Hunting Texas this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Texas is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from October 18 through February 21, 2027, with 37 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Parks and Wildlife Department within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Annual Public Hunting Permit required on WMAs ($48)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3 | Nov 14 – Nov 29 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 5 – Jan 31 Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,2,3 | Nov 7 – Nov 29 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second Split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2,3 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 30 – Jan 31 Second Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 5 | 15 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup 1 scaup total (greater or lesser) | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck Closed first 5 days of season; includes Mexican duck, black duck, and hybrids | 1 | 3 |
15 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 scaup, 1 dusky duck (mottled/Mexican/black duck and hybrids closed first 5 days of season); includes mergansers
2Regular Season, First Split
3Regular Season, Second Split
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Sep 19 – Sep 27 September Teal-Only Season (statewide) | 6 | 18 |
1Bag limits carried over from 2025-26 — TPWD has not yet published 2026-27 limits; will be updated when the new Outdoor Annual releases (~August 2026)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Goose Zone1,2 | Sep 12 – Sep 27 Early Canada Goose (East zone) | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Jan 31 Regular season | |||
| Western Goose Zone2 | Nov 7 – Feb 7 Regular season | 5 | 15 |
1Bag limits carried over from 2025-26 — TPWD has not yet published 2026-27 limits; will be updated when the new Outdoor Annual releases (~August 2026)
2Combined dark geese (Canada + white-fronted); Bag limits carried over from 2025-26 — TPWD has not yet published 2026-27 limits; will be updated when the new Outdoor Annual releases (~August 2026)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Goose Zone1 | Nov 7 – Feb 19 | 5 | 15 |
| Western Goose Zone1 | Nov 7 – Feb 7 | 5 | 15 |
1Bag limits carried over from 2025-26 — TPWD has not yet published 2026-27 limits; will be updated when the new Outdoor Annual releases (~August 2026)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Nov 8 – Jan 25 Coot Season | 15 | 45 |
| South Zone1 | Nov 1 – Jan 25 Coot Season | 15 | 45 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 18 – Jan 25 Coot Season | 15 | 45 |
1Coots concurrent with duck season · Gallinule season separate (Sep 20-28 & Nov 1-Dec 31) · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
2Concurrent with duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 8 – Nov 30 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,2 | Nov 1 – Nov 30 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 25 Second Split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 18 – Oct 19 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 25 Second Split |
1Within 6-duck aggregate · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Same zone dates as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
2Max 2 hooded mergansers per day. Concurrent with duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Zone B1 | Nov 27 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Crane Zone A1 | Oct 31 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Crane Zone C2 | Dec 12 – Jan 17 | 2 | 6 |
1Free Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit required; Bag limits carried over from 2025-26 — TPWD has not yet published 2026-27 limits; will be updated when the new Outdoor Annual releases (~August 2026)
2Free Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit required; whooping crane closed coastal area applies; Bag limits carried over from 2025-26 — TPWD has not yet published 2026-27 limits; will be updated when the new Outdoor Annual releases (~August 2026)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 17 – Oct 18 | 6 | 18 |
116 years of age or younger; must be accompanied by adult 18+; dusky ducks are legal during youth season; regular season bag limits apply
2Youth-Only season; Federal Duck Stamp required for hunters 16+
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1,2 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 17 – Oct 18 | 6 | 18 |
1Restricted to veterans and current members of US Armed Forces on active duty, including National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training); dusky ducks are legal during this season
2Veterans and Active Duty Military season
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | 3 | 9 |
| South Zone1,2 | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | 3 | 9 |
1Falconry only; daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed 3 and 9 migratory game birds, respectively, singly or in the aggregate
2Falconry season; valid Texas falconry permit required
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3,4 | Nov 13 – Nov 30 Dusky Duck Season First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Dusky Duck Season Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,3,5,6 | Nov 6 – Nov 30 Dusky Duck Season First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 25 Dusky Duck Season Second Split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,7 | Oct 27 – Jan 25 Dusky Duck Season | 1 | 3 |
11 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican duck, black duck and their hybrids). Closed first 5 days of regular season; this date reflects the open date after the 5-day closure.
2Dusky duck sub-season listed separately. Opens Nov. 13 (5 days after regular season Nov. 8 opener).
31 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican duck, black duck and their hybrids).
4Dusky duck sub-season second split for North Zone.
5Dusky duck sub-season listed separately. Opens Nov. 6 (5 days after regular season Nov. 1 opener).
6Dusky duck sub-season second split for South Zone.
7Dusky duck sub-season listed separately on page. Opens Oct. 27 (5 days after regular season Oct. 24 opener).
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.