Read from Fish and Game Department on August 29, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Fish and Game Department before you hunt.
Open the official New Hampshire regulationsHunting New Hampshire this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
New Hampshire is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from August 15 through March 31, 2027, with 41 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Fish and Game Department 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bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice.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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2,3 | Oct 2 – Nov 30 Sea Ducks | 4 Sea ducks are part of the general duck bag. Species include: common eider, surf scoter, white-winged scoter, black scoter, long-tailed duck, bufflehead, and common goldeneye. Daily bag 4, possession 12. | 12 |
| Oct 2 – Nov 30 | 6 No more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be a hen), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, and no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 of which may be a hen). Harlequin duck season closed. | 18 | |
| Coastal Zone3 | Oct 6 – Oct 12 First Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be a hen), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, and no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 of which may be a hen). Harlequin duck season closed. | 18 |
| Nov 26 – Jan 17 Second Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be a hen), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, and no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 of which may be a hen). Harlequin duck season closed. | 18 | |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone3 | Oct 13 – Nov 11 First Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be a hen), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, and no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 of which may be a hen). Harlequin duck season closed. | 18 |
| Nov 25 – Dec 24 Second Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be a hen), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, and no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 of which may be a hen). Harlequin duck season closed. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup 1 scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Long-tailed Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Common Eider Coastal Zone · Oct 6–Oct 12 · 1 of which may be a hen | 3 | 9 |
| Common Eider Inland & Connecticut River Zone · Oct 13–Nov 11 · 1 of which may be a hen | 3 | 9 |
| Common Eider Coastal Zone · Nov 26–Jan 17 · 1 of which may be a hen | 3 | 9 |
| Common Eider Inland & Connecticut River Zone · Nov 25–Dec 24 · 1 of which may be a hen | 3 | 9 |
| Common Eider Northern Zone · Oct 2–Nov 30 · 1 of which may be a hen | 3 | 9 |
| Common Eider Northern Zone · 1 of which may be a hen · sub-limit within sea duck and general duck bag | 3 | 9 |
| Bufflehead within sea duck sub-limit | 4 | 12 |
| Common Goldeneye within sea duck sub-limit | 4 | 12 |
| Scoter (Black), Scoter (Surf) & Scoter (White-winged) combined scoter limit 3 | 3 | 9 |
1Sea ducks are part of the general duck bag. Species include: common eider, surf scoter, white-winged scoter, black scoter, long-tailed duck, bufflehead, and common goldeneye. Daily bag 4, possession 12.
2Sea ducks counted within general duck bag; separate sub-limit of 4/day applies within the 6-duck aggregate.
3No more than 4 mallards (2 of which may be a hen), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, and no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders (1 of which may be a hen). Harlequin duck season closed.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Season | 5 Firearm plug not required for September Canada Geese. | 15 |
| Northern Zone3 | Oct 2 – Nov 30 Regular Season | 2 | 6 |
| Coastal Zone4,5 | Oct 6 – Oct 12 Regular Season, First Split | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 26 – Jan 17 Regular Season, Second Split | 2 | 6 | |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone6,7 | Oct 13 – Nov 11 Regular Season, First Split | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 25 – Dec 24 Regular Season, Second Split | 2 | 6 |
1Firearm plug not required for September Canada Geese.
2Early Canada Goose season.
3Dates same as ducks (Northern Zone); Canada Geese Regular season.
4Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, first split).
5Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, second split).
6Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, first split).
7Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, second split).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone | Oct 2 – Oct 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Coastal Zone | Oct 6 – Oct 12 First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 26 – Dec 18 Second Split | 1 | 3 | |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone | Oct 13 – Nov 11 | 1 | 3 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2 | Oct 2 – Nov 30 | 25 No possession limit. | – |
| Coastal Zone1,3,4 | Oct 6 – Oct 12 First Split | 25 No possession limit. | – |
| Nov 26 – Jan 17 Second Split | 25 No possession limit. | – | |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone1,5,6 | Oct 13 – Nov 11 First Split | 25 No possession limit. | – |
| Nov 25 – Dec 24 Second Split | 25 No possession limit. | – |
1No possession limit.
2Dates same as ducks (Northern Zone). Possession limit listed as NONE.
3Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, first split). Possession limit NONE.
4Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, second split). Possession limit NONE.
5Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, first split). Possession limit NONE.
6Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, second split). Possession limit NONE.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Oct 2 – Nov 30 | 15 | 45 |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone2,3 | Oct 13 – Nov 11 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 25 – Dec 24 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Coastal Zone4,5 | Oct 6 – Oct 12 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 26 – Jan 17 Second Split | 15 | 45 |
1Dates same as ducks (Northern Zone).
2Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, first split).
3Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, second split).
4Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, first split).
5Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, second split).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2 | Oct 2 – Nov 30 | 5 Merganser bag is in addition to the 6-duck daily bag limit. | 15 |
| Coastal Zone1,3,4 | Oct 6 – Oct 12 First Split | 5 Merganser bag is in addition to the 6-duck daily bag limit. | 15 |
| Nov 26 – Jan 17 Second Split | 5 Merganser bag is in addition to the 6-duck daily bag limit. | 15 | |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone1,5,6 | Oct 13 – Nov 11 First Split | 5 Merganser bag is in addition to the 6-duck daily bag limit. | 15 |
| Nov 25 – Dec 24 Second Split | 5 Merganser bag is in addition to the 6-duck daily bag limit. | 15 |
1Merganser bag is in addition to the 6-duck daily bag limit.
2Dates same as ducks (Northern Zone); bag is in addition to duck bag per footnote B.
3Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, first split).
4Dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone, second split).
5Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, first split).
6Dates same as ducks (Inland & Ct. River Zone, second split).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 26 – Sep 27 | – Same bag and possession limits as regular season. | – |
1Same bag and possession limits as regular season.
2Statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend: September 26 & 27, 2026.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Jan 23 – Jan 24 | – Same bag and possession limits as regular season. Veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, U.S. Code) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty including National Guard and Reserves (other than for training). All hunters must possess a Federal Duck Stamp. Proof of eligibility required. CT River Zone hunters must launch from NH. | – |
1Same bag and possession limits as regular season. Veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, U.S. Code) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty including National Guard and Reserves (other than for training). All hunters must possess a Federal Duck Stamp. Proof of eligibility required. CT River Zone hunters must launch from NH.
2Statewide Veteran & Active Military Weekend: January 23 & 24, 2027.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2 | Dec 1 – Jan 12 | 3 For the take of Ducks, Mergansers and Coots. | 9 |
| Inland & Connecticut River Zone1,3,4 | Nov 12 – Nov 24 First Split | 3 For the take of Ducks, Mergansers and Coots. | 9 |
| Dec 25 – Jan 23 Second Split | 3 For the take of Ducks, Mergansers and Coots. | 9 | |
| Coastal Zone1,5 | Jan 27 – Mar 10 | 3 For the take of Ducks, Mergansers and Coots. | 9 |
1For the take of Ducks, Mergansers and Coots.
2Falconry-only extension.
3Falconry-only extension, first split.
4Falconry-only extension, second split.
5Falconry-only extension. Source says 'Jan. 27–Mar. 10, 2026' but in context of 2026-2027 season this is interpreted as 2027.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Aug 15 – Nov 30 Crow — Fall/Winter | – No bag or possession limit listed. | – |
| Sep 15 – Nov 14 Common Snipe | 8 | 24 | |
| Oct 1 – Nov 14 American Woodcock | 3 | 9 | |
| Mar 16 – Mar 31 Crow — Spring | – No bag or possession limit listed. | – |
1Statewide woodcock season.
2Statewide common snipe season.
3No bag or possession limit listed.
4Crow season; bag and possession listed as NONE.
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 August 29, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.