Manitoba is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from August 15 through June 15, 2026, with 48 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 - Far North1,2 | Sep 1 – Oct 31 Regular Duck Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 1 – Oct 31 | |||
| Zone 3 - Northern3,4 | Sep 1 – Sep 7 Early Season (residents only) | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 8 – Nov 30 Main Season | |||
| Zone 2 - Central5,6,7 | Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Resident Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 24 – Dec 6 Main Season | |||
| Zone 1 - Southern5,8,9,10 | Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Resident Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 24 – Dec 6 Main Season |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
1Verified ECCC 2025-26. 8/24 bag. DB zones mapped: Z1(Southern)=Official Z4, Z2(Central)=Z3, Z3(Northern)=Z2, Z4(Far North)=Z1. Official MB has resident/non-resident date splits not captured. No individual duck species sub-limits in MB regs except Z4 non-resident canvasback/redhead 4 combined.
2Zone No. 1 (Far North) – All ducks combined. Sep 1–Oct 31.
3Residents of Canada only
4Zone No. 2 (Northern) – All ducks combined.
5For residents of Canada only
6Zone 3 (Central). Early segment for residents only.
7Zone No. 3 (Central) – All ducks combined.
8Zone 4 (Southern). Early segment for residents only.
98 bag/24 possession for residents; 8 bag/24 possession for non-residents (not more than 4 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks in any combination; possession not more than 12 Redheads or Canvasbacks combined).
10Zone No. 4 (Southern) – All ducks combined. Non-resident sub-limit for Redheads/Canvasbacks.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 - Far North1,2,3 | Sep 1 – Oct 31 Canada/Cackling Goose Season | 5 | 15 |
| Sep 1 – Oct 31 | |||
| Zone 3 - Northern4,5,6,7 | Sep 1 – Sep 7 Early Season (residents only) | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 8 – Nov 30 Main Season | |||
| Zone 2 - Central6,8,9,10,11,12 | Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Resident Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 24 – Dec 6 Main Season | |||
| Mar 1 – Apr 10 Spring Canada Goose Season | |||
| Zone 1 - Southern8,13,14,15,16,17 | Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Resident Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 24 – Dec 6 Main Season | |||
| Mar 1 – Apr 10 Spring Canada Goose Season |
1Verified ECCC 2025-26. 5/15 bag (non-resident limit). Official resident limit is 8/24 for dark geese. White-fronted geese included in same category. DB uses non-resident limits as conservative default.
2Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant combined
3Zone No. 1 (Far North) – dark geese combined.
4Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant combined. Residents of Canada only.
5Zone No. 2 (Northern).
6Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant combined. 8 bag/24 possession for residents of Canada; 5 bag/15 possession for non-residents.
7Zone No. 2 (Northern). Bag limit varies by residency; recording resident limit as primary.
8Canada Geese only (special measures). Electronic calls of Canada Geese permitted. From Mar 15–Apr 10 electronic Snow/Ross's Goose calls may be used.
9Zone No. 3 (Central) – Spring Canada Goose special measure.
10Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, combined. For residents of Canada only.
11Zone 3 (Central). Early segment for residents only.
12Zone No. 3 (Central). Resident limit recorded as primary.
13Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, combined. For residents of Canada only. In Provincial Game Hunting Area 38, an additional 4 allowed (total 12).
14Zone 4 (Southern). Early segment for residents only.
15Zone No. 4 (Southern) – Spring Canada Goose special measure.
16Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant combined. 8 bag/24 possession for residents; 5 bag/15 possession for non-residents. Non-residents: hunting from half-hour before sunrise until noon only, from opening day through second Sunday of October.
17Zone No. 4 (Southern). Non-resident shooting hours restriction in early period.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 - Northern1,2,3,4,5 | Sep 1 – Sep 7 Early Resident Season | 50 | – |
| Sep 8 – Nov 30 Main Fall Season | |||
| Sep 8 – Nov 30 Main Season | |||
| Zone 4 - Far North3,6,7,8,9 | Aug 15 – Aug 31 Early Season | 50 | – |
| Sep 1 – Oct 31 Fall Season | |||
| Sep 1 – Oct 31 Main Season | |||
| Zone 2 - Central3,5,10,11,12 | Sep 1 – Sep 16 Early Season (residents only) | 50 | – |
| Sep 17 – Dec 6 Main Season | |||
| Sep 17 – Dec 6 Main Fall Season | |||
| Zone 1 - Southern3,5,10,13,14 | Sep 1 – Sep 16 Early Season (residents only) | 50 | – |
| Sep 17 – Dec 6 Main Fall Season | |||
| Sep 17 – Dec 6 Main Season |
1Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. For residents of Canada only. Electronic bird calls may be used.
2Zone 2 (Northern). Special measures.
3Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted; while using calls any other species in open season may be hunted.
4Zone No. 2 (Northern) – Special measures for overabundant species.
5Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic bird calls may be used.
6Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted.
7Zone No. 1 (Far North) – Special measures for overabundant species.
8Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic bird calls may be used; while hunting with calls, other open-season migratory birds may also be hunted.
9Zone 1 (Far North). Special measures for overabundant species.
10Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted. Residents of Canada only.
11Zone No. 3 (Central) – Special measures for overabundant species.
12Zone 3 (Central). Special measures.
13Zone No. 4 (Southern) – Special measures for overabundant species.
14Zone 4 (Southern). Special measures.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 - Far North1,2 | Apr 1 – Jun 15 Spring Conservation Order | 50 | – |
| Zone 3 - Northern1,3 | Mar 15 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 50 | – |
| Zone 2 - Central4,5 | Mar 15 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 50 | – |
| Zone 1 - Southern4,6 | Mar 15 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 50 | – |
1Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted.
2Zone No. 1 (Far North) – Spring special conservation harvest.
3Zone No. 2 (Northern) – Spring special conservation harvest.
4Snow Geese and Ross's Geese combined. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted. From Mar 15–Apr 10, electronic calls of Canada Geese may also be used.
5Zone No. 3 (Central) – Spring special conservation harvest.
6Zone No. 4 (Southern) – Spring special conservation harvest.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 - Northern1,2,3,4 | Sep 1 – Sep 7 Early Season (residents only) | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 7 Early Resident Season | |||
| Sep 8 – Nov 30 Main Season | |||
| Zone 4 - Far North5 | Sep 1 – Oct 31 | 8 | 24 |
| Zone 2 - Central1,3,6,7 | Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Resident Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Season (residents only) | |||
| Sep 24 – Dec 6 Main Season | |||
| Zone 1 - Southern1,3,8,9 | Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Resident Season | 8 | 24 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 23 Early Season (residents only) | |||
| Sep 24 – Dec 6 Main Season |
1Residents of Canada only
2Zone No. 2 (Northern) – Coots.
3For residents of Canada only
4Zone 2 (Northern).
5Zone No. 1 (Far North) – Coots.
6Zone 3 (Central).
7Zone No. 3 (Central) – Coots.
8Zone 4 (Southern).
9Zone No. 4 (Southern) – Coots.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 - Far North1 | Sep 1 – Nov 30 | 5 | 15 |
| Zone 3 - Northern2 | Sep 1 – Nov 30 | 5 | 15 |
| Zone 2 - Central3 | Sep 1 – Dec 6 | 5 | 15 |
| Zone 1 - Southern4 | Sep 1 – Dec 6 | 5 | 15 |
1Zone No. 1 (Far North).
2Zone No. 2 (Northern).
3Zone No. 3 (Central).
4Zone No. 4 (Southern).
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.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.