Hunting Virginia this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Virginia is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from October 25 through March 10, 2027, with 27 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Wildlife Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 18 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Greater Scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup | 1 | 3 |
1Black duck closed Oct 9–12. No more than 4 mallards (2 hen mallards max), 3 wood ducks, scaup 1/day (Oct 9–12), 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 4 total sea ducks (≤3 scoters, ≤3 eiders [only 1 hen], ≤3 long-tailed ducks). Closed season on harlequin ducks.
2Dates listed: Oct 9–12, Nov 18–29, Dec 19–Jan 31.
3No more than 4 mallards (2 hen mallards max), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, scaup 1/day (Nov 18–29), 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 4 total sea ducks (≤3 scoters, ≤3 eiders [only 1 hen], ≤3 long-tailed ducks). Closed season on harlequin ducks.
4No more than 4 mallards (2 hen mallards max), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, scaup 1/day Dec 19–Jan 11, 2/day Jan 12–31, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 4 total sea ducks (≤3 scoters, ≤3 eiders [only 1 hen], ≤3 long-tailed ducks). Closed season on harlequin ducks.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Sep 19 – Sep 27 September Teal – East of I-95 | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 22 – Sep 27 September Teal – West of I-95 |
1Any combination of blue-winged and green-winged teal only. Federal duck stamp and VA Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp required.
2Zone defined as east of I-95.
3Zone defined as west of I-95.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 September Canada Goose | 10 | 30 |
| Nov 18 – Nov 29 RP Zone – First Split | |||
| Nov 24 – Nov 29 AP Zone – First Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Feb 21 RP Zone – Second Split | |||
| Dec 24 – Jan 31 AP Zone – Second Split |
1Statewide. Not permitted within boundaries of Amelia and Dick Cross WMAs. Shotguns capable of holding >3 shells may be used when no other waterfowl seasons open. Federal duck stamp and VA Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp required.
2Extended shooting hours (to 1/2 hr after sunset) apply Sept 1–18 east of I-95 and Sept 1–21 west of I-95; standard sunset hours for remainder of season.
3Atlantic Population (AP) Zone only. Includes White-fronted geese.
4AP Zone is east of the Blue Ridge/I-64/I-95/Rt.460/Rt.32 line as described on the page.
5AP Zone second split.
6Resident Population (RP) Zone only (west of AP Zone boundary). Includes White-fronted geese.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 24 – Dec 31 Brant | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 10 – Jan 31 Brant |
1Brant (1 per day). Season concurrent with AP Canada goose zone dates.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Nov 25 – Mar 10 Regular Season | 25 | – |
1Greater and Lesser Snow Geese and Ross's Geese. Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns permitted only when other waterfowl seasons are closed. No possession limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Feb 1 – Apr 5 Light Goose Conservation Order | – | – |
1No bag limit; e-calls and unplugged shotguns allowed
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 18 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 18 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1Any combination of hooded, red-breasted, and common mergansers.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 15 – Jan 31 | 1 | 1 |
11 per permittee per season. Permit required (special drawing; application deadline Sept 25, 2026; max 475 permits). Hunt area: counties east of I-95 and south of Prince William/Stafford County line at Chopawamsic Creek at Quantico Marine Corps Base.
2Hunters must complete tundra swan hunt questionnaire and submit by Feb 15, 2027. Possession limit = 1 per season (not 3x daily bag).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 24 – Oct 24 Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Day 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Day 2 |
1Open to youth 15 and under, Military Veterans, and active duty Armed Forces. Ducks: 6/day bag limit. 2 Canada geese in AP Zone, 5 Canada geese in RP Zone; 1 tundra swan (with permit). Also: Atlantic brant, coots, mergansers, gallinules, moorhens, light geese.
2Two separate dates: Oct 24, 2026 and Feb 6, 2027. Accompanying adult cannot hunt ducks (unless Veteran).
3Open to youth 15 and under, Military Veterans, and active duty Armed Forces. Ducks: 6/day bag limit. 1 Canada goose in AP Zone, 5 Canada geese in RP Zone; 1 tundra swan (with permit). Also: Atlantic brant, coots, mergansers, gallinules, moorhens, light geese.
4Second of two Youth & Veterans Waterfowl days. Note: first mention of the event says '2 Canada geese in AP Zone'; second mention says '1 Canada goose in AP Zone' — lower confidence on Canada goose sub-limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Oct 25 – Oct 25 Veterans Day | 6 | – |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Veterans Day |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 19 – Dec 31 Atlantic Brant – First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 15 – Jan 31 Atlantic Brant – Second Split |
1Atlantic Brant.
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 2, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.