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.
Open the official Delaware regulationsHunting Delaware this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
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 32 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bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice.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. | 18 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 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. | 18 | |
| Dec 16 – Jan 31 Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 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. | 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.
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.
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 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 Canada Goose Resident - Inside Teal Zone Segment 2 · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods NOT allowed during this period. | 15 |
| Sep 14 – Sep 25 Canada Goose Resident - Inside Teal Zone Segment 3 · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods allowed during this period. | 15 | |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Migratory Canada Goose First Split | 2 Includes White-fronted geese | 6 | |
| Dec 23 – Jan 31 Migratory Canada Goose Second Split | 2 Includes white-fronted geese in aggregate. | 6 | |
| Inside the September Teal Zone9,10,11,12,13 | Sep 1 – Sep 4 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, First Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 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 Zone14,15 | 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
2Canada Goose (Migratory) including White-fronted geese
3Includes white-fronted geese in aggregate.
4Canada Goose (Migratory) including White-fronted geese, second split.
5Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods NOT allowed during this period.
6Overlaps with September teal season. No special methods.
7Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods allowed during this period.
8Possession limit 15 per table. Special methods allowed.
9Special hunting methods allowed during this segment (footnote 1).
10Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone; possession limit listed as 15 (not 45) in table — may be a typo but transcribed verbatim.
11Special hunting methods are NOT allowed during this segment (footnote 2).
12Concurrent with September Teal season inside the Teal Zone. Special methods not allowed.
13Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone third sub-segment. Special hunting methods allowed.
14Special hunting methods allowed (extended shooting hours, unplugged shotguns, electronic calls) for entire season outside the September Teal Zone.
15Resident Canada Goose season. Special methods allowed entire season outside teal zone.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 25 – Nov 29 First Split | 2 Included with Canada Goose (Migratory) bag; white-fronted geese counted within the 2-bird aggregate. | 6 |
| Dec 23 – Jan 31 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 2 Included with Canada Goose (Migratory) bag; white-fronted geese counted within the 2-bird aggregate. | 6 |
1Included with Canada Goose (Migratory) bag; white-fronted geese counted within the 2-bird aggregate.
2Source lists 'Canada Goose (Migratory) Including White-fronted geese' with a combined bag limit of 2.
3Source lists 'Canada Goose (Migratory) Including White-fronted geese'; second split Dec. 23–Jan. 31.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Dec 19 – Jan 2 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 16 – Jan 30 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 1 | 3 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 25 – Jan 31 Regular Season First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 Including Ross' goose. | – |
| Feb 1 – Feb 6 Regular Season Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 Including Ross' goose. | – | |
| Feb 8 – Mar 10 Regular Season Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 Including Ross' goose. | – |
1Including Ross' goose.
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 | Mar 11 – Apr 9 | – Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed. Daily bag and possession limits eliminated. Must register for free permit number. Potentially suspended—check de.gov/fw after July 2026. | – |
1Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed. Daily bag and possession limits eliminated. Must register for free permit number. Potentially suspended—check de.gov/fw after July 2026.
2Snow Goose Conservation Order. Potentially suspended if population below 500,000. Results posted on Division website. If held, runs Mar. 11-Apr. 9, 2027.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Oct 31 – Nov 7 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 16 – Jan 31 Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
1Season dates same as regular duck season (3 splits).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 7 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. | 15 |
| Nov 25 – Nov 29 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. | 15 | |
| Dec 16 – Jan 31 Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit. | 15 |
1Aggregate of hooded, common, and red-breasted mergansers. No hooded merganser sub-limit.
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. | 1 |
1By special permit only. Up to 272 permits issued by random lottery. 1 permit/person/season. 1 tundra swan per season.
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. | 18 |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Winter Youth/Veteran/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | 25 Youth must be under age 16. May harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Regular season limits apply. Snow geese harvestable within regular season framework (25/day); no CO liberal methods. | – |
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.
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.
3Youth must be under age 16. May harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Regular season limits apply. Snow geese harvestable within regular season framework (25/day); no CO liberal 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. | 18 |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Winter Youth/Veteran/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | 25 Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only. Must carry active military ID or DD-214. Must have hunting license, HIP, and state and federal duck stamps. Regular season limits apply. No CO liberal methods. | – |
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.
2Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only (not public). Federal NWRs open for youth only on this date.
3Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only. Must carry active military ID or DD-214. Must have hunting license, HIP, and state and federal duck stamps. Regular season limits apply. No CO liberal methods.
4Veterans and Active Military limited to private lands only. Snow geese harvestable at 25/day within regular season framework; no CO liberal methods.
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 August 20, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.