Indiana Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 24
- Latest close
- Jan 24
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
North Zone
South Zone
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
North Zone opens in
30 days
Start your Indiana 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 Indiana DNR.
Central Zone
60 days
- Oct 31 – Nov 8, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary and north of the South Zone boundary. Applies to ducks, mergansers, coots, and Canada geese. Light geese and white-fronted geese use the same single statewide date range as all IN zones.
North Zone
60 days
- Oct 24 – Dec 13, 2026
- Dec 19 – Dec 27, 2026
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That part of Indiana north of a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to the Ohio border. Applies to ducks, mergansers, coots, and Canada geese. Light geese and white-fronted geese run a single statewide date range (not zoned).
South Zone
60 days
- Nov 7 – Nov 8, 2026
- Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That part of Indiana south of a line extending east from the Illinois border along I-70; east along National Ave; east along U.S. 150; south along U.S. 41; east along State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along U.S. 50 to the Ohio border. Applies to ducks, mergansers, coots, and Canada geese. Light geese and white-fronted geese use the same single statewide date range as all IN zones.
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early teal, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), White-fronted goose, Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Coot
Central Zone
- Oct 31 – Nov 8, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Coot
North Zone
- Oct 24 – Dec 13, 2026
- Dec 19 – Dec 27, 2026
Coot
South Zone
- Nov 7 – Nov 8, 2026
- Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
Early teal
Statewide
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
Central Zone
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
North Zone
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
South Zone
- Sep 1 – Sep 13, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
Central Zone
- Oct 31 – Nov 8, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
North Zone
- Oct 24 – Nov 1, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
South Zone
- Nov 7 – Nov 11, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027
White-fronted goose
Statewide
- Nov 21, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Statewide
- Nov 21, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- North Zone:
- Oct 17 – Oct 18, 2026
- Central Zone:
- Oct 24 – Oct 25, 2026
- South Zone:
- Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2026
Bag limits
Daily limit is 6 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Light geese: 20 daily.
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession.
Scaup (Central Zone): 1, then 2 daily, 6 in possession.
Scaup (North Zone): 1, then 2 daily, 6 in possession.
Scaup (South Zone): 1, then 2 daily, 6 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in Indiana
Indiana Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (Game Bird Habitat Stamp) — Required in addition to a hunting license and HIP registration.
Federal Migratory Bird Stamp — Required at age 16 and older.
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
- Resident and nonresident youth age 17 or younger are exempt from the state migratory waterfowl / game bird habitat stamp.
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 Indiana DNR (opens in a new tab) before you hunt.
Where to hunt in Indiana
Public conservation areas with managed or open waterfowl hunting, grouped by the zone whose season dates apply there. Each links to Indiana DNR’s own page for that area — access rules, blind draws, and closures change, so check before you go.
North Zone
Central Zone
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 Indiana Department of Natural Resources’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-23. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: in.gov (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.