KENTUCKY · DUCKS & WATERFOWL · 2026–27
Kentucky duck & goose seasons
2026–27.
Split duck dates, goose limits, special days and permit checks, with downloads for confirmed matching dates.
DUCKS, GEESE & CRANES
Waterfowl dates & limits
Regular ducks open Nov. 26–29, then Dec. 7–Jan. 31. Youth days are Nov. 21 and Feb. 13; military/veteran days are Nov. 22 and Feb. 14. Combined bags and species sublimits still apply when you filter by one animal.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks · regular seasonOpens Nov. 26, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 26 – Nov. 29, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Statewide; special-area rules apply Non-toxic shot and applicable licenses, stamps and HIP certification required. | 6 ducks daily: at most 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 3 pintails, 2 black ducks and 2 canvasbacks. Scaup: 1 daily Nov. 26–29 and Dec. 7–17; 2 daily Dec. 18–Jan. 31. Possession: 3 times daily limits.source · source |
| Teal & wood ducks · SeptemberClosed for 2026-27Legal waterfowl equipment | Sept. 19 – Sept. 23, 2026 | Statewide | 6 daily, including at most 2 wood ducks; possession 18, including at most 6 wood ducks.source · source |
| Coots · regular seasonOpens Nov. 26, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 26 – Nov. 29, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Statewide; special-area rules apply | 15 daily; 45 in possession.source · source |
| Mergansers · regular seasonOpens Nov. 26, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 26 – Nov. 29, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Statewide; special-area rules apply | 5 daily, at most 2 hooded; possession 3 times daily limits.source · source |
| Waterfowl · youth-only daysOpens Nov. 21, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 21, 2026 Feb. 13, 2027 | Statewide; qualifying hunters only Confirm age, adult supervision or qualifying military/veteran documentation. | Regular-season species and combined limits apply; scaup limit 2 daily.source · source |
| Waterfowl · military / veteran daysOpens Nov. 22, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 22, 2026 Feb. 14, 2027 | Statewide; qualifying hunters only Confirm age, adult supervision or qualifying military/veteran documentation. | Regular-season species and combined limits apply; scaup limit 2 daily.source · source |
| Canada/cackling, white-fronted geese & brantOpens Nov. 26, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 26, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027 | Statewide; special-area rules apply | 5 geese combined daily, including at most 3 Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese and 1 brant; possession 3 times daily limits.source · source |
| Snow & Ross’s geese · regular seasonOpens Nov. 26, 2026Legal waterfowl equipment | Nov. 26, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027 | Statewide; special-area rules apply | 20 daily; 60 in possession.source · source |
| Light goose conservation orderOpens Feb. 16, 2027Special conservation-order equipment rules | Feb. 16 – March 31, 2027 | Statewide; permit required Free conservation-order permit required; report harvest by April 10. Confirm equipment and legal hours. | No daily or possession limit.source · source |
| Canada geese · September zonesClosed for 2026-27Legal waterfowl equipment | Sept. 1 – Sept. 15, 2026 Sept. 16 – Sept. 30, 2026 | Western Zone Sept. 1–15; Eastern Zone Sept. 16–30 | 5 daily; 15 in possession.source · source |
| Sandhill crane · quota permit huntOpens Dec. 7, 2026Legal crane equipment | Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Only permitted hunters and open areas | 1 or 2 daily according to tags; possession 3.source · source |
BEFORE YOU GO
Licenses, permits & check-in
- Confirm the hunting license, species permit, age/residency exemptions and hunter education requirements before buying or hunting.
- Get landowner permission on private land. WMAs, quota hunts and military properties can require extra permits and have different dates.
- Confirm the hunting license, Kentucky migratory bird/waterfowl permit, HIP survey and federal duck stamp requirements; age and other exemptions differ.
- Use non-toxic shot and confirm shooting hours, plugged-shotgun rules and public-area access. Special youth/military days require qualifying eligibility.
Kentucky license information & purchase links ↗
Source: Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: License and permit requirements ↗; 2026–27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide ↗; Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Public-land hunting ↗
GET READY FOR THE WOODS
Prepare for your hunt
WHERE THESE DATES COME FROM
Official sources
Dates and limits come from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources and current Kentucky regulations. Missing dates are marked for confirmation; we do not carry forward a previous year. We review sources weekly and review changes before updating this guide.
- Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Waterfowl ↗
- 2026–27 Kentucky Guide: Migratory birds and waterfowl ↗
- Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Migratory birds ↗
Last checked: Nov. 1, 2026. Saved calendar files and printouts do not update automatically. Report a change.