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 60 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 |
| Balance of State3,4 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Colorado River Zone5,6 | Oct 23 – 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 |
| 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 |
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 (2 hens or Mexican ducks max); 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redhead; 2 scaup (scaup season: 11/7/2026–1/31/2027 only)
6101-day season; scaup restricted to 86-day segment beginning 11/7/2026; Mexican duck counted within mallard limit
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| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 | Oct 3 – Jan 10 Regular Season | 10 | 30 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 10 Klamath Basin Special Management Area — Canada Geese | |||
| 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 Valley11,12 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 10 | 30 |
| Colorado River Zone13,14 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 5 | 15 |
| Balance of State15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28 | Oct 3 – Dec 19 North Coast Special Management Area — All Canada Geese | 10 | 30 |
| Oct 3 – Oct 5 Early Season – Large Canada Geese Only | |||
| 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 24 Late Season | |||
| Feb 20 – Feb 24 Late Season - Whitefronts and White Geese |
1Canada geese 100-day season (10/3/2026–1/10/2027); White-fronted & white geese 58-day segment (10/3/2026–11/29/2026) and 13-day segment (1/1/2027–1/13/2027). Daily bag: 30 total; 20 white geese; 10 dark geese (no more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese)
2Aggregate goose bag: 30/day. Canada geese 100-day season; white-fronted and white geese have split dates within regular season.
3Daily bag 30: 20 white geese; 10 dark geese (not more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese). Klamath Basin SMA boundaries apply.
4Klamath Basin SMA Canada geese: first Saturday in October extending 100 days.
5White-fronted and white geese only; 34-day late season. Hunting only on Type C wildlife areas, navigable waters, and private lands. Prohibited on Type A/B areas and Klamath Basin/Modoc NWRs.
6Late season restricted to Type C wildlife areas, navigable waters, private lands per FGC §2016.
730/day: up to 20 white geese, up to 10 dark geese (no more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada)
8Second split of Regular Season for white and white-fronted geese
9White 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.
10Late Season white and white-fronted geese: Feb 5–Mar 10.
11Daily bag: 30 total; 20 white geese; 10 dark geese (no more than 6 white-fronted geese)
12100-day season; no Large Canada goose sub-limit specified for this zone
13Daily bag: 25 total; 20 white geese; 5 dark geese
14101-day season; aggregate bag limit 25 (20 white + 5 dark)
15All 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).
16North Coast SMA Late Season: February 12 extending 27 days.
17All 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.
18North Coast SMA Regular Season: October 3 for 78 days. Late Season: 2/12-3/10/2027 (private lands only).
19White-fronted geese only. Daily bag limit: 3. Open concurrently with goose season through December 21 and during Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
20Sacramento Valley SMA white-fronted goose restriction. Season closes 12/21/2026.
21Large Canada geese only; 3 days. Closed in North Coast Special Management Area during early season. Daily bag: 30 total (20 white, 10 dark, no more than 6 white-fronted; in Sacramento Valley SMA only 3 may be white-fronted).
22Saturday closest to October 1 for 3 days. North Coast SMA excluded.
23Dark and white geese; 100 days. Sacramento Valley SMA: white-fronted goose season closes after 12/21/2026. Daily bag: 30 total (20 white, 10 dark, no more than 6 white-fronted; in Sacramento Valley SMA only 3 may be white-fronted).
24In Sacramento Valley SMA, white-fronted goose season closes after 12/21/2026.
25Canada geese: 2/20/2027–2/21/2027 (2 days). White-fronted and white geese: 2/20/2027–2/24/2027 (5 days), except Sacramento Valley SMA where white-fronted goose season is closed. Hunting not permitted on wildlife areas (sections 550–552) except Type C in North Central and Central regions.
26Late season. Canada geese 2 days; white-fronted and white geese 5 days. Sacramento Valley SMA white-fronted goose closed.
27Whitefronts and white geese only. 30/day: up to 20 white geese, up to 10 dark geese, not more than 6 white-fronted geese.
28Late Season whitefronts and white geese: Feb 20–24.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4 | Nov 29 – Dec 14 Northern Brant Special Management Area | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 14 Northern Brant Special Management Area | |||
| Balance of State5,6,7,8 | Nov 30 – Dec 15 Balance of State Brant Special Management Area | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 30 – Dec 15 Balance of State Brant Special Management Area |
1Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties only.
2Northern Brant SMA: November 29 extending 16 days.
3Northern Brant SMA (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino counties); 16 days
4Northern Brant Special Management Area covers Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino counties
5Balance of State Brant SMA (all of state not in Northern Brant SMA); 16 days
6Balance of State Brant Special Management Area
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.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 | Oct 3 – Jan 15 Klamath Basin Special Management Area — White-fronted and White Geese | 30 | 90 |
| Oct 3 – Nov 29 Regular Season Split 1 | |||
| Oct 3 – Mar 10 | |||
| Jan 1 – Jan 13 Regular Season Split 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 |
| Balance of State14,15 | Feb 20 – Feb 24 Late Season — White-fronted and White Geese | 30 | 90 |
120 white geese; 10 dark geese (not more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese). Klamath Basin SMA boundaries.
2Klamath Basin SMA white-fronted and white geese: first Saturday in October extending 105 days.
320 white geese; 10 dark geese (not more than 6 white-fronted or 3 Large Canada geese).
4White-fronted and white geese first segment of regular season split.
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.
7White-fronted and white geese second segment, 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-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.
15Third Saturday in February extending 5 days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4 | Oct 3 – Jan 13 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 13 | |||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley3,5,6,7 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 | |||
| Colorado River Zone3,5,6,8 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 23 – Jan 31 | |||
| Balance of State1,3,6,9 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 |
1Either all of one species or mixture of American Coot and Common Moorhen.
2Concurrent with duck season(s) — Northeastern Zone duck season is 10/3/2026-1/13/2027.
325 total, either all of one species or a mixture of American coot and common moorhen
4Concurrent with duck season in the Northeastern Zone
5Either all of one species or mixture.
6Concurrent with duck season.
7Concurrent with duck season in Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone
8Concurrent with duck season in Colorado River Zone
9Concurrent with duck season in Balance of State Zone
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2 | Sep 19 – Sep 20 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days | 7 | 21 |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley1,3 | Feb 13 – Feb 14 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days | 7 | 21 |
| Colorado River Zone1,4,5,6,7,8 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | – | – |
| Feb 6 – Feb 7 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days | |||
| Feb 13 – Feb 14 | |||
| Balance of State1,3 | Feb 13 – Feb 14 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days | 7 | 21 |
1Youth hunters 17 and younger; must be accompanied by non-hunting adult 18+. Same bag limits as regular season.
2Saturday 14 days before regular season opener, for 2 days
3Second Saturday in February, for 2 days
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.
6Same as regular season bag/possession limits.
7Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.
8First Saturday in February, for 2 days
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4,5,6 | Jan 16 – Jan 17 | – | – |
| Jan 16 – Jan 17 Veterans and Active Military Hunting Days | |||
| Jan 17 – Jan 18 | |||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley7,8 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 Veterans and Active Military Hunting Days | 7 | 21 |
| Colorado River Zone7,9 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | – | – |
| Balance of State5,10 | Feb 6 – Feb 7 Veterans and Active Military Hunting Days | 7 | 21 |
1Ducks only. Same as regular season bag/possession limits.
2Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days.
3Veterans and active military only. Goose hunting NOT permitted in this zone during these days. Same bag limits as regular season.
4Saturday following close of regular duck season (1/13/2027), extending 2 days.
5Veterans and active military only. Goose hunting not permitted in this zone during these days. Same bag limits as regular season.
6Saturday following close of regular duck season (1/13/2027) for 2 days
7Veterans and active military only. Same bag limits as regular season.
8First Saturday in February, for 2 days
9First Saturday in February extending 2 days. (Southern California Zone also 2/6-2/7.)
10First Saturday in February, for 2 days; no goose hunting
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone1,2,3,4 | Oct 3 – Jan 13 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 13 Falconry Take of Ducks | |||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley5,6,7,8 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 24 – Mar 1 Falconry Take of Ducks | |||
| Colorado River Zone9,10,11,12 | Oct 24 – Feb 4 Falconry Take of Ducks | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 31 | |||
| Balance of State13,14,15,16 | Oct 24 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Oct 24 – Mar 1 Falconry Take of Ducks |
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.
3Daily bag: 3, either all of one species or mixture allowed for take
4Open concurrently with duck season through 1/13/2027
5Open 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.
6Multiple additional falconry dates; no goose falconry
7Open concurrently with duck season; also open 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 post-season falconry extension dates; no falconry goose hunting
9Open concurrently with duck season and 2/1/2027–2/4/2027. Goose hunting by falconry not permitted.
10Note: regulation states open concurrently with duck season (10/24/2026–1/31/2027) and February 1–4, 2027. No goose falconry.
11Open concurrently with duck season and 2/1-2/4/2027. Goose hunting by falconry NOT permitted (per federal regulations conforming to Arizona).
12Note: 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)
13Open 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.
14Multiple additional falconry dates beyond regular season
15Open concurrently with duck season; also open 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.
16Multiple post-season falconry extension dates: 2/6–7, 2/13–14, 2/27–3/1/2027
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 17, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.