Hunting Maryland this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Maryland is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from December 1 through March 10, 2027, with 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone1,2,3,4,5 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 14 – Nov 27 Second Split | |||
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split | |||
| Western Zone1,3,6,7,8 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 21 – Nov 27 Second Split | |||
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | – |
| Wood Duck | 3 | – |
| Canvasback | 2 | – |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | – |
| Redhead | 2 | – |
| Lesser Scaup 2/day from Jan 8–Jan 30 | 1 | – |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | – |
| Sea Ducks (general) No more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 eider hen max) | 4 | – |
| Black Duck Black Duck Season only | 2 | – |
14 mallards (2 hens max); 3 wood ducks; 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup/day (2/day Jan 8–Jan 30); 1 fulvous tree duck; 1 mottled duck; 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [1 eider hen max]). No harlequin ducks. Black ducks may NOT be taken (Black Duck Season not open this split).
2Eastern Zone: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Saint Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, Montgomery counties east of specified interstate boundary.
34 mallards (2 hens max); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season open this split); 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup/day (2/day Jan 8–Jan 30); 1 fulvous tree duck; 1 mottled duck; 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [1 eider hen max]). No harlequin ducks.
4Black Duck Season also open Nov. 14–Nov. 27 in Eastern Zone (2 black ducks sub-limit).
5Black Duck Season also open Dec. 15–Jan. 30 in Eastern Zone (2 black ducks sub-limit).
6Western Zone: Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick, Washington counties and parts of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, Montgomery counties west of specified interstate boundary.
7Black Duck Season also open Nov. 21–Nov. 27 in Western Zone (2 black ducks sub-limit).
8Black Duck Season also open Dec. 15–Jan. 30 in Western Zone (2 black ducks sub-limit).
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 17 – Sep 26 Special September Teal Season | 6 | 18 |
1Blue-winged and green-winged teal only. Open in select counties (Eastern Shore + parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles counties).
2Not statewide — open only in specified counties listed on the page.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Southern Maryland Resident Canada Goose Zone1,2 | Nov 21 – Nov 23 First Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 24 – Nov 27 Second Segment | |||
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Segment | |||
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Fourth Segment | |||
| Eastern Zone3,4 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 Early Resident Canada Goose Season | 8 | 24 |
| Western Zone3,5 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 Early Resident Canada Goose Season | 8 | 24 |
| Late Western Maryland Resident Canada Goose Zone1,6 | Nov 21 – Nov 27 First Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 15 – Mar 10 Second Segment | |||
| Atlantic Population Hunt Zone7,8 | Nov 24 – Nov 27 First Split | 2 | 6 |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Second Split |
1Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate.
2Zone: Montgomery County; parts of Prince George's County west of Rt. 3/301; parts of Charles County west of Rt. 301.
3Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells may be used during this September season only.
4Early Resident Canada Goose Season. Open in specified Eastern Zone counties.
5Early Resident Canada Goose Season. Open in specified Western Zone counties.
6Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington, and part of Carroll County west of Rt. 31/97.
7Bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese.
8Migratory Canada Goose (Atlantic Population) season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 28 – Jan 30 | 1 | 3 |
1Brant Statewide Season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 7 – Nov 27 First Segment | 25 | – |
| Nov 30 – Feb 6 Second Segment | |||
| Eastern Zone3,4 | Feb 8 – Mar 10 Third Segment (Eastern Zone Only) | 25 | – |
1No possession limit. Bag may include greater snow geese, lesser snow geese, and Ross's geese.
2Special Sea Duck Zone excluded from this hunt area.
3No possession limit. Special methods allowed: shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells; electronic calls with recordings of light geese. Shooting hours extended to 1/2 hour after sunset.
4Eastern Zone only for this segment. Special Sea Duck Zone excluded.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone1,2 | Dec 1 – Dec 13 LGCO Seg 1 | – | – |
| Feb 2 – Feb 6 LGCO Seg 2 | |||
| Feb 9 – Apr 15 LGCO Seg 3 | |||
| Western Zone2 | Dec 1 – Dec 13 LGCO Seg 1 | – | – |
| Feb 2 – Feb 6 LGCO Seg 2 | |||
| Feb 9 – Apr 15 LGCO Seg 3 |
1No bag limit; e-calls and unplugged shotguns
2Verified against MD DNR 2025-26 regs. Pintail updated 1→3 daily (national change). Scaup has split-season limit (1 early, 2 late Jan 9-31) — DB simplified to 1. Western Zone RP goose has complex alternating 5/1 limits — DB simplified. LGCO may be Eastern Zone only (DB has both zones). Missing youth/vet days (Nov 1, Feb 7).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone1,2 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 14 – Nov 27 Second Split | |||
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split | |||
| Western Zone3 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 21 – Nov 27 Second Split | |||
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split |
1Coots are included in the Duck Season table; coot bag limit is separate from the 6-duck limit. Dates follow Eastern Zone duck season splits.
2Coot season concurrent with Eastern Zone duck season splits.
3Coot season concurrent with Western Zone duck season splits.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 7 – Nov 7 November Youth/Veteran/Military Day | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 February Youth/Veteran/Military Day |
16 ducks (4 sea ducks, 4 mallards [2 hens max], 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 fulvous tree duck, 1 mottled duck); 1 brant; 2 Canada geese (Atlantic Population Zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident Zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese.
2Open to hunters age 16 or younger, honorably discharged military veterans of any age, and active duty military. Youth must be accompanied by unarmed adult 21+.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 7 – Nov 7 November Youth/Veteran/Military Day | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 February Youth/Veteran/Military Day |
16 ducks (4 sea ducks, 4 mallards [2 hens max], 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 fulvous tree duck, 1 mottled duck); 1 brant; 2 Canada geese (Atlantic Population Zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident Zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese.
2Open to military veterans (as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101) of any age and active duty military. Active military/veterans 21+ may be armed and also assist youth hunters.
3Open to military veterans of any age and active duty military. Active military/veterans 21+ may be armed and also assist youth hunters.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Feb 1 – Mar 10 Extended Falconry — Ducks | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 2 – Mar 10 Extended Falconry — Brant |
1No hunting on Sundays. Valid hunting license, migratory game bird stamps, and Falconry Permit required.
2Extended Falconry season for brant only.
3Extended Falconry season for ducks only.
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.