Read from Division of Fish and Wildlife on August 20, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Division of Fish and Wildlife before you hunt.
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Delaware 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 28 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Division of Fish and Wildlife 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bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice.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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5 | Oct 31 – Nov 7 First Split | 6 4 mallards (2 hens max); 2 black ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 1 scaup (2/day Jan. 12–Jan. 31); 6 teal; 6 shovelers; 6 gadwall; 6 wigeon; 6 goldeneye; 6 ring-necked ducks; 6 bufflehead; 6 ruddy ducks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling-duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin duck season closed. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 18 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split | 6 4 mallards (2 hens max); 2 black ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 1 scaup (2/day Jan. 12-31); 6 teal; 6 shovelers; 6 gadwall; 6 wigeon; 6 goldeneye; 6 ring-necked ducks; 6 bufflehead; 6 ruddy ducks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling-duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin ducks closed. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 18 | |
| Dec 16 – Jan 31 Third Split | 6 4 mallards (2 hens max); 2 black ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 1 scaup (2/day Jan. 12-31); 6 teal; 6 shovelers; 6 gadwall; 6 wigeon; 6 goldeneye; 6 ring-necked ducks; 6 bufflehead; 6 ruddy ducks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling-duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin ducks closed. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Nov 25–Nov 29 · 2 per day Jan. 12-31 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · Dec 16–Jan 31 · 2 per day Jan. 12-31 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 2 per day Jan. 12–Jan. 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Northern Shoveler | 6 | 18 |
| Gadwall | 6 | 18 |
| Green-winged Teal 6 teal in any combination | 6 | 18 |
| American Wigeon | 6 | 18 |
| Common Goldeneye | 6 | 18 |
| Ring-necked Duck | 6 | 18 |
| Bufflehead | 6 | 18 |
| Ruddy Duck | 6 | 18 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Sea Ducks (general) No more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks | 4 | 12 |
| Harlequin Duck Statewide · Closed season | 0 | 0 |
| Harlequin Duck Statewide · Nov 25–Nov 29 · Season closed | 0 | 0 |
| Harlequin Duck Statewide · Dec 16–Jan 31 · Season closed | 0 | 0 |
14 mallards (2 hens max); 2 black ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 1 scaup (2/day Jan. 12–Jan. 31); 6 teal; 6 shovelers; 6 gadwall; 6 wigeon; 6 goldeneye; 6 ring-necked ducks; 6 bufflehead; 6 ruddy ducks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling-duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin duck season closed. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2Regular Duck Season, three splits. Mergansers and coots excluded from the 6-duck daily bag.
34 mallards (2 hens max); 2 black ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 1 scaup (2/day Jan. 12-31); 6 teal; 6 shovelers; 6 gadwall; 6 wigeon; 6 goldeneye; 6 ring-necked ducks; 6 bufflehead; 6 ruddy ducks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling-duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin ducks closed. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
4Regular Duck Season second split.
5Scaup limit increases to 2/day from Jan. 12-31.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Teal Zone1,2 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 6 Limited to designated teal zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal. | 18 |
| Inside the September Teal Zone3,4 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 6 Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal. Zone is south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, and east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. | 18 |
1Limited to designated teal zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
2September Teal season; zone-restricted. See Special Teal Zone Map.
3Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal. Zone is south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, and east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1.
4Special hunting methods (extended shooting hours, unplugged shotguns, electronic calls) NOT allowed Sept. 5-13 due to overlap with resident Canada Goose season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 25 – Nov 29 Migratory Canada Goose First Split | 2 Includes White-fronted geese Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 6 |
| Dec 23 – Jan 31 Migratory Canada Goose Second Split | 2 Includes white-fronted geese in aggregate. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 6 | |
| Inside the September Teal Zone5,6,7,8,9 | Sep 1 – Sep 4 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, First Segment | 15 Special hunting methods allowed during this segment (footnote 1). | 15 |
| Sep 5 – Sep 13 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Second Segment | 15 Special hunting methods are NOT allowed during this segment (footnote 2). | 15 | |
| Sep 14 – Sep 25 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Third Segment | 15 Special hunting methods allowed during this segment (footnote 1). | 15 | |
| Outside the September Teal Zone10,11 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Resident Canada Goose Season | 15 Special hunting methods allowed (extended shooting hours, unplugged shotguns, electronic calls) for entire season outside the September Teal Zone. | 45 |
1Includes White-fronted geese Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2Canada Goose (Migratory) including White-fronted geese
3Includes white-fronted geese in aggregate. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
4Canada Goose (Migratory) including White-fronted geese, second split.
5Special hunting methods allowed during this segment (footnote 1).
6Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone; possession limit listed as 15 (not 45) in table — may be a typo but transcribed verbatim.
7Special hunting methods are NOT allowed during this segment (footnote 2).
8Concurrent with September Teal season inside the Teal Zone. Special methods not allowed.
9Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone third sub-segment. Special hunting methods allowed.
10Special hunting methods allowed (extended shooting hours, unplugged shotguns, electronic calls) for entire season outside the September Teal Zone.
11Resident Canada Goose season. Special methods allowed entire season outside teal zone.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 First Split | 1 Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 3 |
| Jan 16 – Jan 30 Second Split | 1 Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 3 |
1Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 25 – Jan 31 Regular Season First Split | 25 Including Ross' goose. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | – |
| Feb 1 – Feb 6 Regular Season Second Split | 25 Including Ross' goose. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | – | |
| Feb 8 – Mar 10 Regular Season Third Split | 25 Including Ross' goose. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | – |
1Including Ross' goose. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2No possession limit stated.
3No possession limit stated. Bridges gap between regular season and CO. Feb. 7 is Youth/Vet day with 25/day bag, no CO methods.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 7 First Split | 15 Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 45 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split | 15 Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 45 | |
| Dec 16 – Jan 31 Third Split | 15 Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 45 |
1Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2Season dates same as regular duck season (3 splits).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Gallinules | 15 Moorhens and gallinules. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 45 |
1Moorhens and gallinules. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 7 First Split | 5 Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 15 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split | 5 Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 15 | |
| Dec 16 – Jan 31 Third Split | 5 Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 15 |
1Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2Same dates as Duck Season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 8 – Jan 31 | 1 By special permit only. Up to 272 permits issued by random lottery. 1 permit/person/season. 1 tundra swan per season. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. Swan permit holders may also take swans on the youth/veteran/military days Oct 24, 2026 and Feb 7, 2027. | 1 |
1By special permit only. Up to 272 permits issued by random lottery. 1 permit/person/season. 1 tundra swan per season. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. Swan permit holders may also take swans on the youth/veteran/military days Oct 24, 2026 and Feb 7, 2027.
2Permit required. Application deadline 4:00 PM August 14, 2026. Non-resident permits capped at 17.2% (up to 46).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 24 – Oct 24 Fall Youth/Veteran/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | 6 Youth must be under age 16 and under direct supervision of licensed adult 21+. May harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Regular season limits apply. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 18 |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Winter Youth/Veteran/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | 6 Ducks: regular-season limits (6/day, 18 possession). Snow geese may also be taken (no special methods). | 18 |
1Youth must be under age 16 and under direct supervision of licensed adult 21+. May harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Regular season limits apply. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2Youth participation open statewide on private and public lands. Lottery drawing 2 hours before sunrise for state blinds (2.5 hrs at Little Creek WA). No state or federal stamps required for youth.
3Ducks: regular-season limits (6/day, 18 possession). Snow geese may also be taken (no special methods).
4Duck season is closed on this date; snow geese may be harvested within regular season framework (25/day bag limit). No liberal CO methods allowed. Federal NWRs open for youth only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 24 – Oct 24 Fall Youth/Veteran/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | 6 Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only on this date. Must carry active military ID or DD-214. Must have hunting license, HIP, and state and federal duck stamps. Regular season limits apply. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it. | 18 |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Winter Youth/Veteran/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | 6 Ducks: regular-season limits (6/day, 18 possession). Snow geese may also be taken (no special methods). | 18 |
1Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only on this date. Must carry active military ID or DD-214. Must have hunting license, HIP, and state and federal duck stamps. Regular season limits apply. Sunday hunting: private land with landowner permission; public land only where that agency allows it.
2Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only (not public). Federal NWRs open for youth only on this date.
3Ducks: regular-season limits (6/day, 18 possession). Snow geese may also be taken (no special methods).
4Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only. Snow geese harvestable at 25/day within regular season framework; no CO liberal methods.
Spring 2027 turkey season
Apr 10–May 9
Youth: Apr 3 + a second day (confirm with DNREC)
Ends 1 p.m. daily
Source: state regulationsChecked October 16, 2026.
Official regulations
Delaware DNREC Division of Fish and WildlifeZones, tags, bag limits and public-land rules.
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See the turkey hunting appOfficial regulations
Delaware DNREC Division of Fish and WildlifeThe state sets the deer seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the deer hunting appOfficial regulations
Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & WildlifeThe state sets the upland bird seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the upland bird hunting appSeason 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 20, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.