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California

Hunting

Hunting

Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

2023-2024 Regulations

The following is only a summary, not the legal language. See the Fish and Game Commission’s website(opens in new tab) for the actual language adopted on April 19, 2023 by the Fish and Game Commission.

Waterfowl Zone Map(opens in new tab)

Seasons and Bag / Possession Limits by Zone

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
StatewideCoots & MoorhensConcurrent w/duck season25/day. 75 in possession.
Northeastern ZoneDucksOct 7 – Jan 177/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
Possession limit: triple the daily bag.
ScaupOct 7 – Dec 3 &
Dec 21 – Jan 17
GeeseRegular Season
Canada Geese:
Oct 7 – Jan 14
White and white-fronted geese:
Oct 7 – Dec 3 &
Jan 4 – Jan 17

Late Season
White and white–fronted geese:
Feb 7 – Mar 10
30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese (no more than 2 Large Canada geese).
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneDucksOct 21 – Jan 317/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
ScaupNov 7 – Jan 31
GeeseOct 21 – Jan 3130/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Southern California ZoneDucksOct 21 – Jan 317/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
ScaupNov 7 – Jan 31
GeeseOct 21 – Jan 3123/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 3 dark geese.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Colorado River ZoneDucksOct 23 – Jan 317/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females or Mexican ducks), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
ScaupNov 7 – Jan 31
GeeseOct 23 – Jan 3124/day, up to 20 white geese, up to 4 dark geese.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Balance of State ZoneDucksOct 21 – Jan 317/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
ScaupNov 7 – Jan 31
GeeseEarly Season: (Large CAGO only) Sept 30 – Oct 2

Regular Season:
Oct 21 – Jan 28

Late Season:
CAGO Feb 17 –18
Whitefronts and White geese
Feb 17 – Feb 21
30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.

Special Management Areas

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
North CoastAll Canada GeeseOct 7 – Dec 22 &
Feb 12 – Mar 10
10/day, only 1 may be a
Large Canada goose.
Possession limit triple the daily bag. Large Canada geese are closed during the Late Season.
Humboldt Bay South Spit (West Side)All speciesClosed during brant season
Klamath BasinDark and white geeseCanada geese
Oct 7 – Jan 14
White and White-fronted geese
Oct 7 – Jan 19
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.
Sacramento ValleyWhite-fronted geeseOpen concurrently with general goose season through Dec 213/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Morro BayAll speciesOpen in designated areas onlyWaterfowl season opens concurrently with brant season.
Martis Creek LakeAll speciesClosed until Nov 16
Northern BrantBlack BrantNov 18 – Dec 142/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Balance of State BrantBlack BrantNov 19 – Dec 152/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Imperial CountyWhite GeeseNov 4 – Jan 31 &
Feb 1 – 2, Feb 5 – 9,
Feb 12 – 20
20/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
Northeastern ZoneSame as regular seasonSept 23 – 24Same as regular season
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneFeb 3 – 4
Southern California ZoneFeb 3 – 4
Colorado River ZoneFeb 3 – 4
Balance of State ZoneFeb 3 – 4

Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
Northeastern ZoneDucks onlyJan 20 – 21Same as regular season
Balance of State ZoneDucks onlyFeb 10 – 11
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneSame as regular seasonFeb 10 – 11
Southern California ZoneSame as regular seasonFeb 10 – 11

Falconry Take of Ducks (including Mergansers), Geese, American Coots, and Common Moorhens

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
Northeastern ZoneSame as regular seasonOct 7 – Jan 113/day, possession limit 9
Balance of State ZoneOct 21 – Jan 31 &
Feb 3 – 4, Feb 17 – 18, Feb 24
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneDucks onlyOct 22 – Jan 31 &
Feb 3 – 4, Feb 17 – 18, Feb 24
Southern California ZoneSame as regular seasonOct 21 – Jan 31 &
Feb 3 – 4, Feb 17 – 18, Feb 24
Colorado River ZoneDucks onlyOct 23 –Jan 31 & Feb 1 – 4