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 41 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 (≤3 scoters; ≤3 eiders (1 hen); ≤3 long-tailed ducks). Harlequin ducks: closed season.
2Regular duck season, first split.
3Regular duck season, second split.
4Regular duck season, third split.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 September Teal | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 September Teal | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 September Teal | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 |
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: any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
2September Teal season restricted to Special Teal Zone.
3Limited 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.
4Zone-restricted teal season within the Special September Teal Zone only.
5Limited 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. Any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
6September Teal season restricted to Special Teal Zone only.
7Limited to designated teal zone (south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1). Any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
8September Teal season; zone-restricted.
9September Teal season; zone-restricted to the Special September Teal Zone.
10Limited to designated teal zone south of C&D Canal to north of Route 9 in Lewes, east of Routes 13, 113/113A, and 1. Any combination of blue-winged and/or green-winged teal.
11September teal season restricted to Special Teal Zone only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 | Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, Segment 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, First Segment | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 25 Resident Canada Goose - Outside Teal Zone | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose – Inside Teal Zone, Segment 1 | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone, First Segment | |||
| Sep 1 – Sep 19 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone (Pre-Teal) | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 25 Resident Canada Goose - Inside Teal Zone (Teal Season Overlap) | |||
| Dec 20 – Jan 3 Migratory Canada Goose / White-fronted - First Split | |||
| Jan 17 – Jan 31 Migratory Canada Goose / White-fronted - Second Split |
1Special hunting methods allowed throughout. Inside September Teal Zone only.
2Possession limit is 15 (not 3x daily) inside the teal zone.
3Special hunting methods allowed throughout. Inside the September Teal Zone.
4Resident Canada Goose inside Teal Zone, Sept. 1–19 segment. Possession limit is 15 (not 45).
5Outside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods allowed.
6Resident Canada Goose season, outside September Teal Zone.
7Resident Canada Goose inside September Teal Zone, first segment (before teal season opens).
8Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods allowed throughout.
9Possession limit is 15 (not 45) inside Teal Zone.
10Resident Canada Goose, inside Teal Zone, Sept. 1–19.
11Inside the September Teal Zone. Special hunting methods NOT allowed during these dates.
12Resident Canada Goose, inside Teal Zone, Sept. 20–25. No special methods.
13Includes White-fronted geese.
14Canada Goose (Migratory) including White-fronted geese, first split.
15Canada Goose (Migratory) including White-fronted geese, 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 - Feb. 7 (Youth Hunt Day) |
1Includes Ross' goose. No possession limit. Bombay Hook NWR open Mon., Wed., and Fri. with permission of Refuge Manager.
2Snow Goose regular season first segment.
3Includes Ross' goose. No liberal CO methods allowed. CO closed this day; regular season framework applies.
4Snow goose hunting permitted Feb. 7 under regular season rules (CO closed for youth/vet hunt day).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Feb 1 – Feb 6 Snow Goose Conservation Order - First Segment | – | – |
| Feb 8 – Apr 10 Snow Goose Conservation Order - Second Segment |
1No bag or possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls permitted. Free annual permit required (available after Jan. 1 via Digital DNREC). Harvest reporting required.
2Snow Goose Conservation Order, first segment (before youth hunt day break).
3No bag or possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls permitted. Free annual permit required. Harvest reporting required.
4Snow Goose Conservation Order, second segment (resumes after youth hunt day on Feb. 7).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 1 – Jan 31 | 15 | 45 |
| Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | |||
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1Coots season same as Regular Duck Season (three splits: Nov. 1–9, Nov. 26–30, Dec. 17–Jan. 31). Dates represent full range; splits mirror duck season.
2Coots season dates same as Regular Duck Season (3 splits).
3Coots season dates same as Regular Duck Season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Nov 1 – Nov 9 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| Nov 26 – Nov 30 Second Split | |||
| Dec 17 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers per day (6 in possession).
2Mergansers season dates same as Regular Duck Season.
3No more than 2 hooded mergansers (6 in possession).
4Mergansers season same as Regular Duck Season (three splits). Dates represent full range.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 | Nov 8 – Jan 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 | |||
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 | |||
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 | |||
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 | |||
| Nov 8 – Jan 31 |
1By special permit ONLY. 1 per season limit.
2Tundra Swan by special permit only; 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.
5By special permit ONLY. 1 per season.
6Daily bag and possession limit is 1 per season.
7Tundra Swan season requires special permit.
8Tundra Swan by special permit only; season limit of 1.
9Tundra Swan season by special permit. Bag and possession are 1 per 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. Daily bag and possession limits same as applicable regular seasons for each species (ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, swans).
2First youth/veteran/active military waterfowl hunt day.
3Youth must be age 10–15. Daily bag and possession limits same as applicable regular seasons for each species. Snow Goose Conservation Order closed this day; snow geese may be harvested under regular season framework (bag limit 25, no liberal methods).
4Second youth/veteran/active military waterfowl hunt day. Snow Goose Conservation Order closed Feb. 7.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | 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. Species: ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, Canada geese, snow geese, brant, swans. Snow Goose Conservation Order closed this day; snow geese may be taken under regular season framework (daily bag limit of 25).
2Second special hunt date for youth, veteran's, and active duty military. CO is suspended Feb. 7.
| 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 season, first split.
2Brant season, 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.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.