Read from Department of Environmental Protection on September 6, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Department of Environmental Protection before you hunt.
Open the official New Jersey regulationsHunting New Jersey this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
New Jersey is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from October 11 through March 8, 2027, with 30 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Environmental Protection 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bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice.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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split | 6 6 ducks in aggregate; Black duck-2, Blue-winged teal-6, Bufflehead-6, Canvasback-2, Gadwall-6, Goldeneye-6, Green-winged teal-6, Mallard-4 (no more than 2 hens), Pintail-3, Redhead-2, Ring-necked duck-6, Ruddy duck-6, Sea ducks-4 (not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [no more than 1 hen eider]), Shoveler-6, Wigeon-6, Wood duck-3, Whistling duck-1 | 18 |
| Nov 14 – Jan 14 Second Split | 6 6 ducks in aggregate; Black duck-2, Blue-winged teal-6, Bufflehead-6, Canvasback-2, Gadwall-6, Goldeneye-6, Green-winged teal-6, Mallard-4 (no more than 2 hens), Pintail-3, Redhead-2, Ring-necked duck-6, Ruddy duck-6, Sea ducks-4 (not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [no more than 1 hen eider]), Shoveler-6, Wigeon-6, Wood duck-3, Whistling duck-1 | 18 | |
| South Zone1,3 | Oct 17 – Oct 24 First Split | 6 6 ducks in aggregate; Black duck-2, Blue-winged teal-6, Bufflehead-6, Canvasback-2, Gadwall-6, Goldeneye-6, Green-winged teal-6, Mallard-4 (no more than 2 hens), Pintail-3, Redhead-2, Ring-necked duck-6, Ruddy duck-6, Sea ducks-4 (not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [no more than 1 hen eider]), Shoveler-6, Wigeon-6, Wood duck-3, Whistling duck-1 | 18 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 21 Second Split | 6 6 ducks in aggregate; Black duck-2, Blue-winged teal-6, Bufflehead-6, Canvasback-2, Gadwall-6, Goldeneye-6, Green-winged teal-6, Mallard-4 (no more than 2 hens), Pintail-3, Redhead-2, Ring-necked duck-6, Ruddy duck-6, Sea ducks-4 (not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [no more than 1 hen eider]), Shoveler-6, Wigeon-6, Wood duck-3, Whistling duck-1 | 18 | |
| Coastal Zone1,3 | Nov 21 – Jan 29 | 6 6 ducks in aggregate; Black duck-2, Blue-winged teal-6, Bufflehead-6, Canvasback-2, Gadwall-6, Goldeneye-6, Green-winged teal-6, Mallard-4 (no more than 2 hens), Pintail-3, Redhead-2, Ring-necked duck-6, Ruddy duck-6, Sea ducks-4 (not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [no more than 1 hen eider]), Shoveler-6, Wigeon-6, Wood duck-3, Whistling duck-1 | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Blue-winged Teal | 6 | 18 |
| Bufflehead | 6 | 18 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Gadwall | 6 | 18 |
| Common Goldeneye | 6 | 18 |
| Green-winged Teal | 6 | 18 |
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Ring-necked Duck | 6 | 18 |
| Ruddy Duck | 6 | 18 |
| Northern Shoveler | 6 | 18 |
| American Wigeon | 6 | 18 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Sea Ducks (general) no more than 1 hen eider · not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders | 4 | 12 |
16 ducks in aggregate; Black duck-2, Blue-winged teal-6, Bufflehead-6, Canvasback-2, Gadwall-6, Goldeneye-6, Green-winged teal-6, Mallard-4 (no more than 2 hens), Pintail-3, Redhead-2, Ring-necked duck-6, Ruddy duck-6, Sea ducks-4 (not more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks, or 3 eiders [no more than 1 hen eider]), Shoveler-6, Wigeon-6, Wood duck-3, Whistling duck-1
2Migratory game bird hunting not permitted on Sunday in NJ (state restriction).
3Migratory game bird hunting not permitted on Sunday in NJ.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September Season | 15 | 45 |
| North Zone2,3 | Nov 21 – Nov 30 First Split | 3 Canada Geese singly or in aggregate to include Cackling and White-fronted Goose. | 9 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 30 Second Split | 3 Canada Geese singly or in aggregate to include Cackling and White-fronted Goose. | 9 | |
| South Zone2,3 | Nov 21 – Nov 30 First Split | 3 Canada Geese singly or in aggregate to include Cackling and White-fronted Goose. | 9 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 30 Second Split | 3 Canada Geese singly or in aggregate to include Cackling and White-fronted Goose. | 9 | |
| Coastal Zone2,4 | Nov 21 – Jan 29 | 2 Canada Geese singly or in aggregate to include Cackling and White-fronted Goose. | 6 |
1Electronic calls and shotguns up to 7 shells permitted. Great Swamp NWR now open for this season.
2Canada Geese singly or in aggregate to include Cackling and White-fronted Goose.
3Bag limit increased to 3 birds (new for 2026-27).
4Coastal Zone bag limit is 2 (lower than North/South zones).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Nov 21 – Nov 28 First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 7 Second Split | 1 | 3 | |
| South Zone1 | Nov 21 – Nov 28 First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 7 Second Split | 1 | 3 | |
| Coastal Zone2,3 | Nov 26 – Nov 28 First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 24 – Jan 23 Second Split | 1 | 3 |
1Brant bag limit remains at 1 bird.
2Coastal Zone brant dates differ from North/South Zones.
3Coastal Zone brant second split.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 7 – Mar 8 Regular Season | 25 Light geese include greater and lesser snow geese and Ross's geese, in aggregate. | – |
1Light geese include greater and lesser snow geese and Ross's geese, in aggregate.
2Possession limit: no possession limit for light geese. Season starts 3 weeks later than typical.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 14 – Jan 14 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| South Zone3,4 | Oct 17 – Oct 24 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 21 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Coastal Zone5 | Nov 21 – Jan 29 | 15 | 45 |
1Concurrent with duck season North Zone split 1.
2Concurrent with duck season North Zone split 2.
3Concurrent with duck season South Zone split 1.
4Concurrent with duck season South Zone split 2.
5Concurrent with duck season Coastal Zone.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 First Split | 5 Common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers in aggregate. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits. | 15 |
| Nov 14 – Jan 14 Second Split | 5 Common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers in aggregate. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits. | 15 | |
| South Zone1,4,5 | Oct 17 – Oct 24 First Split | 5 Common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers in aggregate. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits. | 15 |
| Nov 21 – Jan 21 Second Split | 5 Common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers in aggregate. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits. | 15 | |
| Coastal Zone1,6 | Nov 21 – Jan 29 | 5 Common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers in aggregate. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits. | 15 |
1Common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers in aggregate. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits.
2Concurrent with duck season North Zone split 1. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits.
3Concurrent with duck season North Zone split 2. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits.
4Concurrent with duck season South Zone split 1. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits.
5Concurrent with duck season South Zone split 2. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits.
6Concurrent with duck season Coastal Zone. Merganser limits are in addition to duck limits.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Oct 11 – Oct 11 Youth Day | 6 | – |
| South Zone1 | Oct 11 – Oct 11 Youth Day | 6 | – |
Not yet confirmed against the official source. We have not matched every value here to Department of Environmental Protection. Check the official regulations before you hunt.
1Verified: Oct 11 matches eReg for North/South zones. GAPS: Coastal Zone youth day Nov 15 missing. Veterans/Military days missing (Nov 8, Jan 31).
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.