Arizona is part of the Pacific Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from October 23 through February 8, 2026, with 14 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Game and Fish Department within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 7 | 21 |
| Nov 7 – Jan 31 Scaup Season | |||
| North Zone5 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 7 | 21 |
| South Zone5 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 7 | 21 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard Max 2 female or Mexican duck · No more than 2 may be female mallard or Mexican-like duck | 7 | 21 |
| Wood Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Hooded Merganser | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
12 redheads max; 3 pintails max; 2 canvasback max; 2 scaup max; 1 black-bellied whistling duck max; 7 mallards max (no more than 2 female or Mexican ducks). Possession sub-limits: 6 redheads, 6 female mallards/Mexican ducks, 9 pintails, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, 3 black-bellied whistling ducks. Scaup season starts Nov 7, 2025.
2Includes mergansers. Scaup season opens Nov 7, 2025 (same close date Jan 31, 2026). Nontoxic shot required statewide.
3Scaup: 2/day, 6 in possession. Otherwise same bag limits as general duck season.
4Scaup excluded from general duck season Oct 23 opener; separate entry opens Nov 7, 2025.
5AZ uses statewide zone (previously Mountain/Desert). Verified against 2025-26 AZ Waterfowl & Snipe Regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 5 | 15 |
| North Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
| South Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
15 dark geese (Canada, cackling, Brant, white-fronted) per day; 15 in possession.
2Dark geese listed under General Waterfowl Commission Order 21.
3AZ uses statewide zone (previously Mountain/Desert). Verified against 2025-26 AZ Waterfowl & Snipe Regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 20 | 60 |
| North Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 20 | – |
| South Zone3 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Regular Season | 20 | – |
120 white geese (snow/blue, Ross') per day; 60 in possession.
2White geese (snow/blue, Ross') listed under General Waterfowl Commission Order 21.
3[Bulk fix: possession_limit set to NULL — light geese have no federal possession limit in any flyway]; AZ uses statewide zone (previously Mountain/Desert). Verified against 2025-26 AZ Waterfowl & Snipe Regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 | 25 | 75 |
125 coots and gallinules per day singly or in aggregate; 75 in possession.
2Coots and gallinules listed together under General Waterfowl Commission Order 21.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 7 – Feb 8 | 7 | 14 |
1Ducks (incl. mergansers): 7/day; 2 redheads max, 3 pintails max, 2 canvasback max, 2 scaup max, 1 black-bellied whistling duck max, 7 mallards (no more than 2 female/Mexican ducks). Coots/gallinules: 25/day, 50 possession. White geese: 20/day, 40 possession. Dark geese: 5/day, 10 possession. Possession ducks: 4 redheads, 4 female mallards/Mexican ducks, 6 pintails, 4 scaup, 4 canvasback, 2 black-bellied whistling ducks.
2Eligible participants: under 18 years old. Ages 10-17 need valid hunting license; under 10 need not be licensed if accompanied by licensed adult. No falconry allowed.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 1 – Feb 4 Falconry-Only Waterfowl | 3 | 9 |
1Falconry only. Aggregate falconry bag limit of all migratory game birds is 3/day. Falconry bag limit is not in addition to firearms bag limit.
2Ducks including mergansers, coots, and gallinules. Falconry not permitted on National Wildlife Refuges.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Oct 23 – Jan 31 Common Snipe | 8 | 24 |
1Falconry bag limit: 3/day (aggregate of all migratory game birds). Falconry possession: 9 aggregate.
2Common snipe season under Commission Order 22. Nontoxic shot required.
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.