Hunting Missouri this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Missouri is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 12 through April 30, 2027, with 49 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Conservation within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit (free) required
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Dec 29 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
| Middle Zone3,4,5,6 | Nov 7 – Dec 13 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 10 Second Split | |||
| South Zone7,8,9,10 | Nov 26 – Nov 29 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 7 – Jan 31 Second Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Hooded Merganser | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup North Zone · Combined with lesser scaup; 2/day Oct 31–Dec 14, then 1/day Dec 15–29 | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Middle Zone, South Zone · Combined with lesser scaup | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup Middle Zone · Combined with lesser scaup; 2/day Dec 19–26, then 1/day Dec 27–Jan 10 | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup South Zone · Combined with lesser scaup; 2/day Dec 7–Jan 16, then 1/day Jan 17–31 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup North Zone · Combined with greater scaup; 2/day Oct 31–Dec 14, then 1/day Dec 15–29 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Middle Zone, South Zone · Combined with greater scaup | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Middle Zone · Combined with greater scaup; 2/day Dec 19–26, then 1/day Dec 27–Jan 10 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup South Zone · Combined with greater scaup; 2/day Dec 7–Jan 16, then 1/day Jan 17–31 | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
14 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 redheads, 2 scaup Oct 31–Dec 14 / 1 scaup Dec 15–29, 1 mottled duck
2North Zone is continuous 60-day season (liberal framework). Scaup: 2/day Oct 31–Dec 14; 1/day Dec 15–29.
34 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 redheads, 2 scaup Nov 7–Dec 13, 1 mottled duck
4Middle Zone split season; scaup 2/day during this segment.
54 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 redheads, 2 scaup Dec 19–26 / 1 scaup Dec 27–Jan 10, 1 mottled duck
6Middle Zone second split; scaup 2/day Dec 19–26, 1/day Dec 27–Jan 10 per Scaup Daily Limits table.
74 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 redheads, 2 scaup Nov 26–29, 1 mottled duck
8South Zone opens Thanksgiving Day for 4 days; scaup 2/day during this segment.
94 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 redheads, 2 scaup Dec 7–Jan 16 / 1 scaup Jan 17–31, 1 mottled duck
10South Zone second split; scaup 2/day Dec 7–Jan 16, 1/day Jan 17–31 per Scaup Daily Limits table.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 12 – Sep 20 | 6 | 18 |
| North Zone3,4 | Sep 12 – Sep 20 Early Teal | 6 | 18 |
| Middle Zone3,4 | Sep 12 – Sep 20 Early Teal | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone3,4 | Sep 12 – Sep 20 Early Teal | 6 | 18 |
1Blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal count toward limits; 6 teal combined total of all three species
2Nine-day season due to 2025 blue-winged teal population estimate of 4.4 million being below 4.7 million threshold
3Only blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal legal — northern shoveler, pintail, and wood duck are NOT legal during early teal. Nontoxic shot + plugged shotgun required. No electronic calls. All standard permits required.
4PROJECTED — copied from 2025-2026. Not yet verified against official 2026-2027 regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 3 – Oct 11 Early Season (Canada Geese and Brant only) | 3 | 9 |
| Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | |||
| North Zone5,6 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 Early Canada Goose | 3 | 9 |
| Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | |||
| Middle Zone5,6 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 Early Canada Goose | 3 | 9 |
| Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | |||
| South Zone5,6 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 Early Canada Goose | 3 | 9 |
| Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season |
13 Canada geese and brant combined total of both species
2Canada geese and brant only during early season; timed for molt-migrant Canada geese
33 Canada geese and brant combined total; 2 white-fronted geese daily (possession 6); 20 light geese daily (no possession limit)
4All legal goose species; light geese (snow, blue, Ross's) included at 20/day with no possession limit; white-fronted geese 2/day with 6 possession
5Canada goose and brant combined 3-bird daily limit. Nontoxic shot + plugged shotgun required. No electronic calls. Motor must be off and boat at rest before shooting. All standard permits required.
6PROJECTED — copied from 2025-2026. Not yet verified against official 2026-2027 regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 White-fronted Geese | 2 | 6 |
| Middle Zone1 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 White-fronted Geese | 2 | 6 |
| South Zone1 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 White-fronted Geese | 2 | 6 |
1Counted separately from Canada/Brant. Nontoxic shot required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | 20 | – |
| North Zone3,4 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | 20 | – |
| Middle Zone3,4 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | 20 | – |
| South Zone3,4 | Nov 11 – Feb 6 Regular Season | 20 | – |
1Snow, blue, and Ross's geese; no possession limit
2Light geese during regular goose season; no possession limit
3Regular season concurrent with duck season. Nontoxic shot + plugged shotgun required. No electronic calls during regular season. All standard permits required.
4PROJECTED — copied from 2025-2026. Not yet verified against official 2026-2027 regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 7 – Apr 30 | – | – |
| North Zone3,4 | Feb 7 – Apr 30 Light Goose Conservation Order | 20 | – |
| Middle Zone3,4 | Feb 7 – Apr 30 Light Goose Conservation Order | 20 | – |
| South Zone3,4 | Feb 7 – Apr 30 Light Goose Conservation Order | 20 | – |
1Snow, blue, and Ross's geese only; no daily bag or possession limit; electronic calls allowed; shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells allowed
2Conservation Order Permit required (separate from regular hunting permits).
3No bag or possession limit. Electronic calls ALLOWED. Unplugged shotguns ALLOWED (10-gauge or smaller). Nontoxic shot still required. Only Conservation Order Permit needed — regular Small Game and Migratory Bird permits NOT required during this order. Standard baiting rules still apply.
4PROJECTED — copied from 2025-2026. Not yet verified against official 2026-2027 regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Oct 31 – Dec 29 Regular Season | 15 | 45 |
| Middle Zone2,3 | Nov 7 – Dec 13 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 10 Second Split | |||
| South Zone4,5 | Nov 26 – Nov 29 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 7 – Jan 31 Second Split |
1Coots season concurrent with duck season in North Zone.
2Concurrent with Middle Zone duck season first split.
3Concurrent with Middle Zone duck season second split.
4Concurrent with South Zone duck season first split.
5Concurrent with South Zone duck season second split.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Dec 29 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
| Middle Zone1,2 | Nov 7 – Dec 13 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 10 Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,2 | Nov 26 – Nov 29 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 7 – Jan 31 Second Split |
1Same regulations as ducks — nontoxic shot, plugged shotgun, no electronic calls. Hooded mergansers have 1-bird daily sublimit within 6-duck bag. All standard permits required.
2PROJECTED — copied from 2025-2026. Not yet verified against official 2026-2027 regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 | 6 | 18 |
| Middle Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1,2 | Nov 21 – Nov 22 | 6 | 18 |
14 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 mottled duck; 15 coots daily; 20 light geese daily; 3 Canada geese and brant combined; 2 white-fronted geese; adults may not hunt ducks
2Youth age 15 or younger only; adult 18+ must accompany; no permit required for youth
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Sep 12 – Sep 20 Teal Falconry | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 11 – Mar 10 Late Statewide Falconry Extension | |||
| North Zone4,5,6,7 | Oct 24 – Dec 29 Duck/Coot Falconry - North Zone | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 11 – Mar 10 | |||
| Middle Zone4,8,9,10 | Oct 31 – Jan 10 Duck/Coot Falconry - Middle Zone | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 11 – Mar 10 | |||
| South Zone4,11,12,13 | Nov 21 – Jan 31 Duck/Coot Falconry - South Zone | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 11 – Mar 10 |
13 birds combined total of doves, ducks, and coots
2Falconry ducks and coots statewide concurrent with teal season.
3Late statewide falconry extension for ducks and coots after regular seasons close.
43 birds daily combined total of doves, ducks, and coots; 9 birds possession combined total
5Falconry extended season for ducks/coots; falconry dates also include Oct 24–25 and Oct 31–Dec 29 concurrent with regular season
63 birds combined total of doves, ducks, and coots; includes youth days Oct 24–25 and regular season Oct 31–Dec 29
7Falconry dates in North Zone: Oct 24–25 (youth days) and Oct 31–Dec 29 (regular season).
8Falconry extended season for ducks/coots; falconry dates also include Oct 31–Nov 1, Nov 7–Dec 13, and Dec 19–Jan 10 concurrent with regular season
93 birds combined total; includes Oct 31–Nov 1 (youth days), Nov 7–Dec 13 (first split), Dec 19–Jan 10 (second split)
10Falconry dates in Middle Zone: Oct. 31–Nov. 1, Nov. 7–Dec. 13, and Dec. 19, 2026–Jan. 10, 2027.
11Falconry extended season for ducks/coots; falconry dates also include Nov 21–22, Nov 26–29, and Dec 7–Jan 31 concurrent with regular season
123 birds combined total; includes Nov 21–22 (youth days), Nov 26–29 (first split), Dec 7–Jan 31 (second split)
13Falconry dates in South Zone: Nov. 21–22, 2026; Nov. 26–29, 2026; and Dec. 7, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027.
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.