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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5 | Oct 9 – Oct 12 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 18 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Black Duck Statewide · Closed Oct 9–12 | 0 | 0 |
| Black Duck Statewide | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1/day for 40 days (Oct 9–12, Nov 18–29, Dec 19–Jan 11) | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1/day Dec 19–Jan 11; 2/day Jan 12–31 | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · 1/day for 40 days (Oct 9–12, Nov 18–29, Dec 19–Jan 11) | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Statewide · 1/day Dec 19–Jan 11; 2/day Jan 12–31 | 1 | 3 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Sea Ducks (general) No more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (only 1 hen), 3 long-tailed ducks | 4 | 12 |
| Mallard no more than 2 hen mallards | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Harlequin Duck Closed season | 0 | 0 |
1Black duck closed Oct 9–12. No more than 4 mallards (2 hen mallards max); 3 wood ducks; scaup 1/day; 2 redheads; 2 canvasback; 3 pintails; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders [only 1 hen], 3 long-tailed ducks).
2Black duck closed this segment.
3No more than 4 mallards (2 hen mallards max); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks; scaup 1/day; 2 redheads; 2 canvasback; 3 pintails; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders [only 1 hen], 3 long-tailed ducks).
4No more than 4 mallards (2 hen mallards max); 3 wood ducks; 2 black ducks; scaup 1/day Dec 19–Jan 11, then 2/day Jan 12–31; 2 redheads; 2 canvasback; 3 pintails; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders [only 1 hen], 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin ducks: closed season.
5Scaup 1/day Dec 19–Jan 11 (completing 40-day allocation); 2/day Jan 12–31 (20-day allocation).
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Sep 19 – Sep 27 East of I-95 | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 22 – Sep 27 West of I-95 |
1Any combination of blue-winged and green-winged teal only. Requires Federal Duck Stamp and Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp.
2East of I-95 zone for September Teal season.
3West of I-95 zone for September Teal season.
| 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 |
1Atlantic Population Zone. Includes White-fronted Geese.
2AP Zone defined as east of the Blue Ridge to NC border.
3Statewide. Not permitted within Amelia and Dick Cross WMA boundaries. Requires Federal Duck Stamp and Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp. Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells may be used when no other waterfowl seasons are open.
4East of I-95: Sep 1–18 half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset; Sep 19–25 to sunset. West of I-95: Sep 1–21 half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset; Sep 22–25 to sunset.
5Resident Population Zone. Includes White-fronted Geese.
6RP Zone is portion of state west of the AP Zone boundary.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 19 – Dec 31 First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 15 – Jan 31 Second Split |
1Atlantic Brant.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 25 – Mar 10 Regular Season | 25 | – |
1Greater and Lesser Snow Geese and Ross's Geese. No possession limit. Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns permitted only when other waterfowl seasons are closed.
2No possession limit stated.
| 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 |
1Permit required. 1 per permittee per season. Hunt area: all counties east of I-95 and south of the Prince William/Stafford County line in Chopawamsic Creek at Quantico Marine Corps Base. Max 475 permits issued. Application deadline Sept 25, 2026.
2Possession limit = 1 per season per permittee. Hunters must complete tundra swan questionnaire by Feb 15, 2027.
| 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: standard bag limits. 2 Canada geese (AP Zone) or 5 Canada geese (RP Zone). 1 tundra swan (with permit). Also includes brant, coots, mergansers, gallinules, moorhens, light geese.
2October 24, 2026 Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Day
3Open to youth 15 and under, Military Veterans, and active duty Armed Forces. Ducks: standard bag limits. 1 Canada goose (AP Zone) or 5 Canada geese (RP Zone). 1 tundra swan (with permit). Also includes brant, coots, mergansers, gallinules, moorhens, light geese.
4February 6, 2027 Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Day
| 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 16, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.