Hunting Indiana this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Indiana is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from October 18 through February 14, 2027, with 48 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Natural Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Oct 24 – Dec 13 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 19 – Dec 27 Second Split | |||
| Central Zone2,4 | Oct 31 – Nov 8 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split | |||
| South Zone2,5 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 28 – Jan 24 Second Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks (general) | 6 | 18 |
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup North Zone · 1 scaup before Nov. 7; 2 scaup on or after Nov. 7 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup South Zone · 1 scaup before Dec. 10 in South Zone; 2 scaup on or after Dec. 10 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Central Zone · 2 scaup on or after Nov. 26 in Central Zone | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Central Zone · 1 scaup before Nov. 26 in Central Zone; 2 scaup on or after Nov. 26 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup North Zone · 2 scaup allowed on or after Nov. 7 in North Zone | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup South Zone · 2 scaup on or after Dec. 10 in South Zone | 2 | 6 |
14 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck, 1 scaup before Nov. 7 / 2 scaup on or after Nov. 7
2Split season; coots limit 15/day; mergansers limit 5/day (no more than 2 hooded).
34 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck, 2 scaup (on or after Nov. 7 date threshold passed)
44 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck, 1 scaup before Nov. 26 / 2 scaup on or after Nov. 26
54 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck, 1 scaup before Dec. 10 / 2 scaup on or after Dec. 10
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 6 | 18 |
1Statewide early teal season. Shooting hours sunrise to sunset for teal.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3,4,5 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 Early Season | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 24 – Nov 1 Second Segment | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 14 White-fronted Geese | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 14 Main Season | |||
| Central Zone1,2,4,5,6 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 Early Season | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 31 – Nov 8 Second Segment | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 14 White-fronted Geese | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 14 Main Season | |||
| South Zone1,4,5,7,8 | Sep 1 – Sep 13 Early Season | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 11 Second Segment | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 14 White-fronted Geese | |||
| Nov 21 – Feb 14 Main Season |
1Canada geese and brant aggregate limit 5; light geese (snow, blue, Ross) limit 20 (no possession limit)
2Canada geese, Light geese, & Brant listed together. Segment 1 of 3.
3White-fronted geese only; daily bag 2, possession 6 per footnote ***.
4Canada geese, Light geese, & Brant listed together. Segment 2 of 3.
5Canada geese, Light geese, & Brant listed together. Segment 3 of 3.
6White-fronted geese Central Zone; footnote *** gives bag 2, possession 6.
7White-fronted geese South Zone; footnote *** bag 2, possession 6.
8Canada geese, Light geese, & Brant listed together. Segment 1 of 3. Note South Zone opens Sept. 1 vs Sept. 5 in other zones.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Oct 18 – Oct 26 | 20 | – |
| Nov 22 – Feb 15 | |||
| Central Zone1 | Nov 1 – Nov 9 | 20 | – |
| Nov 22 – Feb 15 | |||
| South Zone1 | Nov 8 – Nov 12 | 20 | – |
| Nov 22 – Feb 15 |
1Snow, blue, Ross geese. No possession limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Oct 24 – Dec 13 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 19 – Dec 27 Second Split | |||
| Central Zone1 | Oct 31 – Nov 8 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split | |||
| South Zone1 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 28 – Jan 24 Second Split |
1Listed together with ducks/mergansers; coot daily bag limit 15 per footnote *.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 24 – Dec 13 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 19 – Dec 27 Second Split | |||
| Central Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 8 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,2 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 28 – Jan 24 Second Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers
2Listed together with ducks/coots; merganser daily bag limit 5 per footnote *.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 17 – Oct 18 Youth & Veteran | 6 | 18 |
| Central Zone1,2,3,4 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 Youth & Veteran | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 24 – Oct 25 Youth & Veteran Weekend | |||
| South Zone1,3,5,6 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 Youth & Veteran | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 31 – Nov 1 Youth & Veteran Weekend |
1Scaup limit 1 per day during youth/veteran dates
2Same limits as regular season except scaup 1/day. Includes veterans/active military.
3Same as regular season bag limits; scaup 1/day
4Covers both Youth and Veteran hunters; scaup limited to 1/day per footnote ****
5Same limits as regular season except scaup 1/day. Includes veterans/active military. Footnote shows *** not **** for South Zone.
6Covers both Youth and Veteran hunters; footnote *** (South Zone) references same as regular season
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 17 – Oct 18 Youth & Veteran | 6 | 18 |
| Central Zone1,2 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 Youth & Veteran | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 Youth & Veteran | 6 | 18 |
1Scaup limit 1 per day during youth/veteran dates
2Same limits as regular season except scaup 1/day. Combined with youth weekend.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 21 – Feb 14 | 2 | 6 |
| Central Zone1,3 | Nov 21 – Feb 14 | 2 | 6 |
| South Zone1,4 | Nov 21 – Feb 14 | 2 | 6 |
1White-fronted geese only.
2White-fronted geese listed separately from Canada/Light geese.
3Page lists bag limit reference *** for Central Zone white-fronted geese; footnote *** states daily bag limit is 2.
4White-fronted geese listed separately.
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 16, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.