Virginia · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Virginia Duck Season 2026–27: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| September Teal | East of I-95 | Sep 19 – Sep 27 |
| September Teal | West of I-95 | Sep 22 – Sep 27 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 1 (black duck closed) | Statewide | Oct 9 – Oct 12 |
| Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Oct 24 – Oct 24 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 2 | Statewide | Nov 18 – Nov 29 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 3 | Statewide | Dec 19 – Jan 31 |
| Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 6 |
| Falconry — September Teal | Statewide | Sep 16 – Sep 30 |
| Falconry — Ducks, Mergansers & Coot · Segment 1 | Statewide | Oct 9 – Oct 12 |
| Falconry — Ducks, Mergansers & Coot · Segment 2 | Statewide | Nov 18 – Feb 7 |
02 — Bag limits
| September Teal — Daily | 6 (blue-winged and green-winged teal only), 18 possession |
|---|---|
| Regular Duck — Daily | 6 of any species except: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks (closed Oct 9-12), 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling-duck, 4 sea ducks |
| Scaup — Daily | 1/day for 40 days (Oct 9-12, Nov 18-29, Dec 19-Jan 11); 2/day for 20 days (Jan 12-31) |
| Possession (all) | 3× daily bag |
| Falconry — Daily | 3, singly or in the aggregate |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 16, 2026) 06:28 — 19:20
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset for all waterfowl (per VA DWR). Falconry hawking hours are the same.. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Virginia sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Virginia need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Virginia hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Virginia hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Virginia — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Virginia?
The 2026–27 opener is September 16, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Virginia?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 7, 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 Virginia per day?
2026–27 bag limits: September Teal — Daily — 6 (blue-winged and green-winged teal only), 18 possession. Regular Duck — Daily — 6 of any species except: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks (closed Oct 9-12), 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 3 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling-duck, 4 sea ducks. Scaup — Daily — 1/day for 40 days (Oct 9-12, Nov 18-29, Dec 19-Jan 11); 2/day for 20 days (Jan 12-31). Possession (all) — 3× daily bag. Falconry — Daily — 3, singly or in the aggregate. 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 Virginia?
On opening day (September 16, 2026) legal light runs 06:28 to 19:20. The rule is: One-half hour before sunrise until sunset for all waterfowl (per VA DWR). Falconry hawking hours are the same. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Virginia sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Virginia without a license?
Virginia landowners — resident or nonresident — plus their spouse, children, grandchildren, and parents, may hunt, trap, and fish without a license anywhere within their own land's boundaries. That covers the base license, bear, deer/turkey, archery, muzzleloading, trapping, and the state waterfowl stamp. Tenants living on the land get the same right with the landlord's written consent; the federal Duck Stamp and HIP registration still apply.
Verified · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Per VA DWR 2026-2027 migratory game bird seasons. September Teal is split by the I-95 line. Black duck is CLOSED during the Oct 9-12 duck segment. Scaup daily bag switches: 1/day for 40 days (Oct 9-12, Nov 18-29, Dec 19-Jan 11), then 2/day for 20 days (Jan 12-31). Requires hunting license + HIP + Federal Duck Stamp (16+) + Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp. Re-verified 2026-08-16 — GAP FOUND AND FIXED: the page's Falconry section (not zoned by I-95, unlike the regular gun season) was missing entirely — its own longer September Teal window (Sept. 16-30) and its own Ducks/Mergansers/Coot windows (Oct. 9-12, then a single long segment Nov. 18-Feb. 7 rather than the gun season's three separate segments) are now included. This also pushed the file's 'seasonCloses' one day later, from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7, since the falconry season is the latest-closing method. All regular-season dates and bag limits were already correct.