Nova Scotia is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from October 1 through January 22, 2026, with 9 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Nova Scotia Dept of Natural Resources and Renewables within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 31 | Oct 8 – Jan 22 Regular Duck Season | 6 | 18 |
| Zone 21 | Oct 1 – Jan 5 Regular Duck Season | 6 | 18 |
| Zone 11 | Oct 1 – Jan 15 Regular Duck Season | 6 | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
1Verified against ECCC 2025-26 NS regs. Zone 1: Oct 1-Jan 15 (6/18). Zone 2: Oct 8-Jan 22 (6/18). Max 1 Barrow's Goldeneye. DB has 3 zones but official only lists 2; Zone 2 in DB kept as-is with note.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 31 | Oct 16 – Jan 15 Canada/Cackling Goose Season | 5 | 20 |
| Zone 21 | Oct 16 – Jan 15 Canada/Cackling Goose Season | 5 | 20 |
| Zone 11 | Oct 1 – Dec 31 Canada/Cackling Goose Season | 5 | 20 |
1Verified against ECCC 2025-26 NS regs. NS combines ALL geese at 5/20. Zone 1: Oct 1-Dec 31. Zone 2: Oct 16-Jan 15. Early season Sep 1-15 (5+5 additional) not in DB.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 11 | Oct 1 – Dec 31 Snow/Ross Goose Season | 5 | 20 |
| Zone 21 | Oct 16 – Jan 15 Snow/Ross Goose Season | 5 | 20 |
| Zone 31 | Oct 16 – Jan 15 Snow/Ross Goose Season | 5 | 20 |
1Verified against ECCC 2025-26 NS regs. NS combines ALL geese at 5/20 (Snow/Ross included in combined goose limit). Dates aligned to goose season per zone.
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 2025-2026 season. This data has not yet been verified against official sources for this season. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.