Season dates and bag limits

Background | Changes | Approved 2026-27 season dates

NOTE: This season, the bag limit for pintail remains three birds (any sex). To learn how CWA led the effort to increase the pintail limit from one to three based on the latest science, click here. 

2026-27 Shoot times will be posted here once they are announced.

BACKGROUND

Waterfowl hunting regulations are set at two levels: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets science-based frameworks based on waterfowl population and other data, with guidance from councils established in each flyway. Then the California Fish & Game Commission sets regulations that fit within those frameworks.

Our role: California Waterfowl's advocacy team advocates for regulations that promote hunter opportunity, participation and satisfaction within bounds that preserve the overall health of waterfowl populations. We are proud to carry on the tradition of sustainable hunting ensured by the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

The California Waterfowl R&T committee develops recommendations for dates and bag limits.  If you are interested in the R&T committee, click here.

APPROVED CHANGES

  • Regular season waterfowl hunting in the Balance of State, Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zones extended through Sunday, January 31st
  • Large Canada goose bag limit in the Northeast Zone increased to 3 birds per day
  • Whitefront goose bag limit in all zones decreased to 6 birds per day
  • 3 days of falconry-only hunting included after the regular season in the Balance of State, Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zones (February 20-22)

APPROVED 2026-27 SEASON DATES

The information below is from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Use links below to skip to any zone:

Northeastern
Balance of State
Southern San Joaquin Valley
Southern California
Colorado River Zone

(Click here to view map full-sized - opens in a new tab)

NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA ZONE

Map of Klamath Basin Special Management Area

Klamath Basin Special Management Area

SEASONS

  • Ducks: Oct 3 – Jan 13    
  • Scaup: Oct 3 – Nov 29 & Dec 17 – Jan 13
  • Canada geese: Oct 3 – Jan 10
  • White geese & white-fronts (specklebellies): Oct 3 – Nov 29 & Jan 1 – Jan 13 
  • Late white goose & white-front season: Feb 5 – Mar 10 
  • Youth Hunt days: Sept 19 – 20 (Same as regular season)
  • Veteran Hunt days: Jan 17 – 18 (Ducks only. Same as regular season)

LIMITS

  • Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
  • Geese: Daily bag limit: 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese but not more than 6 white-fronted geese or 3 Large Canada geese.
  • Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA

  • Klamath Basin 
    • White geese & white-fronts (specklebellies): Oct 3 – Jan 15
    • Canada geese: Oct 3 – Jan 10
    • Daily Bag & Limit: 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese but not more than 6 white-fronted geese or 3 Large Canada geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag. 


BALANCE OF STATE ZONE

SEASONS

  • Ducks: Oct 24 – Jan 31
  • Scaup: Nov 7 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Oct 24 – Jan 31
  • Early large Canada goose season: Oct 3 - 5 (Large Canada geese only).
  • Late white-fronts and white goose season: Feb 20 – 24
  • Late Canada goose season: Feb 20 – 21
  • Special Youth Hunt days: Feb 13 – 14
  • Veteran Hunt days: Feb 6-7  (duck only)

LIMITS

  • Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
  • Geese: Daily bag limit: 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese but not more than 6 white-fronted geese. In the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area only 3 may be white-fronted geese.
  • Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

  • North Coast
    • All Canada Geese: Oct 3 – Dec 19 & Feb 12 – Mar 10
    • Daily Bag & Limit: 10/day, only 1 may be a Large Canada goose. Possession limit: Triple the daily bag. Large Canada geese are closed during the Late Season.

  • Humboldt Bay South Spit (West Side):
    • All species: Closed during brant season

  • Sacramento Valley:
    • White-fronted geese: open concurrently with general goose season through Dec 21.
    • Daily Bag & Limit: 3/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.

  • Northern Brant:
    • Black Brant: Nov 29 – Dec 14
    • Daily Bag & Limit:   2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.

  • Balance of State Brant:
    • Black Brant :   Nov 30 – Dec 15  
    • Daily Bag & Limit:  2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.

  • Martis Creek Lake
    • All species: Closed until Nov 16  


SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ZONE

SEASONS

  • Ducks: Oct 24 – Jan 31
  • Scaup: Nov 7 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Oct 24 – Jan 31
  • Special Youth Hunt days: Feb 13 – 14
  • Veteran Hunt days: Feb 6 - 7

LIMITS

  • Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
  • Geese: Daily bag limit: 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese not more than 6 white-fronted geese.
  • Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ZONE

SEASONS

  • Ducks: Oct 24 – Jan 31       
  • Scaup: Nov 7 – Jan 31
  • Geese: Oct 24 – Jan 31
  • Youth Hunt days: Feb 13 – 14
  • Veteran Hunt days:  Feb 6 - 7

LIMITS

  • Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
  • Geese: Daily bag limit: 23/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 3 dark geese.
  • Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

  • Morro Bay:
    • All species: Open in designated areas only
    •  Daily Bag & Limit: Waterfowl season opens concurrently with brant season.


COLORADO RIVER ZONE (must match Arizona regulations)

SEASONS

  • Ducks: Oct 23 – Jan 31
  • Scaup: Nov. 7-Jan. 31
  • Geese: Oct 23 – Jan 31
  • Youth Hunt days: Feb 13 – 14

LIMITS

  • Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females or Mexican ducks), 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup
  • Geese: Daily bag limit: 24/day, up to 20 white geese, up to 4 dark geese.
  • Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

  • Imperial County:
    •  White Geese: Nov 4 – Jan 31, Feb 1 - 5, Feb 8 - 12, Feb 16 - 21
    •  Daily Bag & Limit: 20/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.

 

STATEWIDE - COOT & MOORHEN 

SEASONS

  • Coot & Moorhen: Concurrent w/ duck season

LIMITS

  • Daily bag limit: 25/day. 75 in possession.

MORE INFORMATION

DFW waterfowl hunting regulations page

Migratory gamebird tagging requirements

Migratory bird transportation tag (printable PDF)

Migratory bird preservation facility (duck clubs) issues

Legal information for hunting navigable waters: (PDF 1) (PDF 2) (PDF 3)