North Carolina 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 March 31, 2027, with 46 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Wildlife Resources Commission within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Zone1,2 | Oct 16 – Oct 18 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split | |||
| Coastal Zone1,2 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 31 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Greater Scaup | 1 | 3 |
14 mallards (only 2 hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 black ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck. Scaup: 1 prior to Jan. 9; 2 on Jan. 9 and after. Sea ducks: 4 total (no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders [only 1 hen eider], or 3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin duck season closed. Black and mottled duck season closed until Nov. 22.
23 pintails listed in RED indicating a regulation change.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Zone1,2 | Sep 11 – Sep 20 September Teal Season | 6 | 18 |
1Open only in area east of U.S. Highway 17. Includes green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, and cinnamon teal.
2September Teal Season is restricted to east of US-17, which corresponds to the Coastal Zone.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 September Canada Goose Season | 15 | 45 |
| Oct 16 – Oct 25 Resident Population Zone – First Split | |||
| Oct 16 – Oct 25 Resident Population Zone — First Split | |||
| Oct 16 – Oct 25 Resident Population Zone - First Split | |||
| Nov 8 – Dec 6 Resident Population Zone – Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Feb 7 Resident Population Zone – Third Split | |||
| Dec 29 – Jan 31 Northeast Hunt Zone | |||
| Coastal Zone5,14 | Dec 29 – Jan 31 Northeast Hunt Zone | 1 | 3 |
| Inland Zone15,16,17 | Oct 16 – Oct 25 Resident Population Zone – First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 8 – Dec 6 Resident Population Zone – Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Feb 7 Resident Population Zone – Third Split |
1Canada geese or white-fronted geese, singly or in the aggregate. See Goose Zone Map.
2Resident Population Zone. Season: Oct. 16–25, Nov. 8–Dec. 6 & Dec. 18–Feb. 7.
3Canada Goose Zones do not apply during September. West of US Hwy 17: shooting hours extended to 1/2 hour after sunset, unplugged guns allowed, electronic calls permitted.
4Statewide September Canada Goose season. Expanded methods west of US Hwy 17.
5Daily limit 1 Canada goose or 1 white-fronted goose.
6Northeast Hunt Zone only.
7Canada geese or white-fronted geese, singly or in aggregate. Applies to Resident Population Zone.
8Zone name on page is 'Resident Population Zone'; mapped to Statewide as no Inland/Coastal split specified.
9Canada geese or white-fronted geese singly or in aggregate. See Goose Zone Map for Resident Population Zone boundaries.
10Resident Population Zone.
11Canada geese or white-fronted geese, either singly or in the aggregate. Resident Population Zone.
12Resident Population Zone second split.
13Resident Population Zone third split.
14Northeast Hunt Zone mapped to Coastal Zone per convention; page does not specify zone in the known Inland/Coastal schema.
15Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate. Includes white-fronted geese.
16Resident Population Zone splits: Oct. 16–Oct. 25, Nov. 8–Dec. 6, Dec. 18–Feb. 7. Zone mapped as Inland Zone for this zone.
17Resident Population Zone splits: Oct. 16–Oct. 25, Nov. 8–Dec. 6, Dec. 18–Feb. 7.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 24 – Feb 7 Regular Season | 25 | – |
1Includes snow geese and Ross's geese.
2No possession limit stated.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 9 – Mar 31 Conservation Order Season | – | – |
1No daily limit; no possession limit. Expanded methods: unplugged guns, electronic calls. Shooting hours extended until 1/2 hour past sunset. By permit only.
2Light Geese Conservation Order. Permit required.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Zone1 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 31 Third Split | |||
| Inland Zone2 | Oct 16 – Oct 18 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1Coot season dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone).
2Coot season dates same as ducks (Inland Zone).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Zone1,2 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 31 Third Split | |||
| Inland Zone1,3 | Oct 16 – Oct 18 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Second Split | |||
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers
2Merganser season dates same as ducks (Coastal Zone).
3Merganser season dates same as ducks (Inland Zone).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 8 – Jan 31 | 1 | 1 |
1By permit only. 1 per season.
2Limited permits issued by random drawing through NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5 | Dec 6 – Feb 7 Youth Waterfowl Day(s) | – | – |
| Dec 6 – Dec 6 Youth Waterfowl Day 1 | |||
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Youth Waterfowl Day 2 |
1Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season. Youth under age 16. Legal species: ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers, coots. Tundra swan requires valid permit.
2Two designated days: Dec. 6 & Feb. 7 (statewide). Dec. 6 highlighted in red as a regulation change.
3Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season(s). Youth under 16. Legal species: ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans (permit required), mergansers, coots.
4Dec. 6 listed in RED indicating a regulation change. Two Youth Waterfowl Days: Dec. 6 & Feb. 7.
5Second Youth Waterfowl Day.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5 | Dec 6 – Feb 7 Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day(s) | – | – |
| Dec 6 – Dec 6 Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day 1 | |||
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day 2 |
1Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season. Open to veterans and active-duty Armed Forces (including National Guard/Reserves on active duty other than training). Must have valid credentials, HIP certification, Federal Duck Stamp. Tundra swan requires valid permit.
2Two designated days: Dec. 6 & Feb. 7 (statewide). Dec. 6 highlighted in red as a regulation change.
3Same daily limits as regular waterfowl season(s). Veterans and active-duty military only. Valid license, HIP certification, and Federal Duck Stamp required. Valid tundra swan permit required for swans.
4Dec. 6 listed in RED indicating a regulation change.
5Second Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 1 – Oct 11 Ducks/Mergansers/Coots Extended Falconry – First Split | 3 | 9 |
| Feb 2 – Feb 7 Ducks/Mergansers/Coots Extended Falconry – Second Split |
1Falconry only. Bag and possession limits are for all species singly or in the aggregate.
2Extended falconry season for ducks, mergansers, and coots.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Dec 29 – Jan 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 29 – Jan 31 Brant Season | |||
| Coastal Zone4,5 | Oct 24 – Oct 25 Sea Duck Season - First Split | 4 | 12 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 29 Sea Duck Season - Second Split | |||
| Dec 18 – Jan 31 Sea Duck Season - Third Split |
1Brant: daily limit 1.
2Brant season Dec. 29 – Jan. 31.
3Brant listed as a separate species with daily limit 1.
4No more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (only 1 hen eider), or 3 long-tailed ducks. All sea ducks count toward general daily limit of 6 ducks.
5Sea Duck Area includes Atlantic Ocean waters and coastal waters south of U.S. 64 separated by ≥800 yards of open water from any shore, island or marsh.
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.