Hunting Connecticut this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Connecticut is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through March 10, 2027, with 54 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 Early | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 11 Late | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 9 Late (continued) | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 9 Late Split 2 | |||
| South Zone9,10,11,12,13,14,15 | Oct 10 – Oct 12 Early | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 11 – Nov 11 Late | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 19 Late (continued) | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 19 Late Split 2 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup North Zone, South Zone · Combined Greater/Lesser Scaup limit | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup South Zone · 1 bag Nov. 14–Dec. 25; increases to 2 bag Dec. 26–Jan. 19 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup North Zone · Combined Greater/Lesser Scaup limit for Nov. 14–Jan. 9 | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup North Zone, South Zone · Combined Greater/Lesser Scaup limit | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup South Zone · 1 bag Nov. 14–Dec. 25; increases to 2 bag Dec. 26–Jan. 19 | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup North Zone · Combined Greater/Lesser Scaup limit for Nov. 14–Jan. 9 | 1 | 3 |
| Sea Ducks (general) No more than 3 Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Eider (1 hen) | 4 | 12 |
| Harlequin Duck Season closed | 0 | 0 |
1Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: 1 (see scaup table); Sea ducks included in total bag (daily limit 4, no more than 3 Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Eider [1 hen], 12 in possession); Harlequin Duck season closed; Mergansers included in aggregate bag of 6 (no species-specific limit)
2All dates inclusive except Sundays
3Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: 1 (see scaup table); Sea ducks included in total bag (daily limit 4, no more than 3 Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Eider [1 hen], 12 in possession); Harlequin Duck season closed; Mergansers included in aggregate bag of 6
4All dates inclusive except Sundays. Late season has two segments (Nov. 7–11 and Nov. 14–Jan. 9); this is the first part.
5Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: 1 (Nov. 14–Jan. 9); Sea ducks included in total bag (daily limit 4, no more than 3 Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Eider [1 hen], 12 in possession); Harlequin Duck season closed; Mergansers included in aggregate bag of 6
6All dates inclusive except Sundays. Second part of the late duck season in the North Zone.
7Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: 1/day Nov. 14–Jan. 9 (2/day after Dec. 26 per scaup table); Mergansers included in 6-duck aggregate; Sea ducks included in total; Harlequin Duck: closed. Coots: 15/day.
8NEW dates. Second part of Late season for North Zone.
9Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: 1; Sea ducks included in total bag (daily limit 4, no more than 3 Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Eider [1 hen], 12 in possession); Harlequin Duck season closed; Mergansers included in aggregate bag of 6
10All dates inclusive except Sundays. South Zone early dates in bold indicating change from 2025.
11Single-day segment (Nov. 11) in South Zone before the main late season resumes Nov. 14. This is an extra split to add a weekend/holiday hunt day as described in 'New for 2026-2027'.
12Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: see scaup table (1 bag Nov. 14–Dec. 25; 2 bag Dec. 26–Jan. 19); Sea ducks included in total bag (daily limit 4, no more than 3 Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 3 Eider [1 hen], 12 in possession); Harlequin Duck season closed; Mergansers included in aggregate bag of 6
13All dates inclusive except Sundays. Scaup limit increases from 1 to 2 on Dec. 26.
14Mallard: 4 daily (2 hens max); Wood Duck: 3; Black Duck: 2; Redhead: 2; Pintail: 3; Canvasback: 2; Scaup: 1/day Nov. 14–Dec. 25, 2/day Dec. 26–Jan. 19; Mergansers included in 6-duck aggregate; Sea ducks included in total; Harlequin Duck: closed. Coots: 15/day.
15NEW dates. Page shows 'Nov. 14, 2025 - Jan. 19, 2027' which appears to be a typo; open year interpreted as 2026.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September Early Season | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 10 – Oct 17 Regular AP Unit Season First Split | |||
| Oct 10 – Oct 17 AFRP Unit First Split | |||
| Oct 10 – Oct 17 NAP-H Unit First Split | |||
| Nov 10 – Jan 9 NAP-H Unit Second Split | |||
| Nov 21 – Dec 14 Regular AP Unit Season Second Split | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 13 AFRP Unit Second Split | |||
| Dec 7 – Jan 9 Brant | |||
| Dec 15 – Feb 13 AP Late Season | |||
| South Zone1,10,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 | Sep 15 – Sep 30 September Early Season | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 10 – Oct 17 Regular AFRP Unit Goose Season – First Split | |||
| Oct 10 – Oct 17 AFRP Unit First Split | |||
| Oct 10 – Oct 12 NAP-H Unit First Split | |||
| Oct 10 – Oct 12 NAP-H Unit - First Split | |||
| Nov 9 – Jan 14 NAP-H Unit Second Split | |||
| Nov 9 – Jan 14 NAP-H Unit - Second Split | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 13 AFRP Unit Second Split | |||
| Jan 15 – Feb 13 NAP-H Late Season | |||
| Jan 15 – Feb 13 NAP-H Late Season |
1Daily bag limit includes white-fronted geese. Unplugged shotguns legal.
2North Zone September early Canada goose season. No special permit required. Applies to AP Zone portion of North Zone.
3AP Unit only: Litchfield County and portion of Hartford County west of Route 159/I-91 line. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
4AP Unit regular season first split. Bag limit of 3 is bolded (changed from 2025-26, increased from 1). Zone is AP Unit within North Zone.
5AP Unit regular season second split.
6AP Unit only. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
7AP Late Season applies to AP Unit (North Zone portion).
8AFRP Unit: All of the state not included in AP or NAP descriptions. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
9AFRP Unit season first split.
10AFRP Unit. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
11AFRP Unit season second split.
12NAP-H Unit: eastern portion of state. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
13NAP-H Unit first split in North Zone.
14NAP-H Unit. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
15NAP-H Unit second split in North Zone.
16Brant only.
17Brant season listed separately from Canada Geese.
18AFRP Unit (rest of state not in AP or NAP); includes white-fronted geese
19South Zone September early Canada goose season. No special permit required.
20AFRP Unit first split in South Zone.
21AFRP Unit second split in South Zone.
22NAP-H Unit South Zone. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
23NAP-H Unit first split in South Zone (bolded dates).
24NAP-H Unit second split in South Zone.
25South Zone east of Quinnipiac River only. Daily bag includes white-fronted geese.
26Late Canada goose season; South Zone only east of Quinnipiac River. Hunters need 2027 CT license and stamp.
27NAP-H Unit (eastern portion of state, South Zone). Includes white-fronted geese in bag.
28South Zone NAP-H dates bolded as change from 2025; all dates inclusive except Sundays.
29South Zone NAP-H second split; all dates inclusive except Sundays.
30South Zone only, east of the Quinnipiac River. Includes white-fronted geese in bag. 2027 hunting license and CT Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required.
31NAP-H Late Season in South Zone (east of Quinnipiac River) only; 2027 license required before Jan. 1, 2027.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Dec 7 – Jan 9 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 7 – Jan 9 | |||
| South Zone3 | Dec 16 – Jan 19 | 1 | 3 |
1No Sunday hunting; CT Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required
2From CT DEEP 2026-27 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide.
3Dates inclusive except Sundays.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Oct 1 – Jan 9 Regular Season | 25 | – |
| Feb 16 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| South Zone1,4,5,6 | Oct 1 – Jan 9 Regular Season | 25 | – |
| Feb 16 – Mar 10 Late Season |
1No possession limit. Includes Blue Geese.
2Snow/Blue geese; North Zone Oct. 1-Jan. 9
3Snow/Blue geese late season; North Zone Feb. 16-Mar. 10
4Includes Blue Geese. No possession limit.
5Snow Geese (includes Blue Geese); no possession limit stated.
6Snow/Blue geese late season; South Zone Feb. 16-Mar. 10
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 Early | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 11 Late | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 9 Late (continued) | |||
| South Zone4,5,6 | Oct 10 – Oct 12 Early | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 11 – Nov 11 Late | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 19 Late (continued) |
1Coots run concurrent with duck season dates. Possession limit inferred as 3x daily bag.
2Coots Late season first part (Nov. 7–11) in North Zone.
3Coots Late season second part (Nov. 14–Jan. 9) in North Zone.
4Coots concurrent with South Zone duck early season.
5Single-day segment mirroring the duck season split in South Zone.
6Coots Late season second part (Nov. 14–Jan. 19) in South Zone.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 11 Second split | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 9 Third split | |||
| South Zone1 | Oct 10 – Oct 12 First split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 11 – Nov 11 Second split (Veterans Day) | |||
| Nov 14 – Jan 19 Third split |
1Included in the aggregate duck daily bag of 6 (possession 18) — CT sets no separate merganser limit; no Sunday hunting
2CT's guide lists 'Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots' on shared dates; mergansers count toward the aggregate duck bag (footnote B) — unlike states with a separate 5-bird limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Oct 3 – Oct 3 Youth Waterfowl Day 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 31 – Oct 31 Youth Waterfowl Day 2 |
1Junior hunters ages 12–15 must have junior small game license and CT Migratory Bird Stamp; ages 16–17 need full hunting license, CT Stamp, and federal Stamp. Ducks, geese, mergansers, and coots may be hunted. Adults may NOT hunt ducks on Youth Days.
2First of 2 statewide youth waterfowl hunter training days. Bag limits same as regular duck/goose season.
3Second of 2 statewide youth waterfowl hunter training days. Bag limits same as regular duck/goose season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Sep 1 – Oct 10 Common Snipe Season — first split | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 1 – Oct 15 Rail Season — first split | |||
| Oct 17 – Jan 8 Common Snipe Season — second split | |||
| Oct 23 – Nov 27 Rail Season — second split | |||
| North Zone5 | Dec 7 – Jan 9 Brant Season | 1 | 3 |
| South Zone5 | Dec 16 – Jan 19 Brant Season | 1 | 3 |
1CT Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp required; federal Duck Stamp not required for snipe
2Statewide snipe season, two splits.
3Virginia/sora rails 25 daily, 75 possession; clapper/king rails 10 daily, 30 possession (max 1 king daily); non-toxic shot required
4Statewide rail season, two splits; limits are per species group so top-level bag is null.
5Brant 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 17, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.