Season dates and bag limits

Background | Changes | Approved 2023-24 season dates

NOTE: A summary from CDFW of The California Fish and Game Commission set the 2023-24 waterfowl regulations and can be viewed here.

2023-2024 Shoot times

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.

APPROVED CHANGES

Three-way split season for Canada geese in the Balance of State Zone.

APPROVED 2023-24 SEASON DATES

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. 7-Jan. 17
Scaup: Oct. 7-Dec. 3 and Dec. 21-Jan. 17
Canada geese: Oct. 7-Jan. 14
White geese & white-fronts (specklebellies): Oct. 7-Dec. 3 and Jan. 4-Jan. 17 (except in the Klamath Basin Special Management Area).
Youth Hunt days: Sept. 23-24.
Veteran Hunt days: Jan. 20-21 (no geese allowed)
Late white goose & white-front season: Feb. 7 -Mar. 10 (except in the Klamath Basin Special Management Area).

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, of which only 2 can be female; 1 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.

Klamath Basin Special Management Area:

White geese & white-fronts (specklebellies): Oct. 7-Jan. 19
Canada geese: Oct. 7-Jan. 14.

BALANCE OF STATE ZONE

SEASONS

Ducks: Oct. 21-Jan. 31
Scaup: Nov. 7-Jan. 31
Geese: Oct. 21-Jan. 28
Early large Canada goose season: Sep. 30 -Oct. 2 (except in the North Coast Special Management Area).
Late white-fronts and white goose season: Feb. 17-21 (except Sacramento Valley Special Management Area, where white-fronts are closed).
Late Canada goose season: Feb. 17-18
Special Youth Hunt days: Feb. 3-4.
Extended falconry season: Feb. 25
Veteran Hunt days: Feb. 10-11 (no geese allowed)

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards of which only 2 can be female; 1 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.
Early large Canada goose season: 10 large Canada geese
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

Brant SMAs:

- - Northern Brant, Nov. 18-Dec. 14; 2 per day
  - Balance of State Brant, Nov. 19-Dec. 15; 2 per day.

North Coast SMA: Canada geese, Oct. 7-Dec. 22, and Feb. 12-Mar. 10; no more than 10 per day, of which 1 may be a large Canada goose (no large Canada geese may be taken during the late season).

Sacramento Valley SMA: No more than 3 white-fronts may be taken Oct. 22-Dec. 21.

SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ZONE

SEASONS

Ducks and geese: Oct. 21-Jan. 31
Scaup: Nov. 7-Jan. 31
Special Youth Hunt days: Feb. 3-4.
Extended falconry season: Feb. 25
Veteran Hunt days: Feb. 10-11

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, of which only 2 can be female; 1 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 and geese: Oct. 21-Jan. 31
Scaup: Nov. 7-Jan. 31
Youth Hunt days: Feb. 3-4.
Extended falconry season: Feb. 25
Veteran Hunt days: Feb. 10-11

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, of which only 2 can be female; 1 pintail; 2 canvasback; 2 redheads; 2 scaup.
Geese: Daily bag limit: 23. Of which only 20 may be white geese and only 3 may be dark geese.
Possession limit ducks and geese: Triple the daily bag limit.

Imperial County Special Management Area: White geese, Nov. 4-Jan. 31; and Feb. 1-2, 5-9 and 12-20; limit of 20 per day

COLORADO RIVER ZONE (must match Arizona regulations)

SEASONS

Ducks and geese: Oct. 23-Jan. 31
Scaup: Nov. 7-Jan. 31
Youth Hunt days: Feb. 3-4.
Extended falconry season: Feb. 1-4

LIMITS

Ducks: Daily bag limit: 7, which may contain 7 mallards, but not more than 2 female mallards or Mexican-like ducks; 1 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.