Missouri · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Missouri Duck Season 2026–27: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Teal (Blue-winged, Green-winged & Cinnamon) | Statewide | Sep 12 – Sep 20 |
| Youth Waterfowl Days | North Zone | Oct 24 – Oct 25 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser | North Zone | Oct 31 – Dec 29 |
| Youth Waterfowl Days | Middle Zone | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7 – Dec 13 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 1 | South Zone | Nov 26 – Nov 29 |
| Youth Waterfowl Days | South Zone | Nov 21 – Nov 22 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 2 | South Zone | Dec 7 – Jan 31 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19 – Jan 10 |
| Falconry for Ducks, Coots & Mergansers | Statewide (also open during all regular duck/teal/youth days) | Feb 11 – Mar 10 |
02 — Bag limits
| Duck — Daily | 6, including no more than 4 mallards (max 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 American black ducks, 3 northern pintail, 1 mottled duck, and scaup (2 daily for the first 45 days of the season, 1 daily for the last 15 days) |
|---|---|
| Duck — Possession | Three times the daily bag, or 18 total — varies by species |
| Coot — Daily / Possession | 15 / 45, same season dates as duck in each zone |
| Teal — Daily / Possession | 6 / 18 |
| Falconry for Ducks, Coots & Mergansers | 3 daily / 9 possession, singly or in the aggregate, counted within the falconer's regular migratory-bird limits |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 06:19 — 19:22
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks (per MDC) — no evening extension. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Missouri sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Missouri need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Missouri hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Missouri hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Missouri — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Missouri?
The 2026–27 opener is September 12, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Missouri?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is March 10, 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 Missouri per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Duck — Daily — 6, including no more than 4 mallards (max 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 American black ducks, 3 northern pintail, 1 mottled duck, and scaup (2 daily for the first 45 days of the season, 1 daily for the last 15 days). Duck — Possession — Three times the daily bag, or 18 total — varies by species. Coot — Daily / Possession — 15 / 45, same season dates as duck in each zone. Teal — Daily / Possession — 6 / 18. Falconry for Ducks, Coots & Mergansers — 3 daily / 9 possession, singly or in the aggregate, counted within the falconer's regular migratory-bird limits. 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 Missouri?
On opening day (September 12, 2026) legal light runs 06:19 to 19:22. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks (per MDC) — no evening extension. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Missouri sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Missouri without a license?
Missouri resident landowners with 5 or more acres, and their immediate household, may hunt that land without a permit — except bear, deer, elk, and turkey. Taking deer or turkey under this privilege needs at least 20 contiguous acres, and waterfowl still needs the federal Duck Stamp.
Verified · Missouri Department of Conservation · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates from MDC's own March 27, 2026 Conservation Commission announcement, pending final federal approval (standard language — the same approval process every state's waterfowl season goes through). Missouri revised its duck-zone boundaries for 2026-2030; the North/Middle/South lines used here are the new ones, not the pre-2026 map. Scaup bag steps down mid-season (2 daily for the first 45 days, 1 for the last 15) rather than on a fixed calendar date, so it is reproduced here as the source states it — as a day-count, not converted into a specific date.