Hunting Kentucky this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Kentucky is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through March 31, 2027, with 21 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 26 – Nov 29 Thanksgiving Segment | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 7 – Jan 31 Second Segment |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1 scaup Nov. 28–Dec. 17; 2 scaup Dec. 18–Jan. 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1 scaup through Dec. 17; 2 scaup Dec. 18–Jan. 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
14 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 3 pintails, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 1 scaup (Nov. 28–Dec. 17), 1 mottled duck
2Thanksgiving segment Nov. 26–29, 2026; 4-day season. Scaup limit is 1 during Nov. 28–Dec. 17.
34 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 3 pintails, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 1 scaup Dec. 7–Dec. 17, 2 scaup Dec. 18–Jan. 31, 1 mottled duck
4Second segment Dec. 7, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027; 56 consecutive days.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 19 – Sep 23 | 6 | 18 |
1No more than 2 wood ducks in the daily bag; no more than 6 wood ducks in possession. Teal species: blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon.
2Combined Teal & Wood Duck season; 5-day season beginning third Saturday in September.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 26 – Feb 15 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
| Eastern Goose Zone3,4 | Sep 16 – Sep 30 September Canada Goose | 5 | 15 |
| Western Goose Zone5,6 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 September Canada Goose | 5 | 15 |
15 combined dark geese: 3 Canada/Cackling geese, 2 white-fronted geese, 1 brant. If brant harvested, reduce Canada or white-fronted to stay at 5 total.
2Canada/Cackling Goose, White-fronted Goose & Brant combined season. Brant are rare in KY; included for incidental take protection.
3Canada geese only (resident birds). Eastern Zone.
4September Canada Goose season; Eastern Zone Sept. 16–30.
5Canada geese only (resident birds). Western Zone.
6September Canada Goose season; Western Zone Sept. 1–15.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Nov 26 – Feb 15 Regular Season | 20 | – |
1Snow Goose (including Ross's Goose) regular season; possession limit listed as 'None'
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 16 – Mar 31 Light Goose Conservation Order | – | – |
1No daily bag or possession limit. Electronic callers permitted. Unplugged guns allowed. Mandatory FREE permit required.
2†Mandatory FREE Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit required. Must report hunting activity by April 10.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 26 – Jan 31 | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 26 – Nov 29 Thanksgiving Segment | |||
| Dec 7 – Jan 31 Second Segment |
1Coot season same dates as duck season (both splits: Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–Jan 31). Table shows same dates row with rowspan.
2Coot season concurrent with duck season; same split dates.
3Coot season concurrent with duck season second segment.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5 | Nov 26 – Nov 29 Thanksgiving Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 26 – Jan 31 | |||
| Dec 7 – Jan 31 Second Segment |
1Only 2 may be hooded mergansers
2Merganser season concurrent with duck season; includes common, red-breasted, and hooded.
3No more than 2 hooded mergansers of the 5-bird daily limit
4Merganser season same dates as duck season (both splits). Possession = triple daily bag.
5Merganser season concurrent with duck season second segment.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Dec 7 – Jan 31 | 2 | 3 |
1Daily bag limit is 2 for permit holders with 2+ tags, or 1 for hunters with 1 tag. Permit required (quota hunt drawing in September). Must telecheck harvested birds on day taken. Post-season survey required within 14 days of season close.
2**Sandhill crane permits available only through quota hunt drawing in September. $3 application fee.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 21 – Nov 21 First Youth Day | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 14 – Feb 14 Second Youth Day |
1Scaup limit is 2 scaup daily. Youth must not have reached 16th birthday. Adults may accompany but may not harvest ducks and geese.
2Saturday before Thanksgiving. Same limits as regular season except scaup = 2.
3Scaup limit is 2 scaup daily. Adults may accompany but may harvest geese only (not ducks).
4Second Saturday in February. Same limits as regular season except scaup = 2.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 22 – Nov 22 First Veterans Day | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 8 – Feb 8 Second Veterans Day |
1Scaup limit is 2 scaup daily. Non-veterans may accompany but may not harvest ducks and geese.
2Sunday before Thanksgiving. Same limits as regular seasons per table.
3Scaup limit is 2 scaup daily. Non-veterans may accompany but may harvest geese only (not ducks).
4Second Sunday in February. Same limits as regular season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 26 – Feb 15 Falconry - Ducks, Coots & Mergansers | 3 | 9 |
| Nov 26 – Feb 15 Falconry - Geese |
1Falconry only. Pit/blind restrictions at WMAs do not apply to falconers when gun/archery seasons are not open.
2Falconry season for ducks, coots, and mergansers. *Pit and blind restrictions note applies.
3Same as regular goose season.
4Table states 'Same as regular season*' for bag/dates. Dates inferred as matching regular goose season Nov. 26–Feb. 15.
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.