Read from Division of Natural Resources on September 11, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Division of Natural Resources before you hunt.
Open the official West Virginia regulationsHunting West Virginia this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
West 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 4 through January 31, 2027, with 19 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Division of Natural Resources within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 3 – Oct 11 First Segment | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 3 – Oct 11 First Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 scaup, 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks). | 18 | |
| Nov 7 – Nov 15 Second Segment | 6 | 18 | |
| Nov 7 – Nov 15 Second Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 scaup, 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks). | 18 | |
| Dec 21 – Jan 31 Third Segment | 6 | 18 | |
| Dec 21 – Jan 31 Third Split | 6 No more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, scaup: 1 (Dec. 21-Jan. 11) then 2 (Jan. 12-Jan. 31), 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks). | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1 scaup Nov. 7 - Jan. 11 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1 scaup Dec. 21-Jan. 11; 2 scaup Jan. 12-Jan. 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup Statewide · 1 scaup Oct. 3 - Jan. 11 | 1 | 3 |
| Sea Ducks (general) no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks | 4 | 12 |
1No more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 scaup, 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks).
23-way split season. Scaup limit is 1 during this split (Oct. 3 - Jan. 11).
3No more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, scaup: 1 (Dec. 21-Jan. 11) then 2 (Jan. 12-Jan. 31), 4 sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks).
43-way split season. Scaup limit changes from 1 to 2 on Jan. 12 within this split.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 18 First Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 15 Second Segment | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec 8 – Jan 31 Third Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 18 First Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 15 Second Segment | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec 8 – Jan 31 Third Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Jan 2 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 1 | 3 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 18 First Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 7 – Nov 15 Second Segment | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec 8 – Jan 31 Third Segment | 5 | 15 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Oct 4 – Oct 12 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 16 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 21 – Jan 31 Third Split | 15 | 45 |
Not yet confirmed against the official source. We have not matched every value here to Division of Natural Resources. Check the official regulations before you hunt.
1Verified: Coot dates match eRegs (same as duck splits), 15/45 correct. Note: gallinules have different 2-way split (Oct 4-12, Dec 2-Jan 31) per eRegs but DB links them to coot seasons.
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 September 11, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.