Vermont Duck Season
2026–2027

Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

Verified against VT Fish & WildlifeUpdated Source: vtfishandwildlife.com ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Earliest opener
Oct 10

Lake Champlain Zone

Latest close
Dec 27

Lake Champlain Zone

Daily bag
6 ducks

Species limits apply

Possession
18 ducks

3× daily bag

Interior Vermont Zone opens in

16 days

Start your Vermont 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 VT Fish & Wildlife.

Connecticut River Zone

60 days

  • Oct 13 – Nov 11, 2026
  • Nov 25 – Dec 24, 2026
Full boundary ↓

The remaining portion of Vermont east of the Interior Zone. Its seasons and rules are set by the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department under NH's Inland Zone rules (a VT/NH reciprocal-license agreement applies).

Interior Vermont Zone

60 days

  • Oct 10 – Dec 8, 2026
Full boundary ↓

The portion of Vermont east of the Lake Champlain Zone and west of a line from the MA border at I-91, north on I-91 to U.S. 2, east on U.S. 2 to VT 102, north on VT 102 to VT 253, north on VT 253 to the Canadian border.

Lake Champlain Zone

60 days

  • Oct 10 – Nov 1, 2026
  • Nov 21 – Dec 27, 2026
Full boundary ↓

The U.S. portion of Lake Champlain and the area north/west of a line from the NY border along U.S. 4 to VT 22A at Fair Haven, VT 22A to U.S. 7 at Vergennes, U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton, VT 78/VT 36 to Maquam Bay, around Maquam Bay/Hog Island to the West Swanton Bridge, VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburgh, VT 2 to the Richelieu River, then along the Richelieu's east shore to the Canadian border.

Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s), Brant

Coot

Connecticut River Zone

  • Oct 13 – Nov 11, 2026
  • Nov 25 – Dec 24, 2026

Coot

Interior Vermont Zone

  • Oct 10 – Dec 8, 2026

Coot

Lake Champlain Zone

  • Oct 10 – Nov 1, 2026
  • Nov 21 – Dec 27, 2026

Early Canada goose

Connecticut River Zone

  • Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026

Early Canada goose

Interior Vermont Zone

  • Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026

Early Canada goose

Lake Champlain Zone

  • Sep 1 – Sep 25, 2026

Canada goose (regular)

Connecticut River Zone

  • Oct 13 – Nov 11, 2026
  • Nov 25 – Dec 24, 2026
  • Dec 25, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027

Canada goose (regular)

Interior Vermont Zone

  • Oct 10 – Nov 23, 2026
  • Dec 1, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027

Canada goose (regular)

Lake Champlain Zone

  • Oct 10 – Nov 23, 2026
  • Dec 1, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027

Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)

Connecticut River Zone

  • Oct 13 – Nov 11, 2026
  • Nov 25 – Dec 24, 2026

Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)

Interior Vermont Zone

  • Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2026
  • Feb 26 – Mar 10, 2027

Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)

Lake Champlain Zone

  • Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2026
  • Feb 26 – Mar 10, 2027

Brant

Connecticut River Zone

  • Oct 13 – Nov 11, 2026

Brant

Interior Vermont Zone

  • Oct 10 – Nov 8, 2026

Brant

Lake Champlain Zone

  • Oct 10 – Nov 8, 2026

Youth & special days

Youth waterfowl

Statewide:
Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026

Bag limits

Daily limit is 6 ducks total. Within those, no more than:

American Black Duck2
American Coot15
Brant1
Canada GooseConnecticut River ZoneEarly Canada goose5
Canada GooseInterior Vermont ZoneEarly Canada goose8
Canada GooseLake Champlain ZoneEarly Canada goose8
Canada GooseConnecticut River ZoneCanada goose (regular)2, then 5
Canada GooseInterior Vermont ZoneCanada goose (regular)3, then 5
Canada GooseLake Champlain ZoneCanada goose (regular)3, then 5
Canvasback2
Mallard4 (max 2 hens)
Northern Pintail3
Redhead2
Wood Duck3

Light geese: 25 daily.

Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession.

Scaup (Connecticut River Zone): 1 daily, 3 in possession.

Scaup (Interior Vermont Zone): 1, then 2 daily, 6 in possession.

Scaup (Lake Champlain Zone): 1, then 2 daily, 6 in possession.

What you need to hunt ducks in Vermont

  1. Vermont Migratory Waterfowl Stamp — Required, along with the Federal Duck Stamp, for waterfowl hunters age 16 and over.

  2. Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.

Buy your permits ↗ (opens in a new tab)

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 VT 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 Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-23. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: vtfishandwildlife.com (opens in a new tab)

Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.