Idaho Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 3
- Latest close
- Jan 31
- Daily bag
- 7 ducks
- Possession
- 21 ducks
Duck Area 2
Duck Area 1
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
Duck Area 2 opens in
9 days
Start your Idaho log — free. MarshHQ counts every species against these limits as you log, and shows legal shooting light for the spot you’re hunting.
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Season dates by zone
Duck season, by zone. Always confirm shooting hours with IDFG.
Duck Area 1
105 days
- Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
All parts of the state not included in Duck Area 2 or Duck Area 3.
Duck Area 1
86 days
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
All parts of the state not included in Duck Area 2 or Duck Area 3.
Duck Area 2
105 days
- Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, and Valley counties; that portion of Bingham County within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; and that portion of Caribou County north and east of the following boundary: beginning at Highway 30 on the Bannock-Caribou County line to Power Plant Road, then south across the Alexander dam on Alexander Reservoir to the northern boundary of the Caribou Targhee National Forest, and then south and east along the eastern border of the Caribou Targhee National Forest to the Bear Lake County line.
Duck Area 2
86 days
- Oct 3 – Dec 27, 2026
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, and Valley counties; that portion of Bingham County within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; and that portion of Caribou County north and east of the following boundary: beginning at Highway 30 on the Bannock-Caribou County line to Power Plant Road, then south across the Alexander dam on Alexander Reservoir to the northern boundary of the Caribou Targhee National Forest, and then south and east along the eastern border of the Caribou Targhee National Forest to the Bear Lake County line.
Duck Area 3 (Panhandle)
105 days
- Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties.
Duck Area 3 (Panhandle)
86 days
- Oct 29, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties.
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), White-fronted goose, Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s), Light goose conservation order, Swan
Coot
Duck Area 1
- Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Coot
Duck Area 2
- Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Coot
Duck Area 3 (Panhandle)
- Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027
Early Canada goose
Canada Goose Area 4
- Sep 1 – Sep 15, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
Canada Goose Area 1
- Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Canada Goose Area 2
- Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Canada Goose Area 3
- Nov 3, 2026 – Feb 15, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Canada Goose Area 4
- Oct 3 – Dec 31, 2026
White-fronted goose
White-fronted Goose Area 1
- Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
White-fronted goose
White-fronted Goose Area 2
- Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
White-fronted Goose Area 3
- Nov 3, 2026 – Feb 15, 2027
White-fronted goose
White-fronted Goose Area 4
- Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Light Goose Area 1
- Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Light Goose Area 2
- Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Light Goose Area 3
- Oct 19 – Dec 24, 2026
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Light Goose Area 4
- Oct 3 – Dec 23, 2026
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Light Goose Area 5
- Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027
Light goose conservation order
Light Goose Area 3
- Feb 1 – Mar 10, 2027
Light goose conservation order
Light Goose Area 4
- Feb 16 – Mar 10, 2027
Swan
Swan Controlled Hunt Area
- Oct 10 – Dec 1, 2026
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- Statewide:
- Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026
Bag limits
Daily limit is 7 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Light geese: 20 daily, 60 in possession.
Scaup: 2 daily, 6 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in Idaho
Federal Duck Stamp — Required for hunters 16 and older, signed across the face.
HIP registration — Harvest Information Program registration for Idaho.
Idaho hunting license — Plus any state waterfowl permit or stamp the agency requires.
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
License and permit names and exemptions are set by the state and can change without notice, and fees aren’t listed here for the same reason. MarshHQ is not responsible for errors or out-of-date information — confirm current requirements directly with IDFG (opens in a new tab) before you hunt.
Disclaimer: Bag limits and season dates are for reference only and may not reflect the most current regulations. Always verify with USFWS and your state wildlife agency before hunting. Dates and limits above reflect the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-29. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: idfg.idaho.gov (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.