Hunting Utah this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Utah is part of the Pacific Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 6 through March 10, 2027, with 45 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Division of Wildlife Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2 | Oct 3 – Jan 16 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern Zone1,3 | Oct 10 – Jan 23 | 7 | 21 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 7 | 21 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Northern Zone · season closes Dec. 27, 2026 | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Southern Zone · season opens Oct. 30, 2026 | 2 | 6 |
12 canvasbacks, 2 hen mallards, 3 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 wood ducks, 2 scaup max per day
2Scaup season closes Dec. 27, 2026 in Northern Zone.
3Scaup season Oct. 30, 2026–Jan. 23, 2027 in Southern Zone.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Sep 6 – Sep 26 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
| Southern Zone1 | Sep 6 – Sep 26 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
1Source: UT DWR/Federal Register.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 Wasatch Front First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Northern Zone2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 3 – Jan 16 First Split – Eastern Box Elder goose area | |||
| Oct 3 – Oct 10 First Split – Wasatch Front goose area | |||
| Oct 26 – Jan 31 Second Split | |||
| Nov 10 – Feb 15 Second Split – Wasatch Front goose area | |||
| Northern goose area10 | Oct 26 – Jan 31 Second Split | 5 | 15 |
| Southern goose area10,11 | Oct 10 – Jan 23 | 5 | 15 |
| Southern Zone3,12 | Oct 10 – Jan 23 | 5 | 15 |
| Eastern Box Elder goose area10,13 | Oct 3 – Jan 16 | 5 | 15 |
| Wasatch Front goose area10,14 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 10 – Feb 15 Second Split |
1Dark geese (cackling, Canada, brant): 5/day, 15 possession. White-fronted geese: 6/day, 18 possession. Wasatch Front goose area only.
2Wasatch Front goose area. Youth hunt Sept. 19, 2026.
3Dark geese (cackling, Canada and brant) bag limit 5/day; White-fronted geese bag limit 6/day (possession 18)
4Northern goose area. Youth hunt Sept. 19, 2026.
5Dark geese (cackling, Canada and brant) bag limit 5/day; White-fronted geese bag limit 6/day (possession 18). Eastern Box Elder goose area only.
6Eastern Box Elder goose area; no split. Youth hunt Sept. 19, 2026.
7Dark geese (cackling, Canada and brant) bag limit 5/day; White-fronted geese bag limit 6/day (possession 18). Wasatch Front goose area only.
8Wasatch Front goose area second split.
9Northern goose area.
10Dark geese (cackling, Canada, brant): 5/day, 15 possession. White-fronted geese: 6/day, 18 possession.
11Youth hunt: Sept. 26, 2026.
12Southern goose area. Youth hunt Sept. 26, 2026.
13Youth hunt: Sept. 19, 2026. Dark geese includes cackling, Canada and brant.
14Youth hunt: Sept. 19, 2026.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2,3,4 | Oct 15 – Dec 22 First Split – Eastern Box Elder, Northern and Wasatch Front goose areas | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Second Split – Eastern Box Elder, Northern and Wasatch Front goose areas | |||
| Northern goose area5,6,7,8 | Oct 15 – Dec 22 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Second Split | |||
| Southern goose area9,10,11,12 | Oct 26 – Dec 15 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Jan 15 – Mar 10 Second Split | |||
| Southern Zone13,14,15,16 | Oct 26 – Dec 15 First Split – Southern goose area | 20 | 60 |
| Jan 15 – Mar 10 Second Split – Southern goose area | |||
| Eastern Box Elder goose area6,7,17,18 | Oct 15 – Dec 22 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Second Split | |||
| Wasatch Front goose area5,6,19,20 | Oct 15 – Dec 22 First Split | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 1 – Mar 10 Second Split |
1Snow, blue and Ross's geese. Unplugged shotguns allowed in Feb.–March portion.
2Eastern Box Elder, Northern and Wasatch Front goose areas. Various WMAs closed to light goose hunting after last day of dark goose season in their area.
3Snow, blue and Ross's geese. Electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027 (Eastern Box Elder and Northern areas) or Feb. 16, 2027 (Wasatch Front area). Unplugged shotguns permitted.
4Eastern Box Elder, Northern and Wasatch Front goose areas. Millard County closed Feb. 15–28, 2027.
5Light geese: snow, blue and Ross's.
6Several WMAs closed to light goose hunting starting last day of dark goose season.
7Light geese: snow, blue and Ross's. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027.
8Electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027.
9Light geese: snow, blue and Ross's. Several WMAs and NWRs closed starting last day of dark goose season.
10Millard County closed to light goose hunting Feb. 15–28, 2027.
11Light geese: snow, blue and Ross's. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027. Millard County closed Feb. 15–28, 2027.
12Electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027 for Southern goose area.
13Snow, blue and Ross's geese.
14Southern goose area. Various WMAs closed to light goose after last day of dark goose season.
15Snow, blue and Ross's geese. Electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027. Unplugged shotguns permitted.
16Southern goose area second split.
17Light geese: snow, blue and Ross's. Unplugged shotguns allowed during Feb.–March season segment.
18Electronic calls allowed after Feb. 1, 2027 for Eastern Box Elder goose area.
19Light geese: snow, blue and Ross's. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed after Feb. 16, 2027.
20Electronic calls allowed after Feb. 16, 2027 for Wasatch Front goose area.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone | Oct 3 – Jan 16 | 25 | 75 |
| Southern Zone | Oct 10 – Jan 23 | 25 | 75 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2 | Oct 3 – Jan 16 | 7 | 21 |
| Southern Zone1,2 | Oct 10 – Jan 23 | 7 | 21 |
1Combined with ducks in 7-bird aggregate bag
2Mergansers share season dates and 7-bird bag with ducks per page 64.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Box Elder County Crane Hunt1,2 | Sep 5 – Nov 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Rich County Crane Hunt3,4 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Cache County Crane Hunt4,5 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Uintah Basin Crane Zone6,7,8,9 | Sep 26 – Oct 15 Early Hunt | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 16 – Nov 4 Middle Hunt | |||
| Nov 5 – Nov 24 Late Hunt |
1Permit required (one-bird permit, either sex). Nontoxic shot required. Harold Crane, Public Shooting Grounds and Salt Creek WMAs closed except during open waterfowl seasons.
2East Box Elder County. Application June 30–July 14, 2026.
3Permit required (SC1002). One bird of either sex per season. Nontoxic shot only.
4Harold Crane, Public Shooting Grounds and Salt Creek WMAs closed except during waterfowl season. Bear River MBR closed.
5Permit required (SC1001). One bird of either sex per season. Nontoxic shot only.
6Permit required (SC1006). One bird of either sex per season. Nontoxic shot only.
7Uintah Basin Zone includes Uintah and Duchesne counties and Ouray NWR.
8Permit required (SC1007). One bird of either sex per season. Nontoxic shot only.
9Permit required (SC1008). One bird of either sex per season. Nontoxic shot only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Hunt Area1,2 | Oct 3 – Dec 13 | 1 | 1 |
1Permit required (TS1000). Must complete annual swan orientation course before applying. Hunt closes immediately if 20 trumpeter swans taken. Mandatory harvest reporting required by Jan. 12, 2027.
2Youth hunt: Sept. 19, 2026 (Northern Zone only). Taking trumpeter swans illegal. Swan must be checked in within 72 hours of harvest.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1,2 | Sep 19 – Sep 19 | 7 | – |
| Southern Zone1,3 | Sep 26 – Sep 26 | 7 | – |
| Swan Hunt Area4,5 | Sep 19 – Sep 19 Youth Tundra Swan Hunt | 1 | 1 |
1Ducks & mergansers: 7 birds (2 canvasbacks, 2 hen mallards, 3 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 wood ducks, 2 scaup max); Coots: 25; Dark geese: 5; White-fronted geese: 6. Light geese, snipe, sandhill crane, crows, pigeons and doves closed.
2Youth hunters 17 or younger on July 31, 2026. Bear River and Ouray NWRs open this date.
3Youth hunters 17 or younger on July 31, 2026. Fish Springs NWR open this date.
4Northern Zone only. Permit required. Swan orientation course required.
5Youth tundra swan hunt listed separately on page 13; Northern Zone only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 3 – Jan 23 | 3 | 9 |
1All season dates that apply to traditional waterfowl hunters also apply to falconers. Bag limit: 3 birds singly or in combination (ducks, mergansers, geese, coots, snipe).
2Falconry COR required in addition to duck stamp and HIP number.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Oct 3 – Jan 16 | 8 | 24 |
| Southern Zone2 | Oct 10 – Jan 23 | 8 | 24 |
1Common snipe (Wilson's snipe). Not allowed at Bear River NWR.
2Common snipe (Wilson's snipe).
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 19, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.