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 19, 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 | Nov 14 – Nov 29 First split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 5 – Jan 31 Second split | |||
| South Zone1 | Nov 7 – Nov 29 First split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 31 Second split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 First split | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 30 – Jan 31 Second split |
Species-by-species limits are being verified against Parks and Wildlife Department. Dates and daily bag limits above are confirmed.
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)
2TPWD's dedicated 2026-27 season dates page is live even though per-species Outdoor Annual pages still show 2025-26. Bag limits TBD. Light Goose Conservation Order 2027 dates not yet published — recheck after the Outdoor Annual rolls (~August).
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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 A1 | Oct 31 – Jan 31 | 3 | 9 |
| Crane Zone B1 | Nov 27 – 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 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 Youth/Veterans days | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 Youth/Veterans days | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1 | Oct 17 – Oct 18 Youth/Veterans days | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Nov 7 – Nov 8 Youth/Veterans days | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1 | Oct 31 – Nov 1 Youth/Veterans days | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1 | Oct 17 – Oct 18 Youth/Veterans days | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 Falconry Season | 3 | 9 |
| South Zone1,2 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 Falconry Season | 3 | 9 |
1Valid Texas falconry permit required. Daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed 3 and 9 migratory game birds respectively, singly or in the aggregate.
2Falconry-only extended season after regular season closes.
| 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 3, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.