Texas · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Texas Duck Season 2026–27: Zones, Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
Oct 17 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth-Only | High Plains Mallard Management Unit | Oct 17 – Oct 18 |
| Veterans & Active Duty Military | High Plains Mallard Management Unit | Oct 17 – Oct 18 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | High Plains Mallard Management Unit | Oct 24 – Oct 25 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | High Plains Mallard Management Unit | Oct 30 – Jan 31 |
| Dusky Duck (legal window only) | High Plains Mallard Management Unit | Oct 31 – Jan 31 |
| Youth-Only | South Zone | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Veterans & Active Duty Military | South Zone | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | South Zone | Nov 7 – Nov 29 |
| Dusky Duck (legal window only) | South Zone | Nov 12 – Nov 29 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | South Zone | Dec 12 – Jan 31 |
| Dusky Duck (legal window only, seg. 2) | South Zone | Dec 12 – Jan 31 |
| Youth-Only | North Zone | Nov 7 – Nov 8 |
| Veterans & Active Duty Military | North Zone | Nov 7 – Nov 8 |
| Regular Season · Segment 1 | North Zone | Nov 14 – Nov 29 |
| Dusky Duck (legal window only) | North Zone | Nov 19 – Nov 29 |
| Regular Season · Segment 2 | North Zone | Dec 5 – Jan 31 |
| Dusky Duck (legal window only, seg. 2) | North Zone | Dec 5 – Jan 31 |
| Falconry | North Zone | Feb 1 – Feb 21 |
| Falconry | South Zone | Feb 1 – Feb 21 |
02 — Bag limits
| Early Teal — Daily | 6 in the aggregate |
|---|---|
| Regular Duck — Daily | 6 in the aggregate (includes mergansers); max: 5 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 scaup, 1 dusky duck. Other species not listed: 6. |
| Coot | 15 |
| Possession (all) | 3× daily bag |
| Falconry | 3 daily / 9 possession — singly or in aggregate across all migratory game birds |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 17, 2026) 07:12 — 19:02
Rule: From one-half hour before sunrise to sunset (per TPWD). Falconry: same hours during open seasons.. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Texas sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Texas need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Texas hunting license, free federal HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Texas licenses & permits — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Texas?
The 2026–27 opener is October 17, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Texas?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 21, 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 · Texas Parks and Wildlife Department · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Three zones (High Plains Mallard Management Unit / North Zone / South Zone) per TPWD Outdoor Annual. Dusky ducks (mottled, Mexican, black and hybrids) are OFF-LIMITS the first 5 days of each zone's regular season due to USFWS concerns about mottled duck populations — the Dusky rows below show the LEGAL window. Requires state hunting license + Migratory Game Bird Endorsement + HIP + Federal Duck Stamp (16+).