When does Ohio duck season open in 2026–2027?

Ohio duck season opens October 17, 2026 for the 2026-2027 season, running through January 31, 2027. Multiple zones have different opening dates — confirm which zone covers your hunting location. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What is the daily duck bag limit in Ohio?

Ohio duck hunters may take 6 ducks per day in the 2026-2027 season. Species sub-limits also apply: Mallard (4/day), Wood Duck (3/day), Pintail (Northern) (3/day). Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

How much is a non-resident waterfowl license in Ohio?

Ohio non-resident waterfowl license cost for 2026-2027 is ~$225. All non-residents also need the federal Duck Stamp ($25) and HIP registration. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

Does Ohio have an early teal season in 2026?

Yes — Ohio has an early teal season running September 5, 2026 through September 13, 2026. The early teal season allows harvest of blue-winged and green-winged teal before the regular duck season. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What duck hunting zones does Ohio have?

Ohio uses 3 hunting zones for duck season in 2026-2027: Zone B, Zone A, Zone C. Season dates may differ by zone — confirm which zone covers your hunting location. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

When does goose season open in Ohio?

Goose season in Ohio opens September 5, 2026 for the 2026-2027 season. Both Canada geese and light geese (snow, Ross's) may be available — check official regulations for species-specific limits. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

Is there a youth waterfowl hunting day in Ohio?

Yes — Ohio offers a youth waterfowl day October 3, 2026 through October 4, 2026 for 2026-2027. Youth hunters are typically required to be accompanied by a licensed adult. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What waterfowl species can I hunt in Ohio?

Ohio duck hunters can harvest Mallard, Wood Duck, Pintail (Northern), Redhead, Canvasback. Coots are also legal game. Mergansers are available with separate limits. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

Where can I find official Ohio waterfowl regulations?

Official Ohio waterfowl regulations are published by Department of Natural Resources. Regulations are updated annually — always confirm dates and bag limits with the official source before hunting. Ohio hunters use BlindBook to track season dates, log daily harvests, and stay within bag limits across all species in real time. Learn more at blindbook.com. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What app do duck hunters use in Ohio?

Ohio duck hunters use BlindBook to log hunts, track bag limits by species, coordinate with club members, and access verified season dates — all in one place. BlindBook is free to download at blindbook.com or in the App Store and Google Play. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

When does Ohio duck season open in 2026–2027?

Ohio duck season opens October 17, 2026 for the 2026-2027 season, running through January 31, 2027. Multiple zones have different opening dates — confirm which zone covers your hunting location. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What is the daily duck bag limit in Ohio?

Ohio duck hunters may take 6 ducks per day in the 2026-2027 season. Species sub-limits also apply: Mallard (4/day), Wood Duck (3/day), Pintail (Northern) (3/day). Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

How much is a non-resident waterfowl license in Ohio?

Ohio non-resident waterfowl license cost for 2026-2027 is ~$225. All non-residents also need the federal Duck Stamp ($25) and HIP registration. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

Does Ohio have an early teal season in 2026?

Yes — Ohio has an early teal season running September 5, 2026 through September 13, 2026. The early teal season allows harvest of blue-winged and green-winged teal before the regular duck season. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What duck hunting zones does Ohio have?

Ohio uses 3 hunting zones for duck season in 2026-2027: Zone B, Zone A, Zone C. Season dates may differ by zone — confirm which zone covers your hunting location. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

When does goose season open in Ohio?

Goose season in Ohio opens September 5, 2026 for the 2026-2027 season. Both Canada geese and light geese (snow, Ross's) may be available — check official regulations for species-specific limits. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

Is there a youth waterfowl hunting day in Ohio?

Yes — Ohio offers a youth waterfowl day October 3, 2026 through October 4, 2026 for 2026-2027. Youth hunters are typically required to be accompanied by a licensed adult. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What waterfowl species can I hunt in Ohio?

Ohio duck hunters can harvest Mallard, Wood Duck, Pintail (Northern), Redhead, Canvasback. Coots are also legal game. Mergansers are available with separate limits. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

Where can I find official Ohio waterfowl regulations?

Official Ohio waterfowl regulations are published by Department of Natural Resources. Regulations are updated annually — always confirm dates and bag limits with the official source before hunting. Ohio hunters use BlindBook to track season dates, log daily harvests, and stay within bag limits across all species in real time. Learn more at blindbook.com. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

What app do duck hunters use in Ohio?

Ohio duck hunters use BlindBook to log hunts, track bag limits by species, coordinate with club members, and access verified season dates — all in one place. BlindBook is free to download at blindbook.com or in the App Store and Google Play. Source: Department of Natural Resources, verified 2026-08-04.

All States

Ohio

Mississippi Flyway ↗

Updated for 2026-2027Aug 4, 2026New

40 season recordsNon-resident: ~$225

Official source

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Waterfowl Hunting in Ohio

Ohio is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 5 through February 15, 2027, with 40 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Natural Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Required Licenses & Stamps

Ohio hunting license
Federal Migratory Bird (Duck) Stamp — $25
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration

Official Resources

Ducks

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Zone B^1,2,3	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	6	18
	Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split
Zone A^1,4,5	Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split	6	18
	Nov 14 – Dec 27 Second Split
Zone C^1,6,7	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	6	18
	Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split

Species Sub-Limits

Species	Daily Bag	Possession
Mallard no more than 2 hens	4	12
Wood Duck	3	9
Pintail (Northern)	3	9
Redhead	2	6
Canvasback	2	6
Black Duck	2	6
Mottled Duck	1	3
Lesser Scaup Zone A · 1 scaup during first 15 days of season; 2 scaup during next 45 days	1	3
Lesser Scaup Zone B, Zone C · 2 scaup during days 16-60; first 15 days limit is 1	2	6
Lesser Scaup Zone B, Zone C · 1 scaup during first 15 days; 2 during next 45	1	3
Lesser Scaup Zone A · 2 scaup during days 16-60 of season; first 15 days limit is 1	2	6

16 ducks: no more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck; 1 scaup during first 15 days, 2 scaup during next 45 days

2Zone B duck season split 1

3Zone B duck season split 2

4Zone A duck season split 1

5Zone A duck season split 2

6Zone C duck season split 1

7Zone C duck season split 2

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Early Teal

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Statewide^1,2	Sep 5 – Sep 13 Early Teal	6	18

1Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal only

2Early teal season; statewide

Dark Geese

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Statewide^1,2	Sep 5 – Sep 13 Early Canada Goose	5	15
Zone B^3,4,5	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	5	15
	Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split
Zone A^3,6,7	Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split	5	15
	Nov 14 – Feb 1 Second Split
Zone C^3,8,9	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	5	15
	Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split

1Canada Goose only; early season statewide

2Early season; statewide

35 combined Canada goose, white-fronted goose, and no more than 1 brant; 10 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose

4Zone B goose season split 1; includes Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross's, Brant

5Zone B goose season split 2

6Zone A goose season split 1; includes Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross's, Brant

7Zone A goose season split 2

8Zone C goose season split 1; includes Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross's, Brant

9Zone C goose season split 2

Brant

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Zone B^1,2,3	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	1	3
	Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split
Zone A^1,4,5	Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split	1	3
	Nov 14 – Feb 1 Second Split
Zone C^1,6,7	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	1	3
	Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split

1No more than 1 brant within the 5-bird Canada/white-fronted goose aggregate

2Brant listed alongside Zone B goose season split 1

3Brant listed alongside Zone B goose season split 2

4Brant listed alongside Zone A goose season

5Brant listed alongside Zone A goose season split 2

6Brant listed alongside Zone C goose season split 1

7Brant listed alongside Zone C goose season split 2

Light Geese

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Zone B^1,2,3	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	10	30
	Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split
Zone A^1,4,5	Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split	10	30
	Nov 14 – Feb 1 Second Split
Zone C^1,6,7	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	10	30
	Nov 21 – Feb 15 Second Split

110 combined snow goose, blue goose, Ross's goose

2Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone B goose season split 1

3Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone B goose season split 2

4Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone A goose season

5Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone A goose season split 2

6Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone C goose season split 1

7Snow/Blue/Ross's goose sub-limit within Zone C goose season split 2

Coots

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Zone A^1,2	Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split	15	45
	Nov 14 – Dec 27 Second Split
Zone B^3,4	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	15	45
	Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split
Zone C^5,6	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	15	45
	Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split

1Coot season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 1

2Coot season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 2

3Coot season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 1

4Coot season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 2

5Coot season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 1

6Coot season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 2

Mergansers

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Zone B^1,2,3	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	5	15
	Nov 21 – Jan 10 Second Split
Zone A^1,4,5	Oct 17 – Nov 1 First Split	5	15
	Nov 14 – Dec 27 Second Split
Zone C^1,6,7	Oct 17 – Oct 25 First Split	5	15
	Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split

15 mergansers, only 2 hooded mergansers

2Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 1

3Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone B duck season split 2

4Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 1

5Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone A duck season split 2

6Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 1

7Merganser season runs concurrently with Zone C duck season split 2

Youth

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Statewide^1,2	Oct 3 – Oct 4 Youth Waterfowl Season	–	–

1Hunters 17 years old or younger; bag limits same as regular season

2Statewide; ducks, geese, and coots may be taken

Veterans

Zone / Season	Dates	Daily Bag	Possession
Statewide^1,2	Oct 3 – Oct 4 Military Waterfowl Season	–	–

1Active duty military and veterans; bag limits same as regular season

2Active duty military and veterans may hunt together with youth during this special season

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Ohio Duck Season — Frequently Asked Questions

More Mississippi Flyway States

Full flyway guide →

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Waterfowl Species Guides

Mallard

Most-harvested duck in NA

1/day federal sub-limit

Wood Duck

3/day Atlantic & MS Flyway

Canvasback

1/day federal sub-limit

Sandhill Crane

Ribeye of the sky

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 4, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.

For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.

Waterfowl Hunting in Ohio

Required Licenses & Stamps

Ohio hunting license
Federal Migratory Bird (Duck) Stamp — $25
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration

Official Resources

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Zone B^1,2,3

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Jan 10

Second Split

Zone A^1,4,5

Oct 17 – Nov 1

First Split

Nov 14 – Dec 27

Second Split

Zone C^1,6,7

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Dec 12 – Jan 31

Second Split

Species

Daily Bag

Possession

Mallard

no more than 2 hens

Wood Duck

Pintail (Northern)

Redhead

Canvasback

Black Duck

Mottled Duck

Lesser Scaup

Zone A · 1 scaup during first 15 days of season; 2 scaup during next 45 days

Lesser Scaup

Zone B, Zone C · 2 scaup during days 16-60; first 15 days limit is 1

Lesser Scaup

Zone B, Zone C · 1 scaup during first 15 days; 2 during next 45

Lesser Scaup

Zone A · 2 scaup during days 16-60 of season; first 15 days limit is 1

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Statewide^1,2

Sep 5 – Sep 13

Early Teal

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Statewide^1,2

Sep 5 – Sep 13

Early Canada Goose

Zone B^3,4,5

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Feb 15

Second Split

Zone A^3,6,7

Oct 17 – Nov 1

First Split

Nov 14 – Feb 1

Second Split

Zone C^3,8,9

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Feb 15

Second Split

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Zone B^1,2,3

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Feb 15

Second Split

Zone A^1,4,5

Oct 17 – Nov 1

First Split

Nov 14 – Feb 1

Second Split

Zone C^1,6,7

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Feb 15

Second Split

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Zone B^1,2,3

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Feb 15

Second Split

Zone A^1,4,5

Oct 17 – Nov 1

First Split

Nov 14 – Feb 1

Second Split

Zone C^1,6,7

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Feb 15

Second Split

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Zone A^1,2

Oct 17 – Nov 1

First Split

Nov 14 – Dec 27

Second Split

Zone B^3,4

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Jan 10

Second Split

Zone C^5,6

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Dec 12 – Jan 31

Second Split

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Zone B^1,2,3

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Nov 21 – Jan 10

Second Split

Zone A^1,4,5

Oct 17 – Nov 1

First Split

Nov 14 – Dec 27

Second Split

Zone C^1,6,7

Oct 17 – Oct 25

First Split

Dec 12 – Jan 31

Second Split

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Statewide^1,2

Oct 3 – Oct 4

Youth Waterfowl Season

–

Zone / Season

Dates

Daily Bag

Possession

Statewide^1,2

Oct 3 – Oct 4

Military Waterfowl Season

–

Ohio Duck Season — Frequently Asked Questions