Hunting North Carolina this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
North Carolina 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 31, 2027, with 56 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Wildlife Resources Commission within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Zone1,2,3,4,5 | Oct 15 – Oct 17 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 28 Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 30 Third Split | |||
| Coastal Zone1,3,4,5,6 | Oct 23 – Oct 24 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 28 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 30 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hen mallards | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck Coastal Zone, Inland Zone · Season closed until Nov. 21 | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck Coastal Zone, Inland Zone | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck Coastal Zone, Inland Zone · Season closed until Nov. 21 | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck Coastal Zone, Inland Zone | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Coastal Zone, Inland Zone · Limit increases to 2 on Jan. 8 and after | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Coastal Zone, Inland Zone · Limit increases to 2 on Jan. 8, 2027 and after | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Coastal Zone, Inland Zone · Limit increases to 2 on Jan. 8 and after | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Coastal Zone, Inland Zone · Limit increases to 2 on Jan. 8, 2027 and after | 1 | 3 |
| Harlequin Duck Season closed | 0 | 0 |
14 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders [only 1 hen eider], or 3 long-tailed ducks); 4 mallards (only 2 hen mallards); 3 wood ducks; 3 pintails; 2 black ducks; 2 redheads; 2 canvasbacks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling duck. Scaup: 1 prior to Jan. 8, 2 on Jan. 8 and after. Harlequin duck season closed. Black and mottled duck season closed until Nov. 21.
2Three-split season; this is the first split Oct. 15–17.
3Black and mottled duck season opens Nov. 21 within this split.
44 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders [only 1 hen eider], or 3 long-tailed ducks); 4 mallards (only 2 hen mallards); 3 wood ducks; 3 pintails; 2 black ducks; 2 redheads; 2 canvasbacks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling duck. Scaup: 1 prior to Jan. 8, 2 on Jan. 8 and after. Harlequin duck season closed.
5Scaup limit increases to 2 on Jan. 8, 2027.
6Three-split season; this is the first split Oct. 23–24.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Zone1,2,3,4 | Sep 10 – Sep 19 September Teal Season | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 11 – Sep 20 September Teal Season |
1Open only in area east of U.S. Highway 17. Includes green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, and cinnamon teal.
2September Teal Season is restricted to east of US-17, which corresponds to the Coastal Zone.
3Open only in area east of U.S. Highway 17. Includes green-winged teal, blue-winged teal and cinnamon teal.
4Restricted to area east of U.S. Hwy 17 only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September Canada Goose Season | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 15 – Oct 24 Resident Population Zone — First Split | |||
| Oct 16 – Oct 25 Resident Population Zone - First Split | |||
| Oct 16 – Oct 25 Resident Population Zone – First Split | |||
| Nov 7 – Dec 5 Resident Population Zone — Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Feb 6 Resident Population Zone — Third Split | |||
| Dec 29 – Jan 31 Northeast Hunt Zone | |||
| Northeast Hunt Zone13,14 | Dec 28 – Jan 30 | 2 | 6 |
| Resident Population Zone15,16,17,18 | Oct 15 – Oct 24 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Dec 5 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Feb 6 Third Split | |||
| Inland Zone11,12,19,20 | Oct 15 – Oct 24 Resident Population Zone – First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Dec 5 Resident Population Zone – Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Feb 6 Resident Population Zone – Third Split | |||
| Coastal Zone3,21,22,23 | Dec 28 – Jan 30 Northeast Hunt Zone | 2 | 6 |
| Dec 29 – Jan 31 Northeast Hunt Zone |
1Canada Goose Zones do not apply during September. West of U.S. Hwy 17: expanded methods allowed — shooting hours extended to 1/2 hour after sunset, unplugged guns, electronic calls permitted.
2Statewide September season; zone restrictions suspended for September.
3Daily limit 1 Canada goose or 1 white-fronted goose.
4Northeast Hunt Zone only.
5Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate. Refer to Goose Zone Map.
6Resident Population Zone only. Three splits: Oct. 15–24, Nov. 7–Dec. 5, Dec. 17–Feb. 6.
7Canada geese or white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. See Goose Zone Map for Resident Population Zone boundaries.
8Resident Population Zone.
9Canada geese or white-fronted geese, singly or in the aggregate. See Goose Zone Map.
10Resident Population Zone. Season: Oct. 16–25, Nov. 8–Dec. 6 & Dec. 18–Feb. 7.
11Resident Population Zone second split.
12Resident Population Zone third split.
132 Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate.
14New for 2026-2027: daily limit increased from 1 to 2; includes white-fronted geese in aggregate.
155 Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate.
16Three-split season; first split Oct. 15–Oct. 24.
17Resident Population Zone second split Nov. 7–Dec. 5.
18Resident Population Zone third split Dec. 17–Feb. 6.
19Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate.
20Resident Population Zone season is split 3 ways. Zone labeled 'Resident Population Zone' mapped to Inland Zone per context.
21Daily limit 2 Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate.
22Northeast Hunt Zone mapped to Coastal Zone. New regulation for 2026-2027 (change from 1 to 2 daily limit).
23Northeast Hunt Zone mapped to Coastal Zone per convention; page does not specify zone in the known Inland/Coastal schema.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Dec 28 – Jan 30 | 1 | 3 |
| Coastal Zone1 | Dec 28 – Jan 30 | 1 | 3 |
1Brant season listed separately in table.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 24 – Feb 7 Regular Season | 25 | – |
| Nov 7 – Mar 10 Regular Season |
1Includes snow geese and Ross's geese.
2No possession limit stated.
3No possession limit. After Feb. 6 (closure of all other waterfowl seasons): unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed.
4Includes snow geese and Ross's geese. Expanded methods (unplugged shotguns, electronic calls) allowed after Feb. 6.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 9 – Mar 31 Conservation Order Season | – | – |
1No daily limit; no possession limit. Expanded methods: unplugged guns, electronic calls. Shooting hours extended until 1/2 hour past sunset. By permit only.
2Light Geese Conservation Order. Permit required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Zone1 | Oct 23 – Oct 24 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 28 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 30 Third Split | |||
| Inland Zone2 | Oct 15 – Oct 17 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 28 Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 30 Third Split |
1Season dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone).
2Season dates same as ducks (Inland Zone).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Zone1,2,3,4 | Oct 15 – Oct 17 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 28 Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 30 Third Split | |||
| Coastal Zone1,5,6,7 | Oct 23 – Oct 24 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 28 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 30 Third Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers
2Season dates same as ducks — Inland Zone split 1.
3Season dates same as ducks — Inland Zone split 2.
4Season dates same as ducks — Inland Zone split 3.
5Season dates same as ducks — Coastal Zone split 1.
6Season dates same as ducks — Coastal Zone split 2.
7Season dates same as ducks — Coastal Zone split 3.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 7 – Jan 30 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 |
1By permit only. 1 per season. Permits issued by random drawing.
2Permit required; limited permits issued. Refer to ncwildlife.gov for application info.
3By permit only. 1 per season.
4Limited permits issued by random drawing through NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Dec 5 – Dec 5 December Youth/Veterans Day | – | – |
| Dec 6 – Feb 7 Youth Waterfowl Day(s) | |||
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 February Youth/Veterans Day |
1Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season. Youth under age 16. Legal species: ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers, coots. Tundra swan requires valid permit.
2Two designated days: Dec. 6 & Feb. 7 (statewide). Dec. 6 highlighted in red as a regulation change.
3Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season. Legal species: ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers, coots. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by adult 18+.
4Youth under 16 rules apply; accompanying adults may not duck hunt. Shared date with Veterans/Military day.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Dec 5 – Dec 5 December Veterans/Military Day | – | – |
| Dec 6 – Feb 7 Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day(s) | |||
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 February Veterans/Military Day |
1Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season. Open to veterans and active-duty Armed Forces (including National Guard/Reserves on active duty other than training). Must have valid credentials, HIP certification, Federal Duck Stamp. Tundra swan requires valid permit.
2Two designated days: Dec. 6 & Feb. 7 (statewide). Dec. 6 highlighted in red as a regulation change.
3Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season. Legal species: ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers, coots. Must be properly licensed with valid credentials, HIP certification and Federal Duck Stamp. Must have valid permit for tundra swans.
4Veterans and active duty military including National Guard/Reserves on active duty (other than training).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 1 – Oct 10 Ducks, Mergansers and Coots Extended Falconry — First Segment | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 1 – Feb 6 Ducks, Mergansers and Coots Extended Falconry — Second Segment |
1Daily bag and possession limits are for all species singly or in the aggregate.
2Falconry only. Not allowed on Sundays.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Dec 29 – Jan 31 Brant Season | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 29 – Jan 31 | |||
| Coastal Zone4,5 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 Sea Duck Season - First Split | 4 | 12 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Sea Duck Season - Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 31 Sea Duck Season - Third Split |
1Brant listed as a separate species with daily limit 1.
2Brant: daily limit 1.
3Brant season Dec. 29 – Jan. 31.
4No more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (only 1 hen eider), or 3 long-tailed ducks. All sea ducks count toward general daily limit of 6 ducks.
5Sea Duck Area includes Atlantic Ocean waters and coastal waters south of U.S. 64 separated by ≥800 yards of open water from any shore, island or marsh.
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 28, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.