Quebec is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through June 30, 2026, with 64 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| District D1,2 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 | 6 | 18 |
| District C1,2 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 | 6 | 18 |
| District B1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 | Sep 13 – Sep 30 First Split (excl. Eiders/Long-tailed) | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 1 – Oct 24 Second Split | |||
| Oct 25 – Nov 14 Third Split | |||
| Nov 15 – Dec 27 Fourth Split | |||
| Dec 28 – Jan 14 Eiders/Long-tailed Ducks Extension | |||
| Dec 28 – Jan 14 Eider/Long-tailed Duck Extension | |||
| Jan 15 – Feb 5 North Shore Eider/Long-tailed Duck Extension | |||
| Jan 15 – Feb 5 Eiders/Long-tailed Ducks North Shore Extension | |||
| District E1,11 | Sep 13 – Oct 20 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 21 – Dec 27 Second Split | |||
| District F1,12 | Sep 20 – Oct 20 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 21 – Jan 3 Second Split | |||
| District A13 | Sep 1 – Dec 16 | 6 | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
1Not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 1 Blue-winged Teal (possession: not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 2 Blue-winged Teal). Harlequin Ducks excluded.
2Table groups Districts C and D together
3Not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye; not more than 1 Blue-winged Teal. This segment excludes Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks.
4Ducks other than Harlequin Ducks, combined
5Not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 1 Blue-winged Teal. Not an open season for Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks in locations on the North Shore and west of the Natashquan River. Harlequin Ducks excluded.
6Not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 1 Blue-winged Teal. Harlequin Ducks excluded.
7Only for Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks.
8Extended season for Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks only
9Only for Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks in locations on the North Shore and west of the Natashquan River.
10Extended season for Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks, North Shore locations west of Natashquan River only
11Not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 1 Blue-winged Teal. Not an open season for Barrow's Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye in locations within PHZ No. 21 or less than 100 m from that Zone. Harlequin Ducks excluded.
12Not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 1 Blue-winged Teal. Not an open season for Barrow's Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye between Pointe Jureux (Saint-Irénée) and Gros Cap à l'Aigle (Saint-Fidèle) from routes 362 and 138, extending 2 km within PHZ 21. Harlequin Ducks excluded.
13Not more than 1 may be Barrow's Goldeneye; not more than 1 may be Blue-winged Teal (possession: not more than 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, not more than 2 Blue-winged Teal). Harlequin Ducks excluded.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| District E1,2,3 | Sep 1 – Sep 12 Pre-season Farmland | 10 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Other Geese (non-Snow, non-Canada/Cackling) | |||
| Sep 13 – Sep 25 Early Season | |||
| Sep 26 – Dec 16 Main Season | |||
| District A3,4,5 | Sep 1 – Sep 25 Early Season | 10 | – |
| Sep 1 – Dec 16 Other Geese (non-Snow, non-Canada/Cackling) | |||
| Sep 26 – Oct 31 Mid Season | |||
| Nov 1 – Dec 16 Late Season | |||
| District F1,3,6,7,8,9,10,11 | Sep 6 – Sep 19 Farmland Pre-Season | 10 | – |
| Sep 20 – Jan 3 Other Geese (non-Snow, non-Canada/Cackling) | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 25 Early Season | |||
| Sep 26 – Oct 31 Mid Season West | |||
| Sep 26 – Oct 31 Mid Season East | |||
| Nov 1 – Dec 21 Late Season | |||
| District C1,2,3,12,13,14,15 | Sep 1 – Sep 12 Pre-season Farmland | 10 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Other Geese (non-Snow, non-Canada/Cackling) | |||
| Sep 13 – Sep 25 Early Season | |||
| Sep 26 – Oct 31 Mid Season | |||
| Nov 1 – Dec 16 Late Season | |||
| District B1,3,4 | Sep 13 – Sep 25 Early Season | 10 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Other Geese (non-Snow, non-Canada/Cackling) | |||
| Sep 26 – Dec 27 Main Season | |||
| District D1,2,3,12,13,16,17 | Sep 1 – Sep 12 Pre-season Farmland | 10 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Other Geese (non-Snow, non-Canada/Cackling) | |||
| Sep 13 – Sep 25 Early Season | |||
| Sep 26 – Oct 31 Mid Season | |||
| Nov 1 – Dec 16 Late Season |
1Geese other than Snow Geese, Canada Geese, and Cackling Geese combined.
2Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. Open only on farmland. Possession: no limit.
3Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. Possession: no limit.
4Possession limit listed as 'No limit'
5Geese other than Snow Geese, Canada Geese, and Cackling Geese combined (e.g. White-fronted Geese).
6Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. Open only on farmland. No possession limit.
7No possession limit stated
8Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. Bag 3 in locations west of Highway 15 and its northerly extension Route 117. Bag 2 in locations east of Highway 15/Route 117. Possession: no limit.
9Bag limit varies within District F: 3 west of Hwy 15/Route 117, 2 east.
10Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. 2 in locations east of Hwy 15/Route 117. No possession limit.
11Bag limit differs by location: 3 west of Hwy 15/Route 117, 2 east of it
12Table groups Districts C and D together; bag limit 10 applies to both.
13Table groups Districts C and D together.
14Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. Bag limit 3 in District C. Possession: no limit.
15District C has bag of 3; District D has bag of 2 for same period.
16Canada Geese and Cackling Geese combined. Bag limit 2 in District D. Possession: no limit.
17District D has bag of 2; District C has bag of 3 for same period.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| District B1,2 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 Fall Season | 20 | – |
| District F3,4,5,6 | Sep 6 – Sep 19 Farmland Pre-Season | 20 | – |
| Sep 20 – Jan 3 Fall Season | |||
| District C4,7,8,9 | Sep 1 – Sep 12 Farmland Pre-Season | 20 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Fall Season | |||
| District D4,7,8,9 | Sep 1 – Sep 12 Farmland Pre-Season | 20 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Fall Season | |||
| District A2,10 | Sep 1 – Dec 16 Fall Season | 20 | – |
| District E3,4,6,11 | Sep 1 – Sep 12 Farmland Pre-Season | 20 | – |
| Sep 13 – Dec 27 Fall Season |
1Snow Geese. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese may be used. While hunting with those calls, any other species in open season may be hunted. Possession: no limit.
2From the Special measures for overabundant species table.
3Snow Geese. Open only on farmland. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted. Hunting with bait (crops cut and left on ground in fall) permitted with Minister's consent.
4From Special Measures table; farmland only
5Snow Geese. Electronic calls may be used. While hunting with calls, other species in open season may be hunted. Hunting with bait (crops cut and left on ground in fall) permitted with Minister's consent. Possession: no limit.
6From Special measures table.
7Snow Geese. Open only on farmland. No possession limit. Electronic calls permitted.
8Snow Geese. Electronic bird calls may be used. While hunting with those calls, any other species in open season may be hunted. Possession: no limit.
9From Special measures table; Districts C and D grouped together.
10Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese may be used. While hunting Snow Geese with those calls, any other species in open season may be hunted. Possession: no limit.
11Snow Geese. Electronic calls may be used. Hunting with bait (crops cut and left on ground in fall) permitted with Minister's consent. While hunting with calls, other species in open season may be hunted. Possession: no limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| District A1,2 | May 1 – Jun 30 Spring Conservation Order | 20 | – |
| District F3,4 | Mar 1 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 20 | – |
| District E5,6 | Mar 1 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 20 | – |
| District D7,8 | Mar 1 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 20 | – |
| District C7,8 | Mar 1 – May 31 Spring Conservation Order | 20 | – |
1Snow Geese only. Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese may be used. Possession: no limit.
2Spring special conservation harvest for Snow Geese; 2025 federal permit also valid for 2026 spring harvest.
3Snow Geese. Open only on farmland (with specific exclusion zones near St. Lawrence River and Route 132). Electronic calls may be used. Hunting with bait in spring permitted with Minister's consent. Possession: no limit.
4Detailed geographic exclusions listed in the regulation text.
5Snow Geese. Open only on farmland. Electronic calls may be used. Hunting with bait in spring permitted with Minister's consent. Possession: no limit.
6From Special measures table.
7Snow Geese. Open only on farmland. Electronic bird calls may be used. Possession: no limit.
8From Special measures table; Districts C and D grouped together.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| District F1 | Sep 20 – Jan 3 | 4 | 12 |
1Coots and Gallinules combined.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| District C1,2 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 | 5 | 15 |
| District B1,3 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 | 5 | 15 |
| District D1,2 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 | 5 | 15 |
| District E1,3 | Sep 13 – Dec 27 | 5 | 15 |
| District A1,3 | Sep 1 – Dec 16 | 5 | 15 |
| District F1,3 | Sep 20 – Jan 3 | 5 | 15 |
1Geese other than Snow Geese, Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined.
2Table groups Districts C and D together.
3White-fronted geese and other non-snow, non-Canada geese
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.