Delaware is part of the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through April 10, 2027, with 31 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Division of Fish and Wildlife within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser Scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Greater Scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
14 mallards (2 hens max); 2 black ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 1 scaup; 6 teal; 6 shovelers; 6 gadwall; 6 wigeon; 6 goldeneye; 6 ring-necked ducks; 6 bufflehead; 6 ruddy ducks; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous whistling-duck; 4 total sea ducks (no more than 3 scoters; 3 eiders (1 hen); 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin duck season closed.
2Regular Duck Season, 3-part split
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 September Teal | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 |
1Limited to designated teal zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, and east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Bag limit may include any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
2September Teal season; zone-restricted to the Special September Teal Zone.
3Limited to designated teal zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
4September teal season restricted to Special Teal Zone only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 | Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose – Inside Teal Zone, Segment 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, First Segment | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 25 Resident Canada Goose - Outside September Teal Zone | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Segment 1 | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Seg 1 | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 25 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Seg 2 | |||
| Dec 20 – Jan 3 Migratory Canada Goose (incl. White-fronted) - First Split | |||
| Jan 17 – Jan 31 Migratory Canada Goose (incl. White-fronted) - Second Split |
1Special hunting methods allowed throughout. Inside the September Teal Zone.
2Resident Canada Goose inside September Teal Zone, first segment (before teal season opens).
3Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone, Sept. 1–19 segment. Possession limit is 15 (not 45).
4Outside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods allowed.
5Resident Canada Goose early season outside Special Teal Zone.
6Special hunting methods allowed throughout. Inside September Teal Zone only.
7Possession limit is 15 (not 3x daily) inside the teal zone.
8Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods allowed throughout.
9Resident Canada Goose, inside Teal Zone, before teal season opens.
10Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods NOT allowed during these dates.
11Resident Canada Goose, inside Teal Zone, concurrent with teal season; no special methods.
12Including White-fronted geese.
13Canada Goose (Migratory) split season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 18 – Jan 31 Snow Goose Regular Season - Main | 25 | – |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Snow Goose Regular Season - Youth Hunt Day |
1Including Ross' goose. Bombay Hook NWR open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager. No limit on possession.
2Snow Goose regular season; possession listed as 'No limit'.
3Includes Ross' goose. No possession limit. No liberal Conservation Order methods allowed this day. CO closed this day.
4Snow Goose regular season framework applies Feb. 7 (Youth/Vet/Military Hunt day); CO is closed this day.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Feb 1 – Feb 6 Snow Goose Conservation Order - First Segment | – | – |
| Feb 8 – Apr 10 Snow Goose Conservation Order - Second Segment |
1No bag or possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls permitted. Free annual permit required (register via Digital DNREC after Jan. 1). Harvest reporting required after CO closes.
2Conservation Order first segment; CO closed Feb. 7 for Youth/Vet/Military Hunt.
3Conservation Order second segment; opens Feb. 8 after Youth Hunt day (Feb. 7).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1Coots season dates same as Regular Duck Season (3 splits).
2Season dates same as Regular Duck Season (all 3 splits: Nov. 1–9, Nov. 26–30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31).
3Coots season is same dates as duck season (3 splits). Close date listed here reflects end of final duck split.
4Coots season same dates as Regular Duck Season (3 splits).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6 | Nov 1 – Jan 31 | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | |||
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers daily (6 in possession). Season dates same as Regular Duck Season (all 3 splits).
2Merganser season is same dates as duck season (3 splits).
3No more than 2 hooded mergansers per day (6 in possession).
4Mergansers season dates same as Regular Duck Season.
5No more than 2 hooded mergansers (6 in possession).
6Merganser season same dates as Regular Duck Season (3 splits).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 8 – Jan 31 | 1 | 1 |
1By special permit ONLY. 1 per season.
2Tundra Swan season by special permit. Bag and possession are 1 per season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 25 – Oct 25 Youth/Veterans/Active Military Hunt - Day 1 | – | – |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Youth/Veterans/Active Military Hunt - Day 2 |
1Youth must be age 10–15. Daily bag and possession limits same as regular seasons for each species. May harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans.
2Two-day event: Oct. 25 and Feb. 7. This is the first day.
3Youth must be age 10–15. Daily bag and possession limits same as regular seasons for each species. May harvest ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans. Snow Goose Conservation Order closed this day; snow geese may be taken under regular season framework (25/day bag limit).
4Second day of the two-day youth/veteran/military hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 7 – Feb 7 Youth/Veteran/Active Military Hunt – Day 2 | – | – |
1Youth must be age 10–15. Bag limits same as applicable regular season species limits. Species: ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, swans. Snow Goose Conservation Order closed this day; snow geese may be taken under regular season framework (daily bag limit of 25).
2Second special hunt date for youth, veteran's, and active duty military. CO is suspended Feb. 7.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 Brant - First Split | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 17 – Jan 31 Brant - Second Split |
1Brant split season.
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 has not yet been verified against official sources for this season. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.