Teal Season 2025–26 — Early Teal & Regular Season
Early teal season opens September 6, 2025 in most participating states — the first duck hunting opportunity of the fall. Complete guide to dates, bag limits, and what to expect.
Opens Sep 6, 2025
6 teal/day early season
27+ states participating
Early Teal Season — Key Facts
- • Dates: September 6–21, 2025 (most participating states)
- • Bag limit: 6 teal per day during early season
- • Species: Blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, cinnamon teal
- • Duration: 16 days — runs before regular duck season
- • Licenses: State hunting license, Federal Duck Stamp, and HIP registration required
Section A: Early Teal Season Participating States
States below participate in the early teal season. Dates shown are typical for 2025–26 — confirm with your state wildlife agency.
| State | Flyway | Early Season Opens | Early Season Closes | Daily Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Louisiana | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Alabama | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Kentucky | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Missouri | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Iowa | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Illinois | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Indiana | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Ohio | Mississippi | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Kansas | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Nebraska | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| South Dakota | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| North Dakota | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Montana | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Colorado | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Oklahoma | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Texas | Central | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| South Carolina | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Georgia | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Florida | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| North Carolina | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Virginia | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Maryland | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| Delaware | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
| New Jersey | Atlantic | Sep 6, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | 6 |
Section B: Teal During Regular Duck Season
During regular duck season (which opens in October or November depending on state and zone), teal are legal game and count toward the daily aggregate duck bag limit — 6 ducks per day in most flyways and 7/day in the Pacific Flyway.
Green-winged teal are more commonly encountered during regular season as they tend to be later migrants than blue-winged teal. By the time regular duck season opens, most blue-winged teal have moved south toward Mexico and Central America.
Blue-winged vs Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
- • Early migrants — peak movement August/September
- • Primary target for early teal season
- • Winter in Central and South America
- • Smaller than mallards — fast, agile flyers
- • Blue wing patch visible in flight
Green-winged Teal
- • Later migrants — peak movement October/November
- • More common during regular duck season
- • Winter in southern US and Mexico
- • Smallest North American dabbling duck
- • Iridescent green wing patch (speculum)
Teal Hunting — Frequently Asked Questions
Track your teal season with BlindBook
Log early-season hunts, track your 6-bird teal limit, and ID green-wing from blue-wing with AI.
Data compiled from state wildlife agency publications and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Source: BlindBook Research Team, verified 2026-05-08. Always confirm with official state agency regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.