Wisconsin · Duck · 2026 Edition
Wisconsin Duck Season 2026: Zone Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early Teal | Statewide | Sep 1 – Sep 9 |
| Youth Waterfowl | Statewide | Sep 19 – Sep 20 |
| Regular Duck | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26 – Nov 24 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 1 | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3 – Oct 11 |
| Regular Duck · Segment 2 | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17 – Dec 6 |
| Regular Duck | Open Water Duck Zone | Oct 17 – Dec 15 |
02 — Bag limits
| Duck - Daily | 6 ducks, to include not more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks and scaup as outlined per zone. Species not listed, such as teal and ring-necks, count toward the same 6 |
|---|---|
| Merganser - Daily | 5, including no more than 2 hooded mergansers |
| Coot - Daily | 15, in the same zone you are hunting ducks |
| Scaup - Northern Duck Zone | 2 daily Sept. 26 - Nov. 9; 1 daily Nov. 10-24 |
| Scaup - Southern Duck Zone | 1 daily Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-22; 2 daily Oct. 23 - Dec. 6 |
| Scaup - Open Water Zone | 2 daily Oct. 17 - Nov. 30; 1 daily Dec. 1-15 |
| Possession | None published in the WI DNR migratory season tables, which carry a Daily Bag Limit column only |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 05:51 — 19:33
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset for the regular duck season (per WI DNR: 'Shooting hours for all migratory game birds are 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset'). Early Teal (Sept. 1-9) is the exception: sunrise to sunset.. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Wisconsin sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Wisconsin need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Wisconsin hunting license, HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Wisconsin hunting license cost & waterfowl stamp →
Where to hunt public land in Wisconsin — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Wisconsin?
The 2026 opener is September 1, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Wisconsin?
The latest 2026 closing date is December 15, 2026. 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 Wisconsin per day?
2026 bag limits: Duck - Daily — 6 ducks, to include not more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks and scaup as outlined per zone. Species not listed, such as teal and ring-necks, count toward the same 6. Merganser - Daily — 5, including no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Coot - Daily — 15, in the same zone you are hunting ducks. Scaup - Northern Duck Zone — 2 daily Sept. 26 - Nov. 9; 1 daily Nov. 10-24. Scaup - Southern Duck Zone — 1 daily Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 17-22; 2 daily Oct. 23 - Dec. 6. Scaup - Open Water Zone — 2 daily Oct. 17 - Nov. 30; 1 daily Dec. 1-15. Possession — None published in the WI DNR migratory season tables, which carry a Daily Bag Limit column only. 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 Wisconsin?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 05:51 to 19:33. The rule is: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset for the regular duck season (per WI DNR: 'Shooting hours for all migratory game birds are 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset'). Early Teal (Sept. 1-9) is the exception: sunrise to sunset. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Wisconsin sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt ducks on my own land in Wisconsin without a license?
Wisconsin's exemption covers only a specific species list — beaver, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels — for the owner or occupant and their family on their own land. Deer, turkey, bear, and waterfowl aren't included, and the exempt species can't be taken in the 24 hours before firearm deer season opens.
Verified · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Three duck zones (Northern / Southern / Open Water) per WI DNR 2026 migratory bird seasons. Coot season is the same as duck season for each zone. Daily/possession bag limits are set in the WI DNR migratory game bird regulations (not printed on the dates page). Re-verified 2026-08-16: all zone/segment dates and the Youth Waterfowl and Early Teal dates confirmed exact against the current dates page. Shooting hours resolved (previously unconfirmed): the current page's Falconry section states 'Half an hour before sunrise to sunset' for ducks/mergansers/coots and 'Sunrise to Sunset' for Early Teal, matching WI DNR's standing migratory-bird shooting-hours rule. UPDATE 2026-08-27: the bag limits, which until now pointed at the regulations booklet, were read from the DNR's own online hunting regulations, Migratory Game Birds section: 'Regular Duck Season Bag Limits: 6 ducks, to include not more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks and scaup as outlined below ... In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers.' The three scaup step-up windows are quoted per zone from the same table, and coot is 15 in the zone being hunted. No possession figure is carried because that table has a Daily Bag Limit column and no possession column.