Florida · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Florida Duck Season 2026–27: Zones, Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
Sep 19 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early Teal & Wood Duck only | Statewide | Sep 19 – Sep 23 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 21 – Nov 29 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 12 – Jan 31 |
| Youth Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Nov 14 – Nov 14 |
| Youth Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Feb 13 – Feb 13 |
| Veterans & Active Military Day | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 7 |
02 — Bag limits
| Early Teal & Wood Duck — Daily | 6 total (single species or aggregate), of which only 2 may be wood ducks |
|---|---|
| Regular Duck — Daily | 6 total (single species or aggregate); max: 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 mottled duck, 4 sea ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintails, 1 fulvous whistling-duck |
| Scaup — Daily | 1 from Nov 21-29 & Dec 12-Jan 11; 2 from Jan 12-31 and on Youth/Veteran days |
| Possession (all) | 3× daily bag |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 19, 2026) 06:47 — 19:29
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset (per FWC). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Florida sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Florida need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Florida hunting license, free federal HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Florida licenses & permits — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Florida?
The 2026–27 opener is September 19, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Florida?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 13, 2027. Late-zone and second-segment closes vary — see the zone table.
Do I need a Federal Duck Stamp?
Yes. Every waterfowl hunter 16 or older must carry a signed current-year Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp). It is available at U.S. Post Offices, many license retailers, most National Wildlife Refuges, and at fws.gov/service/buy-duck-stamp.
Verified · Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Statewide (marked 'W' = waterfowl). Requires hunting license + free migratory bird permit + $5 Florida waterfowl permit + $28.50 Federal Duck Stamp (16+). Scaup daily bag switches: 1 from Nov 21-29 & Dec 12-Jan 11, then 2 from Jan 12-31 and on Youth/Veteran days. Special county rules (Leon County, Lake Miccosukee — Wed/Sat/Sun only) apply; see FWC. Seasons may not apply to WMAs.