Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
2021-2022 Regulations
The following is only a summary, not the legal language. See the Fish and Game Commission’s website for the actual language adopted on April 14, 2021 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 2 - Jan 12 | 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 2 - Nov 28 & Dec 16 - Jan 12 | ||
| Geese | Regular Season Canada Geese: Oct 2 - Jan 9 White and white-fronted geese: Oct 2 - Nov 28 & Jan 1 - Jan 14 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 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 | 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 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 | Early Season: (Large CAGO only) Oct 2 - 6 Regular Season: Oct 23 - Jan 30 Late Season: (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 8 - Jan 31 & Feb 19 - 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 2 - Jan 9 White and White-fronted geese Oct 2 - Jan 14 | 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 6 - Jan 31 & Feb 1 - 4, Feb 7 - 11, Feb 14 - 22 | 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 18 - 19 | Same as regular season |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Feb 5 - 6 | ||
| Southern California Zone | Feb 5 - 6 | ||
| Colorado River Zone | Feb 5 - 6 | ||
| Balance of State Zone | Feb 5 - 6 |
Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days
| AREA | SPECIES | SEASONS | DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS |
| Northeastern Zone | Ducks only | Jan 15 - 16 | Same as regular season |
| Balance of State Zone | Ducks only | Feb 12 - 13 | |
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Same as regular season | Feb 12 - 13 | |
| Southern California Zone | Same as regular season | Feb 12 - 13 |
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 2 - Jan 12 | 3/day, possession limit 9 |
| Balance of State Zone | Oct 23 - Jan 31 & Feb 5 - 6, Feb 19 - 20, Feb 26 – 27 | ||
| Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone | Ducks only | Oct 23 - Jan 31 & Feb 5 - 6, Feb 19 - 20, Feb 26 – 27 | |
| Southern California Zone | Same as regular season | Oct 23 - Jan 31 & Feb 5 - 6, Feb 19 - 20, Feb 26 – 27 | |
| Colorado River Zone | Ducks only | Oct 23 - Jan 31 & Feb 1 - 4 |