Hunting Idaho this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Idaho is part of the Pacific 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 60 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Fish and Game within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 31,2 | Oct 10 – Jan 22 | 7 | 21 |
| Area 23,4 | Oct 3 – Jan 15 | 7 | 21 |
| Area 15,6 | Oct 19 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 female mallard | 7 | 21 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Area 2 · Scaup season: Oct 3, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Area 3 · Scaup season: Oct 29, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Area 1 · Scaup season: Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | 2 | 6 |
1Scaup season: Oct 29, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027. No more than 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup.
2Area 3 includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties.
3Scaup season: Oct 3, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026. No more than 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup.
4Area 2 includes Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, and Valley counties, plus portions of Bingham and Caribou.
5Scaup season: Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. No more than 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup.
6Area 1 includes all parts of state NOT in areas 2 and 3.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 31,2,3,4,5,6,7 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 Early Season | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 3 – Dec 31 Main Season | |||
| Oct 10 – Jan 22 | |||
| Nov 3 – Feb 15 | |||
| Nov 3 – Feb 15 | |||
| Area 28,9,10 | Oct 3 – Jan 15 | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 19 – Jan 31 | |||
| Area 111,12,13,14,15 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 Early Season | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 15 | |||
| Oct 3 – Dec 31 Main Season | |||
| Oct 19 – Jan 31 | |||
| Canada Goose Area 416 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 3 – Dec 31 Second Split | |||
| Canada Goose Area 117 | Oct 19 – Jan 31 | 5 | 15 |
| White-fronted Goose Area 218 | Oct 19 – Jan 31 | 6 | 18 |
| Canada Goose Area 219 | Oct 3 – Jan 15 | 5 | 15 |
| White-fronted Goose Area 420 | Oct 10 – Jan 22 | 6 | 18 |
| Canada Goose Area 321 | Nov 3 – Feb 15 | 5 | 15 |
| White-fronted Goose Area 322,23 | Nov 3 – Feb 15 | 6 | 18 |
| White-fronted Goose Area 124 | Oct 3 – Jan 15 | 6 | 18 |
1Canada Goose Area 4 early segment: Sept 1-15, 2026. This is the Area 4 early season (Bear Lake / Caribou area).
2Canada Goose Area 3 = all parts of state NOT in Areas 1, 2, and 4.
3White-fronted Goose Area 4
4White-fronted Goose Area 4 includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone counties.
5White-fronted Goose Area 3. Closures: Fort Boise and Payette River WMAs, Roswell Marsh WHA south of State Hwy 18, and Snake River Islands Unit of Deer Flat NWR closed Feb 1–Mar 10, 2027.
6Area 3 includes Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, Washington counties.
7Canada Goose Area 4 main segment. Area 4 = Bear Lake County, portion of Bingham within Blackfoot Reservoir drainage, portion of Caribou County.
8Canada Goose Area 2 = Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Valley counties.
9White-fronted Goose Area 2
10Area 2 includes all parts of state NOT in Areas 1, 3, and 4.
11Canada Goose Area 4 early segment (Sep 1–15). Area 4 includes all of Bear Lake County and portions of Bingham and Caribou counties.
12Canada Goose Area 1 = Ada, Adams, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Idaho, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties.
13White-fronted Goose Area 1
14White-fronted Goose Area 1 includes Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Valley counties and portions of Bingham and Caribou counties.
15Canada Goose Area 4 main segment. Area 4 includes all of Bear Lake County; portions of Bingham County within Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; and portions of Caribou County.
16Area 4: All of Bear Lake County; portions of Bingham and Caribou counties.
17Area 1: Ada, Adams, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Idaho, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Washington counties.
18Area 2: all parts of state NOT in areas 1, 3, and 4.
19Area 2: Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton and Valley counties.
20Area 4: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties.
21Area 3: all parts of state NOT in areas 1, 2, and 4.
22Closed Feb 1–Mar 10, 2027 at Fort Boise and Payette River WMAs, Roswell Marsh Wildlife Habitat Area south of State Highway 18, and Snake River Islands Unit of Deer Flat NWR.
23Area 3: Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, Washington counties.
24Area 1: Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, and Valley counties; portions of Bingham and Caribou.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Goose Area 11 | Oct 3 – Jan 15 | 20 | 60 |
| Light Goose Area 42,3,4 | Oct 3 – Dec 23 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 16 – Mar 10 Second Split | |||
| Light Goose Area 55 | Oct 10 – Jan 22 | 20 | 60 |
| Light Goose Area 33,6,7 | Oct 19 – Dec 24 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Second Split | |||
| Area 18,9,10,11,12 | Oct 3 – Dec 23 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 15 | |||
| Feb 16 – Mar 10 Second Split / Conservation Order | |||
| Light Goose Area 213 | Oct 19 – Jan 31 | 20 | 60 |
| Area 314,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22 | Oct 3 – Dec 23 Area 4 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Oct 10 – Jan 22 | |||
| Oct 19 – Dec 24 First Split | |||
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Second Split / Conservation Order | |||
| Feb 16 – Mar 10 Area 4 Second Split (Conservation Order) | |||
| Area 223 | Oct 19 – Jan 31 | 20 | 60 |
1Area 1: all parts of state NOT in areas 2, 3, 4, and 5.
2Area 4: Bannock, Butte, Franklin, Oneida, Power counties; portions of Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Clark, and Jefferson counties.
3Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns (>3 shells) allowed when all other waterfowl/migratory game bird seasons except falconry are closed.
4Conservation Order methods apply Feb 16–Mar 10, 2027.
5Area 5: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties.
6Area 3: Ada, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, Washington counties.
7Conservation Order methods apply Feb 1–Mar 10, 2027. Fort Boise, Payette River WMAs, Roswell Marsh south of Hwy 18, and Snake River Islands Unit closed Feb 1–Mar 10.
8Snow (including Blue) Geese and Ross's Geese. Light Goose Area 4 includes Bannock, Butte, Franklin, Oneida, Power counties and portions of Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Clark, Jefferson counties.
9Area 4 in the document; mapped to Area 1 zone (closest available) — reviewer should note this is Light Goose Area 4.
10Snow (including Blue) Geese and Ross's Geese. Light Goose Area 1 includes all parts of state NOT in Areas 2, 3, 4, and 5.
11Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns permitted when all other waterfowl/crane seasons (except falconry) are closed. Light Goose Area 4.
12Area 4 in the document; mapped to Area 1 zone — reviewer should note this is Light Goose Area 4.
13Area 2: Adams, Clearwater, Custer, Idaho, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, and Nez Perce counties.
14Snow (including Blue) Geese and Ross's Geese. Light Goose Area 5 includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone counties.
15Light Goose Area 5 in document; mapped to Area 3 zone (same Panhandle counties as Duck Area 3) — reviewer should note this is Light Goose Area 5.
16Snow (including Blue) Geese and Ross's Geese. Area 3 includes Ada, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, Washington counties.
17Closures: Fort Boise and Payette River WMAs, Roswell Marsh WHA south of Hwy 18, Snake River Islands Unit of Deer Flat NWR closed Feb 1–Mar 10.
18Snow (including Blue) Geese and Ross's Geese. Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns allowed Feb 16 – Mar 10 segment only.
19Light Goose Area 4 = Bannock, Butte, Franklin, Oneida, Power counties plus portions of Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Clark, Jefferson. Mapped to Area 3 as no Area 4 in known zones — reviewer should verify.
20Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns (capable of holding more than 3 shells) permitted during this segment when all other waterfowl/crane seasons (except falconry) are closed.
21Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns allowed during this segment when all other waterfowl seasons (except falconry) are closed.
22Light Goose Area 4 second segment (conservation order). Mapped to Area 3 as no Area 4 in known zone list.
23Snow (including Blue) Geese and Ross's Geese. Area 2 includes Adams, Clearwater, Custer, Idaho, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce counties.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 26 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 31 |
1Daily bag limit 25, possession limit 3x daily. Season dates vary by area; earliest open date (Area 2) used as statewide open; Area 1 closes Jan 31, Area 2 closes Jan 15, Area 3 closes Jan 22.
2Coots: 25 daily bag limit statewide. Dates inferred from the duck season range; Youth/Vet weekend also open for coots Sept 26–27.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Area 1 - Bear Lake1,2,3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September 1–30 | 2 | – |
| Oct 1 – Oct 30 October 1–30 | |||
| Crane Area 3 - Fremont4,5,6,7 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 September 1–15 | 2 | – |
| Sep 16 – Sep 30 September 16–30 | |||
| Oct 1 – Oct 30 October 1–30 | |||
| Crane Area 4 - Jefferson4,7,8 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 September 1–15 | 2 | – |
| Sep 16 – Sep 30 September 16–30 | |||
| Oct 1 – Oct 30 October 1–30 | |||
| Crane Area 2 - Teton4,6,9 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 September 1–15 | 2 | – |
| Oct 1 – Oct 30 October 1–30 | |||
| Crane Area 5 - Swan Lake4,10,11 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September 1–30 | 2 | – |
| Oct 1 – Oct 30 October 1–30 | |||
| Crane Area 6 - Malad4,11,12 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September 1–30 | 2 | – |
| Oct 1 – Oct 30 October 1–30 |
1Season limit: 2 cranes. Sandhill Crane Tag required. Shot size no larger than T (0.2 inches). Shotgun no more than 3 shells required.
2300 tags available for this segment. Includes all of Bear Lake County and all of Caribou County except portion within Grays Lake Basin.
3150 tags available for this segment.
4Season limit: 2. Sandhill Crane Tag required.
540 tags available. Area 3 includes Fremont County except Chester Wetlands WMA.
640 tags available.
730 tags available.
830 tags available. Area 4 includes Jefferson County except certain WMA boundary portions.
940 tags available. Area 2 includes Teton County except portion west of Hwy 33/south of Packsaddle Rd/north of North Cedron Rd/east of Teton River.
1050 tags available. Area 5 includes Bannock County east of I-15 and south of US-30, and all of Franklin County.
1120 tags available.
1250 tags available. Area 6 includes portion of Oneida County within specified boundary.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Controlled Hunt Area 1 (Panhandle)1,2 | Oct 10 – Dec 1 | 1 | 1 |
1Swan Controlled Hunt Tag required. Shotgun capable of no more than 3 shells required. Shot size no larger than T (0.2 inches). Mandatory check/report within 3 days of kill. No more than 10% of tags to nonresidents.
2Hunt 9301: 50 tags. Limited to Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 26 – Sep 27 | – | – |
1Same limits as regular season statewide. Open to licensed hunters 17 and younger. Federal Duck Stamp not required for hunters 15 and younger.
2Duck, goose, and coot seasons open Sept 26–27, 2026 only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 26 – Sep 27 | – | – |
1Same limits as regular season statewide. Veterans and active military may hunt and harvest; HIP permit and Federal Duck Stamp required.
2Combined with youth weekend. Sept 26–27, 2026 only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Jan 23 – Mar 10 | 3 | 9 |
1Daily Bag Limit: 3 | Possession Limit: 9
2Mourning dove extended falconry season. Refer to Idaho Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer Seasons & Rules for details.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 26 – Jan 31 | 8 | 24 |
1Wilson's Snipe: 8 daily bag limit statewide. Season dates not separately specified; listed alongside duck seasons on page 8.
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 19, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.