Hunting Washington this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Washington 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 February 15, 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 Fish and Wildlife within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Oct 11 – Oct 19 First Split | 7 | 21 |
| Oct 22 – Jan 25 Second Split |
17 ducks: not more than 2 hen mallard, 3 pintail, 2 scaup (scaup season closed Oct. 11-31), 2 canvasback, 2 redhead statewide; not more than 3 scoter, 2 long-tailed duck, 3 goldeneye in W. Washington. Harlequin Duck closed statewide except 52 permits. Possession: 21 ducks (6 hen mallard, 9 pintail, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, 6 redhead statewide; 9 scoter, 6 long-tailed duck, 9 goldeneye in W. Washington).
2Scaup season closed Oct. 11-31 per table footnote.
37 ducks: not more than 2 hen mallard, 3 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead statewide; not more than 3 scoter, 2 long-tailed duck, 3 goldeneye in W. Washington. Harlequin Duck closed statewide except 52 permits. Possession: 21 ducks (6 hen mallard, 9 pintail, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, 6 redhead statewide; 9 scoter, 6 long-tailed duck, 9 goldeneye in W. Washington).
Hunting Washington’s season? Get the free app.
Drop your email and we’ll send the free BlindBook app — log hunts, ID birds, track your bag limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Washington1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23 | Sep 6 – Sep 14 Canada Goose September Season – GMA 1 & 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Sep 6 – Sep 14 Canada Goose September Season – GMA 2 | |||
| Oct 11 – Nov 30 Regular Season – GMA 1 (First Split) | |||
| Oct 11 – Nov 30 Regular Season – GMA 2 Coast (First Split) | |||
| Oct 11 – Oct 26 Regular Season – GMA 2 Inland (First Split, excl. Ridgefield NWR) | |||
| Oct 11 – Oct 25 Regular Season – GMA 2 Inland Ridgefield NWR (First Split) | |||
| Oct 11 – Oct 19 Regular Season – GMA 3 (First Split) | |||
| Nov 1 – Jan 25 Regular Season – GMA 3 (Second Split) | |||
| Nov 26 – Jan 11 Regular Season – GMA 2 Inland (Second Split, excl. Ridgefield NWR) | |||
| Nov 26 – Jan 10 Regular Season – GMA 2 Inland Ridgefield NWR (Second Split) | |||
| Dec 13 – Jan 25 Regular Season – GMA 1 (Second Split) | |||
| Dec 20 – Jan 11 Regular Season – GMA 2 Coast (Second Split) | |||
| Feb 7 – Feb 15 Late Season – GMA 2 Inland (excl. Ridgefield NWR, NWRs & WDFW Wildlife Areas) |
1Canada geese only (footnote c). Goose Mgmt Areas 1 & 3.
2September Canada goose season, Western Washington GMA 1 & 3.
3Canada geese only (footnote c). Daily bag/possession in Pacific County are 15/45 (footnote d). Goose Mgmt Area 2.
4September Canada goose season, Western Washington GMA 2.
5Canada geese: 3 daily/9 possession; White-fronted geese: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 6 daily/18 possession. Dusky Canada goose season closed. Snow goose authorization required (see pamphlet). Skagit/Whatcom county special restrictions apply.
6GMA 1 regular season first split. Snow goose authorization required.
7Canada geese: 3 daily/9 possession; White-fronted geese: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 6 daily/18 possession. Dusky Canada goose season closed. Snow goose authorization required.
8GMA 1 regular season second split.
9Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only. Canada geese: 2 daily/6 possession (Dusky closed); White-fronted geese: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 10 daily/30 possession. GMA 2 - Coast (Pacific County and Grays Harbor County west of Hwy 101). Authorization required. Legal goose hunting hours are 30 min after start to 30 min before end of official waterfowl hours.
10Hunting on Sat/Sun/Wed only. Dusky Canada goose season closed.
11Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only. Canada geese: 2 daily/6 possession (Dusky closed); White-fronted: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 10 daily/30 possession. Authorization required. Legal goose hours 30 min after start to 30 min before end of official waterfowl hours.
12Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only. Canada geese: 2 daily/6 possession (Dusky closed); White-fronted: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 10 daily/30 possession. All areas except Ridgefield NWR. Authorization required. Legal goose hours 30 min after/before official waterfowl hours.
13GMA 2 Inland (Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum counties; Grays Harbor County east of Hwy 101). Excludes Ridgefield NWR. Sat/Sun/Wed only.
14Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only. Canada geese: 2 daily/6 possession (Dusky closed); White-fronted: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 10 daily/30 possession. All areas except Ridgefield NWR. Authorization required.
15GMA 2 Inland, excluding Ridgefield NWR. Sat/Sun/Wed only.
16Saturdays, Sundays, & Wednesdays only. National Wildlife Refuges and WDFW Wildlife Areas closed during Feb. 7-15 in this management area. Canada geese: 2 daily/6 possession (Dusky closed); White geese: 10 daily/30 possession.
17GMA 2 Inland Feb. 7-15 segment. NWRs and WDFW Wildlife Areas closed.
18Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays only. Canada geese: 2 daily/6 possession (Dusky closed); White-fronted: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 10 daily/30 possession. Ridgefield NWR only.
19Ridgefield NWR specific dates within GMA 2 Inland. Tue/Thu/Sat only.
20Ridgefield NWR, Tue/Thu/Sat only.
21Canada geese: 3 daily/9 possession; White-fronted: 10 daily/30 possession; White geese: 10 daily/30 possession. Dusky Canada goose season closed.
22GMA 3 regular season first split.
23GMA 3 regular season second split.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Washington1,2 | Feb 7 – Feb 15 Late Season White Goose – GMA 1 | 10 | 30 |
1White goose only. Canada and white-fronted goose closed during this period. GMA 1.
2Late season white goose only period for GMA 1.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Oct 11 – Oct 19 Regular Season Split 1 | 25 | 75 |
| Oct 22 – Jan 25 Regular Season Split 2 | |||
| Jan 31 – Jan 31 Youth, Veterans & Active Military Coot Day | |||
| Eastern Washington2,3 | Sep 27 – Sep 27 E. Washington Youth Coot Day | 25 | 25 |
| Western Washington2,3 | Sep 20 – Sep 20 W. Washington Youth Coot Day | 25 | 25 |
1Open to youth (15 and under) and qualifying veterans/active military.
2Youth Only (hunters 15 and under, accompanied by adult 18+).
3Possession limit same as daily bag for youth day.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington1,2 | Sep 27 – Sep 27 E. Washington Youth Duck Day | 7 | 7 |
| Western Washington2,3,4,5 | Sep 20 – Sep 20 Western Washington Youth Goose Day (GMAs 1, 2, & 3) | – | – |
| Sep 20 – Sep 20 W. Washington Youth Duck Day |
1Youth Only (hunters 15 and under, accompanied by adult 18+). 7 ducks: not more than 2 hen mallard, 3 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead statewide.
2Ducks. Youth-only day. Possession limit same as daily bag.
3Canada and white-fronted goose only. Canada geese: 3 daily/3 possession; White-fronted geese: 10 daily/10 possession; White geese: closed.
4Youth goose day, Western Washington GMAs 1, 2, & 3.
5Youth Only (hunters 15 and under, accompanied by adult 18+). 7 ducks: not more than 2 hen mallard, 3 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead statewide; not more than 3 scoter, 2 long-tailed duck, 3 goldeneye in W. Washington.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Jan 31 – Jan 31 Youth, Veterans & Active Military Duck Day | 7 | 7 |
| Western Washington3,4,5,6 | Jan 31 – Jan 31 Youth, Veterans & Active Military Goose Day – GMA 1 & 3 | – | – |
| Jan 31 – Jan 31 Youth, Veterans & Active Military Goose Day – GMA 2 |
1Open to youth (15 and under) and qualifying veterans/active military. 7 ducks: not more than 2 hen mallard, 3 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback, 2 redhead statewide. Possession limit same as daily bag.
2Statewide special date for youth, veterans, and active military. Ducks.
3Canada geese: 3 daily/3 possession; White-fronted geese: 10 daily/10 possession; White geese: 10 daily/10 possession. GMAs 1 & 3.
4Youth, Veterans & Active Military goose day for GMAs 1 & 3.
5Canada geese: 2 daily/2 possession; White-fronted geese: 10 daily/10 possession; White geese: 10 daily/10 possession. GMA 2.
6Youth, Veterans & Active Military goose day for GMA 2.
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 13, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.