Read from Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service on August 8, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service before you hunt.
Hunting Northwest Territories this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Northwest Territories is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through December 10, 2026, with 12 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service under the Migratory Birds Convention Act.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory-wide1,2All of Northwest Territories | Sep 1 – Dec 10 | 25 25/day and no possession limit for residents of Canada; 8/day and 16 possession limit for non-residents of Canada | – |
Species-by-species limits are being verified against Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service. Dates and daily bag limits above are confirmed.
125/day and no possession limit for residents of Canada; 8/day and 16 possession limit for non-residents of Canada
2Bag and possession limits differ by residency: residents 25/day, no possession limit; non-residents 8/day, 16 possession limit
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory-wide1,2All of Northwest Territories | Sep 1 – Dec 10 | 15 Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese, and Brant, combined. 15/day, no possession limit for residents; 5/day (not more than 2 White-fronted Geese) and 10 possession limit (not more than 4 White-fronted Geese) for non-residents. | – |
1Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese, and Brant, combined. 15/day, no possession limit for residents; 5/day (not more than 2 White-fronted Geese) and 10 possession limit (not more than 4 White-fronted Geese) for non-residents.
2Combined season for Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese, and Brant. Includes Brant and White-fronted Geese in the same aggregate.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throughout the Northwest Territories except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands1,2 | Sep 1 – Dec 10 Regular Season | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is open season may be hunted. | – |
| Banks Island and the portions of Victoria Island and of the Queen Elizabeth Islands that are in the Northwest Territories1,3 | Sep 1 – Dec 10 Regular Season | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is open season may be hunted. | – |
| Territory-wide4,5,6,7All of Northwest Territories | Sep 1 – Dec 10 Fall Season – Banks Island / Victoria Island / Queen Elizabeth Islands | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted; while using those calls, any other species with an open season may also be hunted. Zone: Banks Island and portions of Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands in NT. | – |
| Sep 1 – Dec 10 Fall Season – NT except Banks Island / Victoria Island / Queen Elizabeth Islands | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted; while using those calls, any other species with an open season may also be hunted. Zone: Throughout NT except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands. | – |
1Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is open season may be hunted.
2Special measures for overabundant species; zone excludes Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands.
3Special measures for overabundant species zone: Banks Island and portions of Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands in NT.
4Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted; while using those calls, any other species with an open season may also be hunted. Zone: Banks Island and portions of Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands in NT.
5Special measures zone: Banks Island and portions of Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands.
6Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted; while using those calls, any other species with an open season may also be hunted. Zone: Throughout NT except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands.
7Special measures zone: Throughout NT except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throughout the Northwest Territories except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands1,2 | May 1 – May 28 Spring Conservation Order | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese may be used. | – |
| Banks Island and the portions of Victoria Island and of the Queen Elizabeth Islands that are in the Northwest Territories1,3 | May 1 – Jun 30 Spring Conservation Order | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese may be used. | – |
| Territory-wide4,5,6,7All of Northwest Territories | May 1 – Jun 30 Spring Conservation Order – Banks Island / Victoria Island / Queen Elizabeth Islands | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted. Zone: Banks Island and portions of Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands in NT. | – |
| May 1 – May 28 Spring Conservation Order – NT except Banks Island / Victoria Island / Queen Elizabeth Islands | 50 Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted. Zone: Throughout NT except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands. | – |
1Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese may be used.
2Spring special measure season under overabundant species provisions; zone excludes Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands.
3Spring special measure season under overabundant species provisions for Banks Island / Victoria Island / Queen Elizabeth Islands zone in NT.
4Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted. Zone: Banks Island and portions of Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands in NT.
5Spring overabundant species measure for Banks Island / Victoria Island / Queen Elizabeth Islands portion of NT.
6Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. Electronic calls of Snow/Ross's Geese permitted. Zone: Throughout NT except Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands.
7Spring overabundant species measure for mainland NT (excluding island zones).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory-wide1All of Northwest Territories | Sep 1 – Dec 10 | 25 | – |
1No possession limit stated.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory-wide1,2All of Northwest Territories | Sep 1 – Dec 10 | 10 No possession limit for residents of Canada; 20 for non-residents of Canada | – |
1No possession limit for residents of Canada; 20 for non-residents of Canada
2Wilson's Snipe / Common Snipe season. Possession limit differs by residency.
Season dates and bag limits are verified against the Migratory Birds Regulations published by Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on August 8, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.