Washington · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Washington Duck Season 2026–27: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth & Veterans/Active Military Day | West Zone | Sep 26 – Sep 26 |
| Youth & Veterans/Active Military Day | East Zone | Oct 3 – Oct 3 |
| Regular Duck Season · Segment 1 | Statewide | Oct 17 – Oct 25 |
| Regular Duck Season · Segment 2 | Statewide | Oct 28 – Jan 31 |
| Youth & Veterans/Active Military Day | West & East Zones | Feb 6 – Feb 6 |
02 — Bag limits
| Duck — Daily, statewide | 7, may include no more than 2 hen mallards, 3 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback and 2 redheads |
|---|---|
| Duck — Additional daily sub-limits, Western Washington only | 3 scoter, 2 long-tailed ducks and 3 goldeneye — not capped separately in Eastern Washington |
| Duck — Possession, statewide | 21 total; 6 hen mallards, 9 pintail, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, 6 redheads |
| Duck — Additional possession sub-limits, Western Washington only | 9 scoter, 6 long-tailed ducks, 9 goldeneye |
| Scaup | Closed Oct. 17-Nov. 6, 2026 even though the general season is open — reopens Nov. 7 through the season's close |
| American Coot — Daily / Possession | 25 / 75, concurrent with the regular duck season |
| Youth & Veterans/Active Military Days | Same as the regular season |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 26, 2026) 06:25 — 18:50
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for migratory birds (per WDFW) — no evening extension, unlike Washington's general big-game shooting-hours rule. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Washington sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Washington need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Washington hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Washington hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Washington — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Washington?
The 2026–27 opener is September 26, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Washington?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 6, 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 Washington per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Duck — Daily, statewide — 7, may include no more than 2 hen mallards, 3 pintail, 2 scaup, 2 canvasback and 2 redheads. Duck — Additional daily sub-limits, Western Washington only — 3 scoter, 2 long-tailed ducks and 3 goldeneye — not capped separately in Eastern Washington. Duck — Possession, statewide — 21 total; 6 hen mallards, 9 pintail, 6 scaup, 6 canvasback, 6 redheads. Duck — Additional possession sub-limits, Western Washington only — 9 scoter, 6 long-tailed ducks, 9 goldeneye. Scaup — Closed Oct. 17-Nov. 6, 2026 even though the general season is open — reopens Nov. 7 through the season's close. American Coot — Daily / Possession — 25 / 75, concurrent with the regular duck season. Youth & Veterans/Active Military Days — Same as the regular season. 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 Washington?
On opening day (September 26, 2026) legal light runs 06:25 to 18:50. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset for migratory birds (per WDFW) — no evening extension, unlike Washington's general big-game shooting-hours rule. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Washington sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Washington without a license?
No — Washington requires a recreational license to hunt or take wildlife, with no landowner exception; the statute's only carve-out is for bullfrogs. A separate, narrower rule lets an owner kill wildlife that's threatening safety or property without a license, but that's damage control, not a hunting exemption.
Verified · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. From WAC 220-416-060, the actual codified rule rather than a summary page. Washington runs the regular duck season statewide, not zoned — only the Youth and Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Days split by West Zone and East Zone, and only their first date differs (Sept. 26 West vs. Oct. 3 East); the second date, Feb. 6, is shared. Western Washington adds three sea-duck sub-limits (scoter, long-tailed duck, goldeneye) that Eastern Washington does not carry — a coastal-vs-inland distinction worth knowing before you count a mixed bag. Re-verified 2026-08-16: all dates, the scaup closure window, and every bag/possession sub-limit confirmed exact against the current WAC text. Note for future checks: the DUCKS section of the WAC itself has an internal typo, listing the East Zone youth day as 'Oct. 3, 2027' in one sentence — the GEESE section a few paragraphs down states the same day correctly as 'Oct. 3, 2026,' and every other clue (adjacent 2026 dates, this file's own prior-verified data) confirms 2026 is correct. Don't let that typo cause a false 'fix' in a future pass.