Nevada · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Nevada Duck Season 2026–27: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Northeast Zone | Sep 19 – Sep 20 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | Northeast Zone | Sep 26 – Dec 1 |
| Scaup | Northeast Zone · Window 1 | Sep 26 – Dec 1 |
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | South Zone — Moapa Valley portion of Overton WMA ONLY (not the rest of South Zone) | Oct 24 – Oct 24 |
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Northwest Zone | Oct 3 – Oct 3 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | South Zone (except Moapa Valley) | Oct 17 – Oct 25 |
| Regular Season | Northwest Zone | Oct 17 – Jan 3 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | South Zone (except Moapa Valley) | Oct 28 – Jan 31 |
| Regular Season | South Zone — Moapa Valley to the Muddy/Virgin Rivers confluence | Oct 31 – Jan 31 |
| Scaup | Northwest Zone · Window 1 | Nov 5 – Jan 3 |
| Scaup | South Zone (both areas) | Nov 7 – Jan 31 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Northeast Zone | Dec 12 – Jan 18 |
| Scaup | Northeast Zone · Window 2 | Dec 12 – Dec 30 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | Northwest Zone | Jan 6 – Jan 31 |
| Scaup | Northwest Zone · Window 2 | Jan 6 – Jan 31 |
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Northwest Zone | Feb 13 – Feb 13 |
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | South Zone (incl. Moapa Valley portion of Overton WMA) | Feb 13 – Feb 14 |
02 — Bag limits
| Ducks and Mergansers — Daily, all zones | 7 |
|---|---|
| Ducks and Mergansers — Possession, all zones | 21 (3× the daily limit) |
| Pintail | 3 daily / 9 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit |
| Hen Mallard / Mexican Duck | 2 daily / 6 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit |
| Redhead | 2 daily / 6 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit |
| Canvasback | 2 daily / 6 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit |
| Scaup (Lesser and Greater) | 2 daily / 6 possession, included within the overall 7-duck limit, not in addition — only during each zone's narrower scaup window (see season table) |
| Coots and Gallinules — Daily / Possession, all zones | 25 / 75, separate from the duck limit |
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Same bag limits as the regular season for ducks, mergansers, scaup, and coots. Hunters must be 17 or younger, accompanied by an adult 18+ who may not hunt |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 19, 2026) 06:03 — 18:48
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks, mergansers, scaup, coots, and gallinules (per NDOW). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Nevada sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Nevada need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Nevada hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Nevada hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Nevada — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Nevada?
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 Nevada?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 14, 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 Nevada per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Ducks and Mergansers — Daily, all zones — 7. Ducks and Mergansers — Possession, all zones — 21 (3× the daily limit). Pintail — 3 daily / 9 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit. Hen Mallard / Mexican Duck — 2 daily / 6 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit. Redhead — 2 daily / 6 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit. Canvasback — 2 daily / 6 possession, within the overall 7-duck limit. Scaup (Lesser and Greater) — 2 daily / 6 possession, included within the overall 7-duck limit, not in addition — only during each zone's narrower scaup window (see season table). Coots and Gallinules — Daily / Possession, all zones — 25 / 75, separate from the duck limit. Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt — Same bag limits as the regular season for ducks, mergansers, scaup, and coots. Hunters must be 17 or younger, accompanied by an adult 18+ who may not hunt. 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 Nevada?
On opening day (September 19, 2026) legal light runs 06:03 to 18:48. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks, mergansers, scaup, coots, and gallinules (per NDOW). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Nevada sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Nevada without a license?
No — Nevada requires a license to hunt protected game regardless of land ownership. The only property-related carve-out is a narrow defense allowance for wildlife threatening people or property, not a general hunting exemption.
Verified · Nevada Department of Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. From NDOW's own Commission Regulation (CR) setting 2026-27 migratory game bird seasons and bag limits — a signed regulation, not a summary page. Nevada splits duck hunting into Northeast, Northwest, and South Zones by county, with the South Zone itself carrying two slightly different date sets: most of the zone runs one pair of segments, while the Moapa Valley area (down to the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin Rivers) runs its own single continuous season instead. Scaup (lesser and greater) is nested inside the general duck season with its own narrower open window per zone — in the Northeast Zone it actually closes weeks before the general duck season does (Dec. 30 vs. Jan. 18). Mergansers, coots, and gallinules share the same zone dates as ducks; snipe does too but is out of scope for this file. Geese and swan seasons are set in the same regulation but are likewise out of scope.