Washington Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 17
- Latest close
- Jan 31
- Daily bag
- 7 ducks
- Possession
- 21 ducks
Statewide
Statewide
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
Statewide opens in
24 days
Start your Washington 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. Always confirm shooting hours with WDFW.
Statewide
105 days
- Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026
- Oct 28, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Other waterfowl seasonsCoot, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), White-fronted goose, Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s), Brant
Coot
Statewide
- Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026
- Oct 28, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Early Canada goose
Eastern Washington
- Sep 5 – Sep 6, 2026
Early Canada goose
Goose Management Area 1
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
Goose Management Area 2 - Coast
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
Goose Management Area 2 - Inland
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
Goose Management Area 3
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
Goose Management Area 1
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Goose Management Area 2 - Coast
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Goose Management Area 2 - Inland
- Oct 17 – Nov 1, 2026
- Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
- Feb 7 – Feb 15, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Goose Management Area 3
- Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Goose Management Area 4
- Oct 17, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
- Jan 25 – Jan 31, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
Goose Management Area 5
- Oct 17 – Nov 2, 2026
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
Goose Management Area 1
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
Goose Management Area 2 - Coast
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
White-fronted goose
Goose Management Area 2 - Inland
- Oct 17 – Nov 1, 2026
- Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
- Feb 7 – Feb 15, 2027
White-fronted goose
Goose Management Area 3
- Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
Goose Management Area 4
- Oct 17, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
- Jan 25 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
Goose Management Area 5
- Oct 17 – Nov 2, 2026
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Goose Management Area 1
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
- Feb 13 – Feb 21, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Goose Management Area 2 - Coast
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Goose Management Area 2 - Inland
- Oct 17 – Nov 1, 2026
- Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
- Feb 7 – Feb 15, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Goose Management Area 3
- Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Goose Management Area 4
- Oct 17 – Nov 29, 2026
- Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
- Jan 25 – Jan 31, 2027
- Feb 20 – Mar 10, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Goose Management Area 5
- Oct 17 – Nov 2, 2026
- Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Brant
Clallam & Whatcom Counties (Brant)
- Jan 23, 2027
- Jan 27, 2027
- Jan 30, 2027
- Feb 6, 2027
Brant
Pacific County (Brant / September Canada Goose sub-area)
- Jan 16 – Jan 17, 2027
- Jan 19, 2027
- Jan 21, 2027
- Jan 23 – Jan 24, 2027
- Jan 26, 2027
- Jan 28, 2027
- Jan 30 – Jan 31, 2027
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- Western Washington:
- Sep 26, 2026
- Statewide:
- Feb 6, 2027
Bag limits
Daily limit is 7 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Light geese (Goose Management Area 1): 10 daily, 30 in possession.
Light geese (Goose Management Area 2 - Coast): 10 daily, 30 in possession.
Light geese (Goose Management Area 2 - Inland): 10 daily, 30 in possession.
Light geese (Goose Management Area 3): 10 daily, 30 in possession.
Light geese (Goose Management Area 4): 10, then 20 daily, 30 in possession.
Light geese (Goose Management Area 5): 10 daily, 30 in possession.
Scaup: 0, then 2 daily, 6 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in Washington
Washington Migratory Bird Permit — Required, alongside HIP registration, for hunters age 16 and over of duck, goose, coot, snipe, mourning dove, or band-tailed pigeon.
Sea Duck Harvest Record Card — Additionally required only when hunting scoter, long-tailed duck, or goldeneye in Western Washington.
Snow Goose Harvest Record Card — Additionally required only when hunting snow, Ross's, or blue geese in Goose Management Area 1.
Brant Harvest Record Card — Additionally required only when hunting brant.
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
- The Washington Migratory Bird Permit is free for youth hunters.
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 WDFW (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 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-29. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: apps.leg.wa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.