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California

Hunting

Hunting

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
SPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
StatewideCoots & MoorhensConcurrent w/duck season25/day. 75 in possession.
Northeastern ZoneDucksOct 1 – Jan 117/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 1 – Nov 27 &
Dec 15 – Jan 11
GeeseRegular 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
.
DucksOct 22 – 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 22 – Jan 3130/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese.
Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Southern California ZoneDucksOct 23 - 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 23 - 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-like 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 22 – 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) 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

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
North CoastAll Canada GeeseNov 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 speciesClosed during brant season
Klamath BasinDark and white geeseCanada 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 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 8 - Dec 142/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Balance of State BrantBlack BrantNov 9 - Dec 152/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.
Imperial CountyWhite GeeseNov 5 – Jan 31 &
Feb 1 – 3, Feb 6 – 10, Feb 13 – 21
20/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
Northeastern ZoneSame as regular seasonSept 17 – 18Same as regular season
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneFeb 4 – 5
Southern California ZoneFeb 4 – 5
Colorado River ZoneFeb 4 – 5
Balance of State ZoneFeb 4 – 5

Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
Northeastern ZoneDucks onlyJan 14 – 15Same as regular season
Balance of State ZoneDucks onlyFeb 11 – 12
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneSame as regular seasonFeb 11 – 12
Southern California ZoneSame as regular seasonFeb 11 – 12

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

AREASPECIESSEASONSDAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS
Northeastern ZoneSame as regular seasonOct 1 – Jan 113/day, possession limit 9
Balance of State ZoneOct 22 – Jan 31 &
Feb 4 – 5, Feb 18 – 19, Feb 25
Southern San Joaquin Valley ZoneDucks onlyOct 22 – Jan 31 &
Feb 4 – 5, Feb 18 – 19, Feb 25
Southern California ZoneSame as regular seasonOct 22 – Jan 31 &
Feb 4 – 5, Feb 18 – 19, Feb 25
Colorado River ZoneDucks onlyOct 23 –Jan 31 & Feb 1 – 4