Tennessee · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Tennessee Duck Season 2026–27: Zones, Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
Sep 12 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Duck & Teal (Early) | Statewide | Sep 12 – Sep 16 |
| Ducks, Coot & Mergansers · Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 28 – Nov 29 |
| Ducks, Coot & Mergansers · Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 5 – Jan 31 |
| Youth Sportsman Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 6 |
| Youth Sportsman Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Feb 13 – Feb 13 |
| Veterans & Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Feb 7 – Feb 7 |
| Veterans & Active Military Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Feb 14 – Feb 14 |
02 — Bag limits
| Wood Duck & Teal Early — Daily | 6 ducks total, max 2 wood ducks |
|---|---|
| Regular Ducks — Daily | 6 total, max 4 mallards (max 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck |
| Scaup — Daily | 1 per day Nov 28–30 and Dec 5–17, 2026; then 2 per day Dec 18, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 |
| Mergansers — Daily | 5 (max 2 hooded mergansers) |
| Coot — Daily | 15 |
| Possession — special | 3× daily bag, EXCEPT opening day (1× daily) and second day (2× daily) |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 05:57 — 18:57
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset (federal migratory-bird framework). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Tennessee sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Tennessee need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Tennessee hunting license, free federal HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Tennessee licenses & permits — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
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 at fws.gov/service/buy-duck-stamp.
Verified · Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Statewide dates per TWRA seasons summary. Early Wood Duck & Teal is Sept 12-16 (statewide). Scaup daily bag switches from 1 to 2 mid-season (Nov 28-Dec 17: 1; Dec 18-Jan 31: 2). Possession limit is reduced on opening day (1× daily) and second day (2× daily). Managed blind hunt applications have three tiers (Early/Mid/Late) with distinct application windows.