Texas is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 13 through February 15, 2026, with 39 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Parks and Wildlife Department within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Annual Public Hunting Permit required on WMAs ($48)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 8 – Nov 30 Regular Season First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Regular Season Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,2 | Nov 1 – Nov 30 Regular Season First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 25 Regular Season Second Split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 18 – Oct 19 Regular Season First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 25 Regular Season Second Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard either · Max 2 hens per day | 5 | 15 |
| Lesser Scaup Aggregate 1 scaup (greater + lesser combined) | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck Dusky duck aggregate: 1 total of mottled/Mexican-like/black duck | 1 | 3 |
| Pintail (Northern) Increased from 1 for 2025-2026 per USFWS | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Greater Scaup Aggregate 1 scaup (greater + lesser combined) | 1 | 3 |
| Black Duck Dusky duck aggregate: 1 total of mottled/Mexican-like/black duck | 1 | 3 |
15 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 scaup, 1 dusky duck (dusky duck closed first 5 days of season); includes mergansers.
2Two-segment split season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 Early Teal Season | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1,2 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 Early Teal Season | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,3 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 Early Teal Season | 6 | 18 |
1Statewide · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · 2025 season shortened to 9 days (below-average teal population)
2Statewide.
3Statewide. Teal only.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Goose Zone1,2,3 | Sep 13 – Sep 28 Early Canada Goose | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 1 – Jan 25 Regular Dark Geese | |||
| Western Goose Zone1 | Nov 1 – Feb 1 Regular Dark Geese | 5 | 15 |
1Two zones: Western & Eastern · Eastern sub-limit: max 2 white-fronted/day · Non-toxic shot · No electronic calls
2Eastern Zone only. Canada goose only.
3No more than 2 white-fronted geese.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Goose Zone1,2 | Nov 1 – Feb 15 Regular Light Geese | 5 | 15 |
| Western Goose Zone1 | Nov 1 – Feb 1 Regular Light Geese | 5 | 15 |
1TX eliminated Conservation Order (2024-25) · Standard season rules only · No electronic calls · No unplugged shotguns · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
2Snow, Ross, blue goose.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1 | Nov 8 – Jan 25 Coot Season | 15 | 45 |
| South Zone1 | Nov 1 – Jan 25 Coot Season | 15 | 45 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 18 – Jan 25 Coot Season | 15 | 45 |
1Coots concurrent with duck season · Gallinule season separate (Sep 20-28 & Nov 1-Dec 31) · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun
2Concurrent with duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 8 – Nov 30 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,2 | Nov 1 – Nov 30 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 25 Second Split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 18 – Oct 19 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 24 – Jan 25 Second Split |
1Within 6-duck aggregate · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Same zone dates as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
2Max 2 hooded mergansers per day. Concurrent with duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3,4 | Nov 1 – Nov 2 Youth/Veterans Weekend | 6 | 18 |
| Nov 1 – Nov 2 Youth-Only | |||
| South Zone1,3,4,5 | Oct 25 – Oct 26 Youth/Veterans Weekend | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 25 – Oct 26 Youth-Only | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,3,4,6 | Oct 11 – Oct 12 Youth-Only | 6 | 18 |
| Oct 11 – Oct 12 Youth/Veterans Weekend |
1Youth 16 & under · 2 extra days per zone before regular season · Adults may not hunt ducks/mergansers/coots · Dusky ducks legal during youth season · Under 17 exempt from Federal Stamp
2North Zone youth/veterans weekend.
316 years of age or younger; dusky ducks are legal during Youth-only season; must be accompanied by adult 18+; Federal Duck Stamp required for hunters 16+. Sub-limits: 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 scaup, 1 dusky duck.
4Regular season bag limits apply.
5South Zone youth/veterans weekend.
6HPMMU youth/veterans weekend.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Nov 1 – Nov 2 Veterans and Active Duty Military | 6 | 18 |
| South Zone1,2 | Oct 25 – Oct 26 Veterans and Active Duty Military | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,2 | Oct 11 – Oct 12 Veterans and Active Duty Military | 6 | 18 |
1Restricted to veterans and current members of US Armed Forces on active duty including National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than training). Dusky ducks are legal. Sub-limits: 5 mallards (2 hens max), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 scaup, 1 dusky duck.
2Regular season bag limits apply.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 Falconry Season | 3 | 9 |
| South Zone1,2 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 Falconry Season | 3 | 9 |
1Valid Texas falconry permit required. Daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed 3 and 9 migratory game birds respectively, singly or in the aggregate.
2Falconry-only extended season after regular season closes.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Zone1,2,3,4 | Nov 13 – Nov 30 Dusky Duck Season First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 25 Dusky Duck Season Second Split | |||
| South Zone1,3,5,6 | Nov 6 – Nov 30 Dusky Duck Season First Split | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 25 Dusky Duck Season Second Split | |||
| High Plains Mallard Management Unit1,7 | Oct 27 – Jan 25 Dusky Duck Season | 1 | 3 |
11 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican duck, black duck and their hybrids). Closed first 5 days of regular season; this date reflects the open date after the 5-day closure.
2Dusky duck sub-season listed separately. Opens Nov. 13 (5 days after regular season Nov. 8 opener).
31 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican duck, black duck and their hybrids).
4Dusky duck sub-season second split for North Zone.
5Dusky duck sub-season listed separately. Opens Nov. 6 (5 days after regular season Nov. 1 opener).
6Dusky duck sub-season second split for South Zone.
7Dusky duck sub-season listed separately on page. Opens Oct. 27 (5 days after regular season Oct. 24 opener).
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 was verified on April 16, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.