New Jersey Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 10
- Latest close
- Jan 29
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
North Zone
Coastal Zone
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
North Zone opens in
17 days
Start your New Jersey 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 NJ Fish & Wildlife.
Coastal Zone
70 days
- Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That portion of the State seaward of a line beginning at the New York State line in Raritan Bay and extending west along the New York State line to NJ 440 at Perth Amboy; west on NJ 440 to the Garden State Parkway; south on the Garden State Parkway to NJ 109; south on NJ 109 to Cape May County Route 633 (Lafayette St.); south on Lafayette St. to Jackson St.; south on Jackson St. to the shoreline at Cape May; west along the shoreline of Cape May beach to COLREGS Demarcation Line 80.503 at Cape May Point; south along COLREGS Demarcation Line 80.503 to the Delaware State line in Delaware Bay. Six closure areas prohibit migratory game bird hunting statewide: Shark River, Manasquan River, Herring Island/Barnegat Bay, Parker Creek/Oceanport Creek, Cox Hall Creek WMA, and Barnegat Inlet.
North Zone
70 days
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 14, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That portion of the State west of the Coastal Zone and north of a line extending west from the Garden State Parkway on NJ 70 to the New Jersey Turnpike, north on the turnpike to U.S. 206, north on U.S. 206 to U.S. 1 at Trenton, west on U.S. 1 to the Pennsylvania State line in the Delaware River.
South Zone
70 days
- Oct 17 – Oct 24, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 21, 2027
The portion of the State not within the North Zone or the Coastal Zone.
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early Canada goose, Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s), Brant
Coot
Coastal Zone
- Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027
Coot
North Zone
- Oct 10 – Oct 17, 2026
- Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 14, 2027
Coot
South Zone
- Oct 17 – Oct 24, 2026
- Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 21, 2027
Early Canada goose
Statewide
- Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2026
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Statewide
- Nov 7, 2026 – Mar 8, 2027
Brant
Coastal Zone
- Nov 26 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 24, 2026 – Jan 23, 2027
Brant
North Zone
- Nov 21 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 7, 2027
Brant
South Zone
- Nov 21 – Nov 28, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 7, 2027
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- North Zone:
- Oct 3, 2026
- South Zone:
- Oct 10, 2026
- Coastal Zone:
- Nov 14, 2026
- Statewide:
- Feb 6, 2027
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 for the first 40 days, then 2 for the last 20 days daily, 6 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in New Jersey
New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp Certification — Required for all waterfowl hunters 16 and older; must be signed in ink.
Federal Duck Stamp (Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp) — Required for hunters 16 and older, signed in ink.
Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification — Required for all hunters, including Apprentice License holders.
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 NJ Fish & Wildlife (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 New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-29. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: dep.nj.gov (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.