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 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | 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.
2Three-split regular duck season; splits share same bag/possession limits.
3Second split of regular duck season.
4Third split of regular duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 September Teal | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 September Teal |
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.
2Zone-restricted teal season within the Special September Teal Zone only.
3September Teal season; zone-restricted to the Special September Teal Zone.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 Resident Canada Goose - Outside Teal Zone | 15 | 45 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Segment 1 | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, First Segment | |||
| Jan 17 – Jan 31 Migratory Canada Goose (incl. White-fronted) - Second Split |
1Special hunting methods allowed. Outside September Teal Zone only.
2Resident Canada Goose early season outside the Special September Teal Zone.
3Special hunting methods allowed throughout. Inside September Teal Zone only.
4Possession limit is 15 (not 3x daily) inside the teal zone.
5Special hunting methods allowed throughout. Inside the September Teal Zone.
6Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone, Sept. 1–19 segment. Possession limit is 15 (not 45).
7Includes White-fronted geese.
8Migratory Canada Goose second split.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 18 – Jan 31 Snow Goose Regular Season - First Segment | 25 | – |
| Feb 7 – Feb 7 Snow Goose Regular Season - Youth Hunt Day |
1Includes Ross' goose. No possession limit. Bombay Hook NWR open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager.
2Possession limit listed as 'No limit'.
3Includes Ross' goose. No liberal CO methods allowed this day. CO is closed on this date.
4Snow geese may be taken Feb. 7 under regular season framework (bag limit 25); CO closed this day for youth/vet special hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Feb 1 – Feb 6 Snow Goose Conservation Order - Segment 1 | – | – |
| Feb 8 – Apr 10 Snow Goose Conservation Order - Segment 2 |
1No bag or possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls permitted. Free annual permit required (register after Jan. 1). Harvest reporting required.
2CO split around the Feb. 7 Youth/Vet special hunt day.
3No bag or possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls permitted. Free annual permit required. Harvest reporting required.
4CO resumes Feb. 8 after the Youth/Vet special hunt on Feb. 7.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1Coots season dates same as Duck Season (three splits).
2Coots season dates same as Duck Season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers (6 in possession).
2Merganser season dates same as Duck Season (three splits).
3Merganser season dates same as Duck Season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 8 – Jan 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 |
1By special permit ONLY. 1 per season.
2Tundra Swan season by special permit. Bag and possession are 1 per season.
3By special permit ONLY. 1 per season bag and possession limit.
4Mute Swan: legal during any open waterfowl season, no limit, closed during Snow Goose CO. Trumpeter Swan: closed season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 25 – Oct 25 Youth/Veteran/Active Military Hunt - Day 1 | – | – |
| 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. Eligible species: ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, and swans.
2Two-day event; Oct. 25 is Day 1. Also open to veterans and active military.
3Youth must be age 10–15. Bag limits same as applicable regular season species limits. Snow Goose Conservation Order closed this day; snow geese may be taken under regular season framework (bag limit 25). No liberal CO methods allowed.
4Snow Goose CO closed Feb. 7, 2026 (i.e., 2027 season date) for this special hunt; CO resumes Feb. 8.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 Brant - First Split | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 17 – Jan 31 Brant - Second Split |
1Brant split season.
2Brant second split.
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.