Maine Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
- Earliest opener
- Sep 28
- Latest close
- Jan 5
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
North Zone
Coastal Zone
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
North Zone opens in
5 days
Start your Maine log — free. MarshHQ counts every species against these limits as you log, and shows legal shooting light for the spot you’re hunting.
Email only. No card. The log stays free.
Season dates by zone
Duck season, by zone. Always confirm shooting hours with MDIFW.
Coastal Zone
70 days
- Oct 3 – Oct 10, 2026
- Nov 5, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
Everything seaward of Route 1 (from the ME-NB border in Calais at the Route 1 bridge, south along Route 1 to the ME-NH border in Kittery).
North Zone
69 days
- Sep 28 – Dec 5, 2026
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
Inland (north/west) of the North/South line. The line runs from the ME-NB border in Baileyville west along Stony Brook to Rte 9, Rte 9 to Rte 15 to I-95 in Bangor, the Brewer re-routing (I-95 to I-395 to Rte 15B to Rte 178 to Rte 9B to Rte 9), and in the west now follows Rte 2 from Newport to Gilead at the NH border (this replaced the former I-95/Rte 202/Rte 11 western leg, enlarging the South Zone).
South Zone
69 days
- Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2026
- Oct 29 – Dec 26, 2026
Between the North/South line and the South/Coastal line - inland of Route 1 but south/east of the North Zone line.
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s), Brant
Coot
Coastal Zone
- Oct 3 – Oct 10, 2026
- Nov 5, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
Coot
North Zone
- Sep 28 – Dec 5, 2026
Coot
South Zone
- Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2026
- Oct 29 – Dec 26, 2026
Early Canada goose
Coastal Zone
- Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026
Early Canada goose
North Zone
- Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026
Early Canada goose
South Zone
- Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
Coastal Zone
- Oct 3 – Oct 10, 2026
- Oct 24, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
North Zone
- Oct 1 – Dec 9, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
South Zone
- Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2026
- Oct 29 – Dec 26, 2026
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Statewide
- Oct 1, 2026 – Jan 30, 2027
Brant
Coastal Zone
- Oct 3 – Oct 10, 2026
- Dec 10, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
Brant
North Zone
- Sep 28 – Oct 31, 2026
Brant
South Zone
- Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2026
- Oct 29 – Nov 21, 2026
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- North Zone:
- Sep 19, 2026 · Dec 12, 2026
- South Zone:
- Sep 19, 2026 · Oct 17, 2026
- Coastal Zone:
- Sep 26, 2026 · Oct 17, 2026
Bag limits
Daily limit is 6 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Light geese: 25 daily.
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession.
Scaup: 1 daily, 3 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in Maine
State Migratory Waterfowl Permit — Required of anyone 16 or older hunting on an adult license.
Federal Duck Stamp — Required for anyone who turns 16; must be signed across the face in ink.
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
- Not required to hunt woodcock, snipe, rails, or crows.
- Not required if the hunter turned 16 but is continuing to hunt on a junior license for the rest of the calendar year.
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 MDIFW (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 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-23. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: maine.gov (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.