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
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Coots & Moorhens | Concurrent w/duck season | 25/day. 75 in possession. |
| Northeastern Zone | Ducks | Oct 7 – Jan 17 | 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 7 – Dec 3 & Dec 21 – Jan 17 | ||
| Geese | Regular 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 Zone | Ducks | Oct 21 – 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 21 – Jan 31 | 30/day, which may include: 20 white geese, 10 dark geese. Possession limit triple the daily bag. | |
| Southern California Zone | Ducks | Oct 21 – 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 21 – 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 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 21 – 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) 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
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast | All Canada Geese | Oct 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 species | Closed during brant season | |
| Klamath Basin | Dark and white geese | Canada 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 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 18 – Dec 14 | 2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
| Balance of State Brant | Black Brant | Nov 19 – Dec 15 | 2/day. Possession limit triple the daily bag. |
| Imperial County | White Geese | Nov 4 – Jan 31 & Feb 1 – 2, Feb 5 – 9, Feb 12 – 20 | 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 23 – 24 | Same as regular season |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Feb 3 – 4 | ||
| Southern California Zone | Feb 3 – 4 | ||
| Colorado River Zone | Feb 3 – 4 | ||
| Balance of State Zone | Feb 3 – 4 |
Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Zone | Ducks only | Jan 20 – 21 | Same as regular season |
| Balance of State Zone | Ducks only | Feb 10 – 11 | |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Same as regular season | Feb 10 – 11 | |
| Southern California Zone | Same as regular season | Feb 10 – 11 |
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 7 – Jan 11 | 3/day, possession limit 9 |
| Balance of State Zone | Oct 21 – Jan 31 & Feb 3 – 4, Feb 17 – 18, Feb 24 | ||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Ducks only | Oct 22 – Jan 31 & Feb 3 – 4, Feb 17 – 18, Feb 24 | |
| Southern California Zone | Same as regular season | Oct 21 – Jan 31 & Feb 3 – 4, Feb 17 – 18, Feb 24 | |
| Colorado River Zone | Ducks only | Oct 23 –Jan 31 & Feb 1 – 4 |
