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 December 13, 2026, with 22 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 Zone | Oct 4 – Jan 17 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
| Southern Zone | Oct 11 – Jan 24 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard Max 2 hens | 6 | 18 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup | 2 | 6 |
| Hooded Merganser | 2 | 6 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Oct 4 – Oct 11 Early Season | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 27 – Jan 31 Late Season | |||
| Southern Zone2 | Oct 11 – Jan 24 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
1Northern goose area. Split season. Source: UT eRegulations/DWR.
2Southern goose area. Source: UT eRegulations/DWR.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Oct 15 – Dec 22 Early Season | 20 | 60 |
| Feb 2 – Mar 10 Late Season | |||
| Southern Zone1 | Oct 25 – Dec 15 Early Season | 20 | 60 |
| Jan 15 – Mar 10 Late Season |
1Corrected game_type (was mislabeled dark_geese). Source: UT eRegulations/DWR.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Oct 4 – Jan 17 Regular Season | 25 | 75 |
| Southern Zone1 | Oct 11 – Jan 24 Regular Season | 25 | 75 |
1Concurrent with duck season. Source: UT eRegulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Box Elder County Crane Hunt1 | Sep 5 – Nov 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Rich County Crane Hunt2 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Uintah Basin Crane Zone2 | Sep 26 – Oct 15 Early hunt (SC1006) | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 16 – Nov 4 Middle hunt (SC1007) | |||
| Nov 5 – Nov 24 Late hunt (SC1008) | |||
| Cache County Crane Hunt2,3 | Sep 5 – Sep 13 | 1 | 1 |
1Draw permit (one bird per season); HIP; nontoxic shot; listed WMA/refuge closures apply
2Draw permit (one bird per season); HIP; nontoxic shot
32026-27 per Utah Waterfowl, Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook p.68. Draw-only (apply Jun 30-Jul 14, 2026 at utahdraws.com); each permit allows exactly ONE crane of either sex for the season; carcass tagged immediately (no e-tagging); HIP required; nontoxic shot; 15% of permits reserved for youth.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Hunt Area1,2 | Oct 3 – Dec 13 | 1 | 1 |
1Draw-only permit, one tundra swan per permit per season (2,750 permits offered in 2025; 2026 count TBD). Apply Jun 30-Jul 14 at utahdraws.com. Trumpeter harvest illegal; season closes at 20-trumpeter quota; mandatory check-in of harvested swans
22026 dates from DWR news release; trumpeter quota (20) and check-in rules from 2025-26 guidebook — 2026-27 guidebook not yet posted. Season closes immediately when the 20-trumpeter quota is reached (has closed early in past years). Mandatory annual swan orientation course before applying; mandatory harvest report + physical check-in at a DWR office or Bear River MBR. E-tagging newly allowed for 2026.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Zone1 | Sep 20 – Sep 20 Youth Hunt | 6 | 18 |
| Southern Zone1 | Sep 27 – Sep 27 Youth Hunt | 6 | 18 |
1Single day event. Bag limits same as regular duck season. Source: UT DWR/eRegulations.
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.