Texas is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 13 through February 15, 2026, with 26 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Parks and Wildlife Department within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Required Licenses & Stamps
Texas hunting license
Federal Migratory Bird (Duck) Stamp — $25
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration
Texas Migratory Game Bird Endorsement
Annual Public Hunting Permit required on WMAs ($48)
2025-2026 Texas Youth hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Nov 1
Nov 2
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Youth 16 & under · 2 extra days per zone before regular season · Adults may not hunt ducks/mergansers/coots · Dusky ducks legal during youth season · Under 17 exempt from Federal Stamp
Ducks
2025-2026 Texas Ducks hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Nov 8
Nov 30
6
18
Second Split
Dec 6
Jan 25
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls · Three zones: High Plains, North, South · Dusky ducks closed first 5 days each zone · WMAs require Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48)
Coots
2025-2026 Texas Coots hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Nov 8
Jan 25
15
45
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Coots concurrent with duck season · Gallinule season separate (Sep 20-28 & Nov 1-Dec 31) · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
Mergansers
2025-2026 Texas Mergansers hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Nov 8
Nov 30
5
15
Second Split
Dec 6
Jan 25
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Within 6-duck aggregate · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Same zone dates as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
Early Teal
2025-2026 Texas Early Teal hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Sep 20
Sep 28
6
18
Shooting hours: Sunrise – sunset
Statewide · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · 2025 season shortened to 9 days (below-average teal population)
Youth
2025-2026 Texas Youth hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Oct 25
Oct 26
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Youth 16 & under · 2 extra days per zone before regular season · Adults may not hunt ducks/mergansers/coots · Dusky ducks legal during youth season · Under 17 exempt from Federal Stamp
Ducks
2025-2026 Texas Ducks hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Nov 1
Nov 30
6
18
Second Split
Dec 13
Jan 25
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls · Three zones: High Plains, North, South · Dusky ducks closed first 5 days each zone · WMAs require Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48)
Coots
2025-2026 Texas Coots hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Nov 1
Jan 25
15
45
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Coots concurrent with duck season · Gallinule season separate (Sep 20-28 & Nov 1-Dec 31) · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
Mergansers
2025-2026 Texas Mergansers hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Nov 1
Nov 30
5
15
Second Split
Dec 13
Jan 25
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Within 6-duck aggregate · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Same zone dates as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
Dark Geese
2025-2026 Texas Dark Geese hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Early Canada Goose
Sep 13
Sep 28
5
15
Regular Dark Geese
Nov 1
Jan 25
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Two zones: Western & Eastern · Eastern sub-limit: max 2 white-fronted/day · Non-toxic shot · No electronic calls
Light Geese
2025-2026 Texas Light Geese hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Nov 1
Feb 15
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
TX eliminated Conservation Order (2024-25) · Standard season rules only · No electronic calls · No unplugged shotguns · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
Dark Geese
2025-2026 Texas Dark Geese hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Nov 1
Feb 1
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Two zones: Western & Eastern · Eastern sub-limit: max 2 white-fronted/day · Non-toxic shot · No electronic calls
Light Geese
2025-2026 Texas Light Geese hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Nov 1
Feb 1
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
TX eliminated Conservation Order (2024-25) · Standard season rules only · No electronic calls · No unplugged shotguns · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
Early Teal
2025-2026 Texas Early Teal hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Sep 20
Sep 28
6
18
Shooting hours: Sunrise – sunset
Statewide · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · 2025 season shortened to 9 days (below-average teal population)
Youth
2025-2026 Texas Youth hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Oct 11
Oct 12
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Youth 16 & under · 2 extra days per zone before regular season · Adults may not hunt ducks/mergansers/coots · Dusky ducks legal during youth season · Under 17 exempt from Federal Stamp
Ducks
2025-2026 Texas Ducks hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Oct 18
Oct 19
6
18
Second Split
Oct 24
Jan 25
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls · Three zones: High Plains, North, South · Dusky ducks closed first 5 days each zone · WMAs require Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48)
Coots
2025-2026 Texas Coots hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Oct 18
Jan 25
15
45
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Coots concurrent with duck season · Gallinule season separate (Sep 20-28 & Nov 1-Dec 31) · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
Mergansers
2025-2026 Texas Mergansers hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Oct 18
Oct 19
5
15
Second Split
Oct 24
Jan 25
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Within 6-duck aggregate · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Same zone dates as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
Duck Species Sub-Limits
SpeciesDaily Bag
Mallardeither · Max 2 hens per day
5
Pintail (Northern)Increased from 1 for 2025-2026 per USFWS
3
Redhead
2
Canvasback
2
Mottled DuckDusky duck aggregate: 1 total of mottled/Mexican-like/black duck
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 was verified on March 9, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.