Massachusetts · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Massachusetts Duck Season 2026–27: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Sep 26 – Sep 26 |
| Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 3 |
| Active Military & Veterans Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Sep 26 – Sep 26 |
| Active Military & Veterans Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 3 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Berkshire Zone | Oct 12 – Nov 28 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Berkshire Zone | Dec 14 – Jan 2 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Central Zone | Oct 10 – Nov 28 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Central Zone | Dec 15 – Jan 2 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Coastal Zone | Oct 10 – Oct 17 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Coastal Zone | Nov 27 – Jan 27 |
| Falconry | Statewide | Oct 10 – Feb 9 |
02 — Bag limits
| Ducks, Mergansers, and Sea Ducks — Daily, all zones | 6 |
|---|---|
| Ducks, Mergansers, and Sea Ducks — Possession, all zones | 18 (3× the daily limit) |
| Sea Ducks (within the 6-duck daily limit) | No more than 4 |
| Mergansers, any species (within the 6-duck daily limit) | No more than 5 |
| Mallard | 4 daily, no more than 2 females |
| Wood Duck | 3 daily |
| American Black Duck | 2 daily |
| Northern Pintail | 1 daily |
| Canvasback | 2 daily |
| Redhead | 2 daily |
| Fulvous Whistling Duck | 1 daily |
| Mottled Duck | 1 daily |
| Scaup | 1 daily in all zones/seasons, except 2 daily in the Coastal Zone Jan. 7-27 only |
| Scoter | 3 daily |
| Eider | 3 daily, no more than 1 female |
| Long-tailed Duck | 3 daily |
| Harlequin Duck | No harvest allowed |
| Any other duck species (e.g. American green-winged teal) | 6 daily |
| American Coot — Daily / Possession, all zones (same dates as duck) | 15 / 45 |
| Falconry — Daily / Possession | 3 / 9, ducks and coot only, no geese |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 26, 2026) 06:08 — 18:35
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks, mergansers, sea ducks, and coot (per MassWildlife) — no evening extension, unlike the early Canada goose season's extended hours. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Massachusetts sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Massachusetts need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Massachusetts hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Massachusetts hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Massachusetts — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Massachusetts?
The 2026–27 opener is September 26, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Massachusetts?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 9, 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 online from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
How many ducks can you shoot in Massachusetts per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Ducks, Mergansers, and Sea Ducks — Daily, all zones — 6. Ducks, Mergansers, and Sea Ducks — Possession, all zones — 18 (3× the daily limit). Sea Ducks (within the 6-duck daily limit) — No more than 4. Mergansers, any species (within the 6-duck daily limit) — No more than 5. Mallard — 4 daily, no more than 2 females. Wood Duck — 3 daily. American Black Duck — 2 daily. Northern Pintail — 1 daily. Canvasback — 2 daily. Redhead — 2 daily. Fulvous Whistling Duck — 1 daily. Mottled Duck — 1 daily. Scaup — 1 daily in all zones/seasons, except 2 daily in the Coastal Zone Jan. 7-27 only. Scoter — 3 daily. Eider — 3 daily, no more than 1 female. Long-tailed Duck — 3 daily. Harlequin Duck — No harvest allowed. Any other duck species (e.g. American green-winged teal) — 6 daily. American Coot — Daily / Possession, all zones (same dates as duck) — 15 / 45. Falconry — Daily / Possession — 3 / 9, ducks and coot only, no geese. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting ducks in Massachusetts?
On opening day (September 26, 2026) legal light runs 06:08 to 18:35. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks, mergansers, sea ducks, and coot (per MassWildlife) — no evening extension, unlike the early Canada goose season's extended hours. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Massachusetts sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Massachusetts without a license?
A Massachusetts landowner with 300 or more contiguous undeveloped acres, or a farmer earning at least half their income from farming, may hunt small game on that land without a license. Deer, turkey, or bear on the same land needs a separate Farmer/Landowner permit, which also covers immediate family and resident tenants.
Verified · Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Three zones — Berkshire, Central, and Coastal — each running its own split duck season; mergansers and sea ducks share the same dates and overall 6-bird daily limit as ducks, not a separate season. Coot runs on the identical zone dates as duck with its own 15/45 bag and possession limit. Falconry (ducks and coot only, no geese) runs its own longer season on top of the regular dates. Goose and brant seasons are set on the same page but are out of scope for this file. No migratory game bird hunting on Sundays, statewide. RE-VERIFIED 2026-09-01 through a text-extraction proxy of the same official URL — mass.gov answers direct fetchers with 403; through the proxy the page reads in full. The zone row matches: 'Ducks, mergansers, sea ducks | Oct. 12-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-Jan. 2' for the Berkshire Zone, with the other two zones on their own windows. Bag confirmed: daily 6, of which 'No more than 4 sea ducks', plus the species sub-limits (wood duck 3, American black duck 2, fulvous whistling duck 1, mottled duck 1). One change MassWildlife highlights for this year — it does not concern ducks but sits in the same regulations: 'Canada Goose Season in the Berkshire Zone increased from 30 days to 45 days; daily bag increased from 1 to 3 birds.'