Massachusetts Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 10
- Latest close
- Jan 27
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
Central Zone
Coastal Zone
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
Central Zone opens in
17 days
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Season dates by zone
Duck season, by zone. Always confirm shooting hours with MassWildlife.
Berkshire Zone
68 days
- Oct 12 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 14, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That portion of Massachusetts west of a boundary line running south from the Vermont border along Route I-91 to Route 9, west on Rte. 9 to Rte. 10, south on Rte. 10 to Rte. 202, and south on Rte. 202 to the Connecticut border.
Central Zone
69 days
- Oct 10 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 15, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
That portion of Massachusetts lying between the Berkshire Zone and the Coastal Zone.
Coastal Zone
70 days
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That portion of Massachusetts east and south of a boundary line running south from the New Hampshire border along Route I-95 south to Rte. 1, to Rte. I-93, south along I-93 to Rte. 3, south on Rte. 3 to Rte. 6, west on Rte. 6 to Rte. 28, west on Rte. 28 to Rte. I-195, Rte. I-195 west to Rte. 79, Rte. 79 north to Rte. 24, Rte. 24 north to N. Main St., N. Main St. north to Friend St., Friend St. west to Bayview Ave., Bayview Ave. north to Elm St., Elm St. west to Center St., Center St. west to Rte. 138, Rte. 138 south to Riverside Ave., Riverside Ave. south to Walker St., Walker St. south to Rte. I-195, and west on Rte. I-195 to the Rhode Island border.
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s), Brant, Sea duck
Coot
Berkshire Zone
- Oct 12 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 14, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Coot
Central Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 15, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Coot
Coastal Zone
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Early Canada goose
Statewide
- Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
Berkshire Zone
- Oct 12 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 15, 2026 – Feb 13, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Central Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 15, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
- Jan 16 – Feb 13, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Coastal Zone
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Berkshire Zone
- Oct 12 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 14, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Central Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 15, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
- Jan 16 – Feb 13, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Coastal Zone
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Brant
Coastal Zone
- Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2026
Sea duck
Berkshire Zone
- Oct 12 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 14, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Sea duck
Central Zone
- Oct 10 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 15, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Sea duck
Coastal Zone
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 27, 2027
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- Statewide:
- Sep 26, 2026 · Oct 3, 2026
Bag limits
Daily limit is 6 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Light geese: 15 daily, 45 in possession.
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession.
Scaup: 1 daily, 3 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp — Required for all waterfowl hunters age 15 and older.
Federal Duck Stamp — Required for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older, signed across the face.
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
- During the special youth waterfowl hunt, minors 12 through 14 need neither a Massachusetts hunting/sporting license nor the Massachusetts or Federal waterfowl stamps.
- During the special youth waterfowl hunt, minors 15 need a Massachusetts hunting/sporting license and the Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp, but not the Federal Duck Stamp.
- Youth hunters on the youth waterfowl hunt must be accompanied by an adult licensed in Massachusetts who holds a Massachusetts Waterfowl 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 MassWildlife (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 Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-08-09. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: sec.state.ma.us (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.