Season dates and bag limits

Background | Changes | Approved 2025-26 season dates

NOTE: This season, the bag limit for pintail has been increased from one to three birds (any sex). To learn how CWA led the effort to increase the pintail limit based on the latest science, click here.

2025-26 Shoot times will be updated when they are published. For 2024-25 shoot times, click here.

BACKGROUND

Waterfowl hunting regulations are set at two levels: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets science-based frameworks based on waterfowl population and other data, with guidance from councils established in each flyway. Then the California Fish & Game Commission sets regulations that fit within those frameworks.

Our role: California Waterfowl's advocacy team advocates for regulations that promote hunter opportunity, participation and satisfaction within bounds that preserve the overall health of waterfowl populations. We are proud to carry on the tradition of sustainable hunting ensured by the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

The California Waterfowl R&T committee develops recommendations for dates and bag limits. If you are interested in the R&T committee, click here.

APPROVED CHANGES

Pintail limit increased from 1 to 3 birds (any sex).
Youth Hunt and Veteran Hunt dates reversed, to allow youth hunters a period of rest.
Total number of duck and goose hunting days are maximized.

APPROVED 2025-26 SEASON DATES

The information below is from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Use links below to skip to any zone:

Northeastern
Balance of State
Southern San Joaquin Valley
Southern California
Colorado River Zone

(Click here to view map full-sized - opens in a new tab)

NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA ZONE

Klamath Basin Special Management Area

SEASONS

Ducks: Oct 4 – Jan 14
Scaup: Oct 4 – Nov 30 & Dec 18 – Jan 14
Canada geese: Oct 4 – Jan 11
White geese & white-fronts (specklebellies): Oct 4 – Nov 30 & Jan 2 – Jan 14
Late white goose & white-front season: Feb 5 – Mar 10
Youth Hunt days: Sept 20 – 21 (Same as regular season)
Extended falconry season: Oct 4 – Jan 14, same as regular season (3/day, possession limit 9)
Veteran Hunt days: Jan 17 – 18 (Ducks only. Same as regular season)

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, of which only 2 can be female; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redheads; 2 scaup.
Geese: Daily bag limit: 30, which may include up to 20 white geese, up to 10 dark geese, of which only 2 may be large Canada geese.
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA

Klamath Basin
- White geese & white-fronts (specklebellies): Oct 4 – Jan 16
- Canada geese: Oct 4 – Jan 11
- Daily Bag & Limit: 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese (only 2 may be a Large Canada goose). Possession limit triple the daily bag.

BALANCE OF STATE ZONE

SEASONS

Ducks: Oct 18 – Jan 28
Scaup: Nov 4 – Jan 28
Geese: Oct 18 – Jan 25
Early large Canada goose season: Sept 27 – 29 (Large Canada geese only).
Late white-fronts and white goose season: Feb 14 – 18
Late Canada goose season: Feb 14 – 15
Special Youth Hunt days: Feb 7 – 8
Extended falconry season: Oct 28 – Jan 28, Jan 31 – Feb 1, Feb 7 – 8
Veteran Hunt days: Jan 31 – Feb 1 (duck only)

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards of which only 2 can be female; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redheads; 2 scaup.
Geese: Daily bag limit: 30, which may include up to 20 white geese and up to 10 dark geese. ( except in the Sacramento Valley Special Management Area where only 3 may be taken.
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

North Coast
- All Canada Geese: Oct 4 – Dec 20 & Feb 12 – Mar 10
- Daily Bag & Limit: 10/day, only 1 may be a Large Canada goose. Triple the daily bag. Large Canada geese are closed during the Late Season.
Humboldt Bay South Spit (West Side):
- All species: Closed during brant season
Sacramento Valley:
- White-fronted geese: open concurrently with general goose season through Dec 21.
- Daily Bag & Limit: 3/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Northern Brant:
- Black Brant: Nov 29 – Dec 14
- Daily Bag & Limit: 2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Balance of State Brant:
- Black Brant : Nov 30 – Dec 15
- Daily Bag & Limit: 2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Martis Creek Lake
- All species: Closed until Nov 16

SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ZONE

SEASONS

Ducks and geese: Oct 18 – Jan 28
Scaup: Nov 4 – Jan 28
Geese: Oct 18 – Jan 28
Special Youth Hunt days: Feb 7 – 8
Extended falconry season: Oct 18 – Jan 28, Jan 31 – Feb 1, Feb 7 – 8
Veteran Hunt days: Jan 31 – Feb 1

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, of which only 2 can be female; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redheads; 2 scaup.
Geese: Daily bag limit: 30, which may include up to 20 white geese and up to 10 dark geese.
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ZONE

SEASONS

Ducks: Oct 18 – Jan 28
Scaup: Nov 4 – Jan 28
Geese: Oct 18 – Jan 28
Youth Hunt days: Feb 7 – 8
Extended falconry season: Oct 18 – Jan 28, Jan 31 – Feb 1, Feb 7 – 8
Veteran Hunt days: Jan 31 – Feb 1

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, of which only 2 can be female; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redheads; 2 scaup.
Geese: Daily bag limit: 23, which only 20 may be white geese and only 3 may be dark geese.
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

Morro Bay:
- All species: Open in designated areas only
- Daily Bag & Limit: Waterfowl season opens concurrently with brant season.

COLORADO RIVER ZONE (must match Arizona regulations)

SEASONS

Ducks: Oct 23 – Jan 31
Scaup: Nov. 7-Jan. 31
Geese: Oct 23 – Jan 31
Youth Hunt days: Feb 7 – 8
Extended falconry season: Oct 23 –Jan 31, Feb 1 – 4

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, but not more than 2 female mallards or Mexican ducks; 3 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redheads; 2 scaup.
Geese: Daily bag limit: 24, which may contain 20 white geese and up to 4 may be dark geese.
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

Imperial County:
- White Geese: Nov 1 – Jan 28, Jan 31 – Feb 6, Feb 12 – 20
- Daily Bag & Limit: 20/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.