Mallard Duck Season 2026–27
Season dates, daily bags, and mallard and hen sub-limits for 2026–27 in 17 states, checked against each state's published regulations — plus where mallard hunters head.
6/day aggregate (states we checked)
4–5 mallard cap, 2 hens
Checked against 2026–27 state regs
Bag limit note: Mallards count toward the daily duck aggregate — 6/day in every state we checked for 2026–27. Every one of those states also caps mallards within that aggregate and caps hens separately: 4 mallards (2 hens) in the Mississippi Flyway states and Maryland, and 5 mallards (2 hens) in Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Confirm the cap for your state and zone with your state agency.
2026–27 Mallard Season Dates by State
The 17 states we checked against published 2026–27 regulations. Each row shows one named zone; "split" means the season has breaks between the first opening and the final close. Other zones open on different dates — always verify with your state wildlife agency.
| State | Flyway | Opens | Closes | Daily Bag | Mallards (Hens) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Mississippi | Sep 26, 2026 (North Zone) | Nov 24, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Wisconsin | Mississippi | Sep 26, 2026 (Northern Zone) | Nov 24, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Michigan | Mississippi | Sep 26, 2026 (North Zone, split) | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Iowa | Mississippi | Oct 3, 2026 (North Zone, split) | Dec 8, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Illinois | Mississippi | Oct 24, 2026 (North Zone, split) | Dec 27, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Indiana | Mississippi | Oct 24, 2026 (North Zone, split) | Dec 27, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Missouri | Mississippi | Oct 31, 2026 (North Zone) | Dec 29, 2026 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Kentucky | Mississippi | Nov 26, 2026 (split) | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Nov 28, 2026 (split) | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Arkansas | Mississippi | Nov 21, 2026 (split) | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Mississippi | Mississippi | Nov 27, 2026 (split) | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| Louisiana | Mississippi | Nov 14, 2026 (West Zone, split) | Jan 24, 2027 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
| North Dakota | Central | Sep 26, 2026 (Low Plains; residents only through Oct 4) | Dec 6, 2026 | 6 | 5 (2 hens) |
| South Dakota | Central | Sep 26, 2026 (Low Plains–North Zone) | Dec 8, 2026 | 6 | 5 (2 hens) |
| Oklahoma | Central | Nov 14, 2026 (Zones 1 & 2, split) | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 | 5 (2 hens) |
| Texas | Central | Oct 24, 2026 (High Plains Mallard Mgmt. Unit, split) | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 | 5 (2 hens) |
| Maryland | Atlantic | Oct 10, 2026 (Eastern Zone, split) | Jan 30, 2027 | 6 | 4 (2 hens) |
Daily Bag is the daily duck aggregate (in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas it includes mergansers). Mallards count toward this total. We did not check Pacific Flyway states for this table. Flyway assignments: USFWS final rule, Federal Register doc. 2026-17733.
Top Mallard Hunting States
Arkansas
The Grand Prairie and the White River bottoms are the heart of Arkansas mallard country — flooded rice and green-timber hunting that draws hunters from across the country.
Louisiana
Coastal marshes and flooded agricultural fields hold wintering mallards alongside a wide mix of other ducks.
Missouri
Sits where several migration corridors converge, with a strong network of public wetland areas managed for waterfowl.
Mississippi
The Mississippi Delta's flooded fields and bottomland hardwoods are prime mallard wintering habitat, with both public and private hunting.
Minnesota
Prairie breeding country with one of the earliest openers in the Mississippi Flyway — Sept. 26 in the North Zone for 2026.
North Dakota
Pothole and grain-field hunting for mallards early in the season, with a 5-mallard cap in 2026–27.
South Dakota
Prairie pothole habitat and early-season field hunting, with a 5-mallard cap in 2026–27.
Mallard Hunting — Frequently Asked Questions
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Season dates and limits on this page were checked 2026-10-16 against 2026–27 regulations published by each state wildlife agency: Missouri Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2026–2027 (p. 13); AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules & Regulations (2026-27); Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations (pp. 33–34); MDWFP 2026–2027 Hunting Seasons; TWRA Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Hunting; 2026 Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (pp. 48–49); TPWD Outdoor Annual, Duck 2026-2027; 2026–27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (p. 44); Illinois Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (p. 27); 2026-27 Iowa Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons & Limits; Wisconsin Hunting Regulations, Fall 2026–Spring 2027; North Dakota 2026 Small Game, Waterfowl & Furbearer Proclamation; South Dakota Hunting & Trapping Handbook 2026 (pp. 31–32); ODWC Ducks, Mergansers & Coots; KDFWR 2026–2027 Waterfowl Hunting; 2026 Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary; and Indiana DNR Waterfowl Seasons, Regulations and Rules. Always confirm with official state agency regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.