Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
2022-2023 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 21, 2022 by the Fish and Game Commission.
Seasons and Bag / Possession Limits by Zone
AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
| Statewide | Coots & Moorhens | Concurrent w/duck season | 25/day. 75 in possession. |
| Northeastern Zone | Ducks | Oct 1 – Jan 11 | 7/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. |
| Scaup | Oct 1 – Nov 27 & Dec 15 – Jan 11 | ||
| Geese | Regular Season Canada Geese: Oct 1 – Jan 8 White and white-fronted geese: Oct 1 – Nov 27 & Dec 31 – Jan 13 Late Season White and white–fronted geese: Feb 6 – 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 Zone . | Ducks | Oct 22 – Jan 31 | 7/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. |
| Scaup | Nov 7 – Jan 31 | ||
| Geese | Oct 22 – Jan 31 | 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag. | |
| Southern California Zone | Ducks | Oct 23 - Jan 31 | 7/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. |
| Scaup | Nov 7 - Jan 31 | ||
| Geese | Oct 23 - Jan 31 | 23/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 3 dark geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag. | |
| Colorado River Zone | Ducks | Oct 23 - Jan 31 | 7/day, which may include: 7 mallards (no more than 2 females or Mexican-like ducks), 1 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 scaup. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
| Scaup | Nov 7 - Jan 31 | ||
| Geese | Oct 23 - Jan 31 | 24/day, up to 20 white geese, up to 4 dark geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag. | |
| Balance of State Zone | Ducks | Oct 22 – Jan 31 | 7/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. |
| Scaup | Nov 7 - Jan 31 | ||
| Geese | Early Season: (Large CAGO only) Oct 1 – 3 Regular Season: Oct 22 – Jan 29 Late Season: CAGO Feb 18 –19 Whitefronts and White geese Feb 19 – Feb 23 | 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
Special Management Areas
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
| North Coast | All Canada Geese | Nov 9 – Jan 31 & Feb 18 – 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 species | Closed during brant season | |
| Klamath Basin | Dark and white geese | Canada geese Oct 1 – Jan 8 White and White-fronted geese Oct 1 – Jan 13 | 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 Valley | White-fronted geese | Open concurrently with general goose season through Dec 21 | 3/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
| Morro Bay | All species | Open in designated areas only | Waterfowl season opens concurrently with brant season. |
| Martis Creek Lake | All species | Closed until Nov 16 | |
| Northern Brant | Black Brant | Nov 8 - Dec 14 | 2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
| Balance of State Brant | Black Brant | Nov 9 - Dec 15 | 2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
| Imperial County | White Geese | Nov 5 – Jan 31 & Feb 1 – 3, Feb 6 – 10, Feb 13 – 21 | 20/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
| Northeastern Zone | Same as regular season | Sept 17 – 18 | Same as regular season |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Feb 4 – 5 | ||
| Southern California Zone | Feb 4 – 5 | ||
| Colorado River Zone | Feb 4 – 5 | ||
| Balance of State Zone | Feb 4 – 5 |
Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
| Northeastern Zone | Ducks only | Jan 14 – 15 | Same as regular season |
| Balance of State Zone | Ducks only | Feb 11 – 12 | |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Same as regular season | Feb 11 – 12 | |
| Southern California Zone | Same as regular season | Feb 11 – 12 |
Falconry Take of Ducks (including Mergansers), Geese, American Coots, and Common Moorhens
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
| Northeastern Zone | Same as regular season | Oct 1 – Jan 11 | 3/day, possession limit 9 |
| Balance of State Zone | Oct 22 – Jan 31 & Feb 4 – 5, Feb 18 – 19, Feb 25 | ||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Ducks only | Oct 22 – Jan 31 & Feb 4 – 5, Feb 18 – 19, Feb 25 | |
| Southern California Zone | Same as regular season | Oct 22 – Jan 31 & Feb 4 – 5, Feb 18 – 19, Feb 25 | |
| Colorado River Zone | Ducks only | Oct 23 –Jan 31 & Feb 1 – 4 |