Vermont Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 10
- Latest close
- Dec 27
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
Lake Champlain Zone
Lake Champlain Zone
Species limits apply
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.
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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 ↓Hide ↑
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
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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
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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:
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
Vermont Migratory Waterfowl Stamp — Required, along with the Federal Duck Stamp, for waterfowl hunters age 16 and over.
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 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.