Minnesota · Duck · 2026 Edition
Minnesota Duck Season 2026: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early Teal (Blue-winged, Green-winged & Cinnamon) | Statewide | Sep 5 – Sep 9 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser | North Zone | Sep 26 – Nov 24 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 1 | Central Zone | Sep 26 – Oct 4 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 1 | South Zone | Sep 26 – Oct 4 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 2 | Central Zone | Oct 10 – Nov 29 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 2 | South Zone | Oct 17 – Dec 6 |
02 — Bag limits
| Duck — Daily (combined, all species) | 6 |
|---|---|
| Duck — Species sub-limits | 4 mallards (max 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 6 for all other species combined |
| Scaup — North Zone | 1 daily Sept. 26–Oct. 10; 2 daily Oct. 11–Nov. 24 |
| Scaup — Central Zone | 1 daily Sept. 26–Oct. 15; 2 daily Oct. 16–Nov. 30 |
| Scaup — South Zone | 1 daily Sept. 26–Oct. 22; 2 daily Oct. 23–Dec. 6 |
| Coot & Moorhen (Gallinule) — Daily | 15 |
| Merganser — Daily | 5, no more than 2 hooded mergansers |
| Early Teal — Daily | 6, combined across all three teal species |
| Possession | Three times the daily limit for all migratory birds |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 5, 2026) 06:13 — 19:47
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks (per Minnesota DNR) — the early teal season is the exception, shooting cannot begin until sunrise. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Minnesota sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Minnesota need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Minnesota hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Minnesota hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Minnesota — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Minnesota?
The 2026 opener is September 5, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Minnesota?
The latest 2026 closing date is December 6, 2026. 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 Minnesota per day?
2026 bag limits: Duck — Daily (combined, all species) — 6. Duck — Species sub-limits — 4 mallards (max 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 6 for all other species combined. Scaup — North Zone — 1 daily Sept. 26–Oct. 10; 2 daily Oct. 11–Nov. 24. Scaup — Central Zone — 1 daily Sept. 26–Oct. 15; 2 daily Oct. 16–Nov. 30. Scaup — South Zone — 1 daily Sept. 26–Oct. 22; 2 daily Oct. 23–Dec. 6. Coot & Moorhen (Gallinule) — Daily — 15. Merganser — Daily — 5, no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Early Teal — Daily — 6, combined across all three teal species. Possession — Three times the daily limit for all migratory birds. 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 Minnesota?
On opening day (September 5, 2026) legal light runs 06:13 to 19:47. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks (per Minnesota DNR) — the early teal season is the exception, shooting cannot begin until sunrise. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Minnesota sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Minnesota without a license?
Minnesota's exemption is narrow: it covers small game only, and only on land that is your actual principal residence — owning land you don't live on doesn't qualify. Deer, bear, and turkey always need a license and tags, even at home.
Verified · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates from the Minnesota DNR's own '2026 seasons' waterfowl page. Minnesota runs three zones (North/Central/South); North has a single continuous duck season, while Central and South each split into a short opening block (Sept. 26-Oct. 4) and a longer main block. Scaup steps from a 1-bird to a 2-bird daily limit on its own zone-specific date, not tied to the duck season's own segment breaks. Re-verified 2026-08-16: all zone/segment/scaup dates confirmed exact. Confirmed Minnesota genuinely has no Youth Waterfowl Day at all (unlike most neighboring states) — the DNR page's season table has no such entry, so its absence here is correct, not a gap.