
1130/day: up to 20 white geese, up to 10 dark geese (no more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada)
12Second split of Regular Season for white and white-fronted geese
13White and white-fronted geese only during late season. 30/day: up to 20 white geese, up to 10 dark geese, not more than 6 white-fronted geese or 3 Large Canada geese.
14Late Season white and white-fronted geese: Feb 5–Mar 10.
1520 white geese; 10 dark geese of which no more than 6 may be white-fronted geese
16100-day season; fourth Saturday in October opener
1720 white geese; 3 dark geese
18100-day season; fourth Saturday in October opener; lower dark goose bag than other zones
1920 white geese; 10 dark geese of which no more than 6 white-fronted geese or 3 Large Canada geese
20Canada geese: 100-day season from first Saturday in October
21White-fronted and white geese: 105-day season from first Saturday in October
22White-fronted geese only; 3 per day. Open concurrently with goose season through December 21 and during Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
23White-fronted geese in Sacramento Valley SMA close 12/21/2026; separate and more restrictive sub-limit
24Large Canada geese only; closed in North Coast Special Management Area during early season. Up to 20 white geese and 10 dark geese (max 6 white-fronted in regular season).
253-day early season for Large Canada geese only; Saturday closest to October 1
26All Canada Geese. No Large Canada geese permitted during Late Season (bag limit on Large Canada geese is zero). Hunting only on private lands with landowner permission (FGC §2016).
27North Coast SMA Late Season: February 12 extending 27 days.
28All Canada Geese. Bag limit: 10 Canada geese of which only 1 may be a Large Canada goose. Large Canada geese bag is zero during Late Season.
29North Coast SMA Regular Season: October 3 for 78 days. Late Season: 2/12-3/10/2027 (private lands only).
30White-fronted geese only. Daily bag limit: 3. Open concurrently with goose season through December 21 and during Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
31Sacramento Valley SMA white-fronted goose restriction. Season closes 12/21/2026.
3220 white geese; 10 dark geese (max 6 white-fronted statewide; in Sacramento Valley SMA max 3 white-fronted). Sacramento Valley SMA white-fronted goose season closes after December 21.
33100-day season; fourth Saturday in October; white-fronted goose season in Sacramento Valley SMA closes 12/21/2026
34Canada geese only during this 2-day period. Hunting not permitted on wildlife areas listed in sections 550–552 except Type C areas in North Central and Central regions.
35Late Season – Canada geese only, 2 days: third Saturday in February
36White-fronted and white geese only; Sacramento Valley SMA white-fronted goose season is closed during Late Season. Hunting not permitted on wildlife areas listed in sections 550–552 except Type C areas in North Central and Central regions.
37Late Season – white-fronted/white geese, 5 days from third Saturday in February
3820 white geese; 5 dark geese
39101-day season from October 23
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Special Management Area1,2 | Nov 29 – Dec 14 Northern Brant | 2 | 6 |
| Northeastern Zone3,4,5,6 | Nov 29 – Dec 14 Northern Brant Special Management Area | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 14 Northern Brant Special Management Area | |||
| Balance of State7,8,9,10 | Nov 30 – Dec 15 Balance of State Brant Special Management Area | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 30 – Dec 15 Balance of State Brant Special Management Area | |||
| Balance of State Brant Special Management Area1,11 | Nov 30 – Dec 15 Balance of State Brant | 2 | 6 |
1Black brant only
216-day season; Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino counties area
3Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties only.
4Northern Brant SMA: November 29 extending 16 days.
5Northern Brant SMA (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino counties); 16 days
6Northern Brant Special Management Area covers Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino counties
7All portions of state not in Northern Brant SMA. Humboldt Bay South Spit (West Side) closed during brant season.
8Balance of State Brant SMA: November 30 extending 16 days.
9Balance of State Brant SMA (all of state not in Northern Brant SMA); 16 days
10Balance of State Brant Special Management Area
1116-day season; portion of state not in Northern Brant SMA
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 | Oct 3 – Nov 29 Regular Season – White geese sub-period 1 | 20 | 60 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 15 Klamath Basin Special Management Area — White-fronted and White Geese | |||
| Oct 3 – Mar 10 | |||
| Jan 1 – Jan 13 Regular Season – White geese sub-period 2 | |||
| Feb 5 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| Feb 5 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| Colorado River Zone12,13 | Nov 4 – Feb 21 Imperial County Special Management Area | 20 | 60 |
| Imperial County Special Management Area14,15,16,17,18,19 | Nov 4 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 1 – Feb 5 Late Season – Segment 1 | |||
| Feb 8 – Feb 12 Late Season – Segment 2 | |||
| Feb 16 – Feb 21 Late Season – Segment 3 | |||
| Balance of State20,21 | Feb 20 – Feb 24 Late Season — White-fronted and White Geese | 30 | 90 |
1White geese (snow/Ross's) counted within 30-bird aggregate goose daily bag
2Part of the combined 30-bird goose bag; white geese sub-limit 20
320 white geese; 10 dark geese (not more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese). Klamath Basin SMA boundaries.
4Klamath Basin SMA white-fronted and white geese: first Saturday in October extending 105 days.
5White geese (snow/Ross's): included in aggregate goose bag of 30; up to 20 white geese per day. Regular season: 10/3/2026–11/29/2026 and 1/1/2027–1/13/2027. Late season (white geese with dark geese): 2/5/2027–3/10/2027.
6White geese sub-limit within the 30-bird aggregate goose bag; listed separately here for clarity per the regulation tables.
7Second sub-period: January 1 for 13 days
820 white geese; 10 dark geese (not more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese). Hunting only permitted on Type C wildlife areas, navigable waters, and private lands. Prohibited on Type A, Type B, Klamath Basin NWR Complex, Modoc NWR.
9Late Season: white-fronted and white geese, February 5 extending 34 days.
10White and white-fronted geese only during Late Season
11Late Season for white and white-fronted geese: Feb 5–Mar 10
12White geese only. Regular Season: 11/4/2026-1/31/2027. Late Season: 2/1-2/5/2027, 2/8-2/12/2027, 2/16-2/21/2027. Late Season hunting only on private lands with landowner permission.
13Imperial County SMA white geese. Multiple late-season periods.
14White geese only
1589-day regular season from November 4
16White geese only; private lands with landowner permission only
17Late Season first segment
18Late Season second segment
19Late Season third segment
20White-fronted and white geese. Sacramento Valley SMA: white-fronted goose season is closed during late season. No hunting on wildlife areas (sections 550-552) except Type C in North Central and Central regions.
21Third Saturday in February extending 5 days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 3 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Northeastern Zone3,4,5,6 | Oct 3 – Jan 13 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 13 | |||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley5,7,8,9 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 | |||
| Balance of State3,5,8,10 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 | |||
| Colorado River Zone5,7,8,11 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 23 – Jan 31 |
1Either all of one species or mixture of American Coot and Common Moorhen
2Concurrent with duck seasons statewide; open/close dates reflect earliest and latest duck season endpoints across zones
3Either all of one species or mixture of American Coot and Common Moorhen.
4Concurrent with duck season(s) — Northeastern Zone duck season is 10/3/2026-1/13/2027.
525 total, either all of one species or a mixture of American coot and common moorhen
6Concurrent with duck season in the Northeastern Zone
7Either all of one species or mixture.
8Concurrent with duck season.
9Concurrent with duck season in Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone
10Concurrent with duck season in Balance of State Zone
11Concurrent with duck season in Colorado River Zone
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2 | Sep 19 – Sep 20 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley1,3 | Feb 13 – Feb 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern California Zone1,3 | Feb 13 – Feb 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Balance of State1,3 | Feb 13 – Feb 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Colorado River Zone1,4,5,6,7,8 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | – | – |
| Feb 6 – Feb 7 | |||
| Feb 13 – Feb 14 |
1Same as regular season bag limits
2Saturday 14 days before opening of waterfowl season extending for 2 days; hunters must be 17 or younger accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+
3Second Saturday in February for 2 days; hunters must be 17 or younger accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+
4Youth only (17 and under); must be accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+. Same bag limits as regular season.
5First Saturday in February extending 2 days.
6First Saturday in February for 2 days; hunters must be 17 or younger accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+
7Same as regular season bag/possession limits.
8Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4,5,6 | Jan 16 – Jan 17 | – | – |
| Jan 16 – Jan 17 | |||
| Jan 17 – Jan 18 | |||
| Southern California Zone7,8 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley7,8 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Balance of State3,9 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Colorado River Zone10,11 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | – | – |
1Veterans and active military only. Goose hunting NOT permitted in this zone during these days. Same bag limits as regular season.
2Saturday following close of regular duck season (1/13/2027), extending 2 days.
3Same as regular season bag limits; goose hunting NOT permitted in this zone during these days
4Saturday following the closing of regular duck season for 2 days; veterans/active military only
5Ducks only. Same as regular season bag/possession limits.
6Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days.
7Same as regular season bag limits
8First Saturday in February for 2 days; veterans/active military only
9First Saturday in February for 2 days; veterans/active military only; goose hunting not permitted
10Veterans and active military only. Same bag limits as regular season.
11First Saturday in February extending 2 days. (Southern California Zone also 2/6-2/7.)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4 | Oct 3 – Jan 13 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 13 | |||
| Southern California Zone5,6 | Oct 24 – Mar 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley7,8,9,10 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 24 – Mar 1 | |||
| Colorado River Zone11,12,13,14 | Oct 24 – Feb 4 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 | |||
| Balance of State15,16,17,18 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 24 – Mar 1 |
1Ducks (including mergansers), geese, American coots, common moorhens. Either all of 1 species or a mixture.
2Open concurrently with duck season through January 13, 2027.
3Ducks, geese, American coots, and common moorhens; either all of one species or mixture
4Concurrent with duck season only through January 13, 2027
5Open concurrently with duck season, also 2/6–2/7/2027, 2/13–2/14/2027, and 2/27–3/1/2027. Imperial County SMA: goose falconry concurrent with white goose season.
6Multiple date segments; Imperial County SMA goose falconry follows white goose season
7Open concurrently with duck season, also 2/6-2/7/2027, 2/13-2/14/2027, and 2/27-3/1/2027. Goose hunting by falconry NOT permitted in this zone.
8Multiple additional falconry dates; no goose falconry
9Open concurrently with duck season, also 2/6–2/7/2027, 2/13–2/14/2027, and 2/27–3/1/2027. Goose hunting by falconry NOT permitted in this zone.
10Multiple date segments; no goose falconry
11Open concurrently with duck season and February 1–4, 2027. Goose hunting by falconry NOT permitted (conforms to Arizona regulations).
12Two segments: 10/24/2026–1/31/2027 and 2/1–2/4/2027; no goose falconry
13Open concurrently with duck season and 2/1-2/4/2027. Goose hunting by falconry NOT permitted (per federal regulations conforming to Arizona).
14Note: page shows Colorado River Zone dates as 10/24/2026-1/31/2027 + 2/1-2/4/2027 (slight discrepancy with duck opener of 10/23 vs 10/24 - using table date of 10/24)
15Open concurrently with duck season, also 2/6-2/7/2027, 2/13-2/14/2027, and 2/27-3/1/2027. North Coast SMA: falconry for geese runs concurrently with Canada geese season. Ducks, geese, coots, moorhens.
16Multiple additional falconry dates beyond regular season
17Open concurrently with duck season, also 2/6–2/7/2027, 2/13–2/14/2027, and 2/27–3/1/2027. North Coast SMA: falconry for geese runs concurrently with Canada goose season.
18Multiple date segments; goose falconry in North Coast SMA follows Canada goose season
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 July 28, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.