Read from Department of Natural Resources on September 6, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Department of Natural Resources before you hunt.
Open the official Maryland regulationsHunting 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 September 1 through March 10, 2027, with 34 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.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone1,2,3,4,5 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split | 6 4 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). Black ducks only during Black Duck Season dates. No harlequin ducks. | 18 |
| Nov 14 – Nov 27 Second Split | 6 4 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season only); 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks. | 18 | |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split | 6 4 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season only); 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks. | 18 | |
| Western Zone3,6,7,8,9 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 First Split | 6 4 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks. | 18 |
| Nov 21 – Nov 27 Second Split | 6 4 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season only); 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks. | 18 | |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split | 6 4 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season only); 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard only 2 can be hens | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck Black Duck Season only | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup 2 per day from Jan. 8–Jan. 30 | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Sea Ducks (general) No more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (only 1 eider hen) | 4 | 12 |
14 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). Black ducks only during Black Duck Season dates. No harlequin ducks.
2Eastern Zone counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, Saint Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, and Montgomery counties east of I-83/I-695/I-95/I-495.
34 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks (Black Duck Season only); 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks.
4Black Duck Season also open Nov. 14–Nov. 27 in Eastern Zone.
5Black Duck Season also open Dec. 15–Jan. 30 in Eastern Zone. Scaup increases to 2/day Jan. 8–Jan. 30.
64 mallards (only 2 hens); 3 wood ducks; 2 canvasbacks; 3 pintails; 2 redheads; 1 scaup per day (2 per 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, only 1 eider hen). No harlequin ducks.
7Western Zone counties: Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick, Washington, and portions of Baltimore, Howard, Prince George's, and Montgomery counties west of I-83/I-695/I-95/I-495.
8Black Duck Season also open Nov. 21–Nov. 27 in Western Zone.
9Black Duck Season also open Dec. 15–Jan. 30 in Western Zone. Scaup increases to 2/day Jan. 8–Jan. 30.
Hunting Maryland’s season? Get the free app.
Drop your email and we’ll send the free BlindBook app — log hunts, ID birds, track your bag limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 17 – Sep 26 Special September Teal Season | 6 May include blue-winged and green-winged teal. Open only in specific counties (Eastern Shore + parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles). | 18 |
| Eastern Zone3,4 | Sep 17 – Sep 26 Special September Teal Season | 6 Blue-winged and green-winged teal only. Open in specific Eastern Shore and adjacent counties only. | 18 |
1May include blue-winged and green-winged teal. Open only in specific counties (Eastern Shore + parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles).
2September Teal Season; limited to specific counties listed on the page.
3Blue-winged and green-winged teal only. Open in specific Eastern Shore and adjacent counties only.
4Open in Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Southern Maryland Resident Canada Goose Zone1,2 | Nov 21 – Nov 23 First Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. | 15 |
| Nov 24 – Nov 27 Second Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 2 Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. | 6 | |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 2 Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. | 6 | |
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Fourth Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. | 15 | |
| Eastern Zone3,4 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 Early Resident Canada Goose Season · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 8 Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells may be used during September seasons only. | 24 |
| Western Zone5,6 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 Early Resident Canada Goose Season | 8 Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells may be used during this September season only. | 24 |
| Late Western Maryland Resident Canada Goose Zone1,7 | Nov 21 – Nov 27 First Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. | 15 |
| Dec 15 – Mar 10 Second Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 5 Includes Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. | 15 | |
| Atlantic Population Hunt Zone8,9 | Nov 24 – Nov 27 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 2 Bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese. | 6 |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 2 Bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese. | 6 |
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 September seasons only.
4Eastern Zone counties for early resident season: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
5Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells may be used during this September season only.
6Resident Canada geese. Western Zone counties: Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington, and parts of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Charles counties.
7Zone: Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, Washington, and part of Carroll County west of Rt. 31/97.
8Bag limit may include Canada geese, cackling geese, and white-fronted geese.
9Migratory Canada Goose (Atlantic Population) season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 28 – Jan 30 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 1 | 3 |
1Brant Statewide Season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 7 – Nov 27 First Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 No possession limit. Bag may include greater snow geese, lesser snow geese, and Ross's geese. | – |
| Nov 30 – Feb 6 Second Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 No possession limit. Bag may include greater snow geese, lesser snow geese, and Ross's geese. | – | |
| Eastern Zone3,4 | Feb 8 – Mar 10 Eastern Zone Only Segment · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 25 Special methods allowed: shotguns capable of holding more than three shotshells; electronic calls with recordings of light geese. No possession limit. | – |
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.
3Special methods allowed: shotguns capable of holding more than three shotshells; electronic calls with recordings of light geese. No possession limit.
4Eastern Zone only. Sea Duck Zone excluded. MD hunting license or resident DE license required. Corrected 2026-09-15: total_days was 1 for a 31-day span; dates and the 25/day limit were already correct per MD DNR.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone1,2 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 14 – Nov 27 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 | |
| Western Zone3 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 21 – Nov 27 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 15 – Jan 30 Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
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 Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Day - November | 6 6 ducks (4 sea ducks max, 4 mallards max with only 2 hens, 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 (AP zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese. | 18 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Day - February | 6 6 ducks (4 sea ducks max, 4 mallards max with only 2 hens, 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 (AP zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese. | 18 |
16 ducks (4 sea ducks max, 4 mallards max with only 2 hens, 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 (AP zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese.
2Open to hunters age 16 or younger. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an unarmed adult 21+ with valid MD hunting license.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 7 – Nov 7 Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Day - November | 6 6 ducks (4 sea ducks max, 4 mallards max with only 2 hens, 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 (AP zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese. | 18 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 Youth, Veteran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Day - February | 6 6 ducks (4 sea ducks max, 4 mallards max with only 2 hens, 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 (AP zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese. | 18 |
16 ducks (4 sea ducks max, 4 mallards max with only 2 hens, 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 (AP zone) or 5 Canada geese (Late Southern or Western Resident zone); 15 coots; 25 light geese.
2Open to military veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, USC) of any age and active duty Armed Forces members including National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than training).
3Open to military veterans and active duty Armed Forces members.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Feb 1 – Mar 10 Extended Falconry — Ducks · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 3 No hunting on Sundays. Valid hunting license, migratory game bird stamps, and Falconry Permit required. | 9 |
| Feb 2 – Mar 10 Extended Falconry — Brant · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 3 No hunting on Sundays. Valid hunting license, migratory game bird stamps, and Falconry Permit required. | 9 |
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 September 6, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.