Georgia Duck Season 2026–27
Updated October 27, 2026, with official 2026–27 season dates.
Georgia’s 2026–27 duck season opens with the Youth, Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Days on November 14–15, 2026. The regular season runs in two splits: November 21–29, the Thanksgiving week segment, and December 12, 2026 – January 31, 2027. Early teal season already ran September 12–20. Dates come from the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division 2026–2027 migratory bird season page.
Chasing deer in Georgia this season too? See our Georgia Deer Season 2026–27 guide for archery, gun and doe dates.
Georgia Duck Season 2026–27 at a Glance
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Early teal | Sept. 12–20, 2026 |
| Youth, veteran and active-duty military days | Nov. 14–15, 2026 |
| Ducks, coots and mergansers, first split | Nov. 21–29, 2026 |
| Ducks, coots and mergansers, second split | Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Canada geese | Sept. 5–27, Oct. 10–25, Nov. 21–29 and Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 |
Georgia Duck Zones
Georgia doesn’t split its duck season into zones, so the dates above are statewide. Georgia DNR notes that the second split now closes on January 31, the latest date federal rules allow, and opens on Saturday, December 12 this year. The Georgia migratory bird information page explains how the state builds its 60-day season around a nine-day Thanksgiving split.
Georgia Duck Bag Limits
Georgia is in the Atlantic Flyway. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2026–27 season memo sets the flyway daily bag at 6 ducks, with these species limits:
| Species | Daily limit |
|---|---|
| Total ducks | 6 |
| Mallards | 4 (no more than 2 hens) |
| Wood ducks | 3 |
| Black ducks | 2 |
| Mottled ducks | 1 |
| Pintails | 3 |
| Redheads | 2 |
| Canvasbacks | 2 |
| Scaup | 1 |
| Fulvous whistling ducks | 1 |
| Sea ducks | 4 (no more than 3 scoters, 3 long-tailed ducks or 3 eiders, 1 hen eider) |
| Mergansers | 5 |
| Coots | 15 |
Possession is three times the daily bag. Some third-party regulation sites still show older, tighter Georgia species limits, so check the current Georgia hunting regulations guide before your first hunt and go with the stricter number if you’re unsure.
Youth, Veteran and Military Days
On November 14–15, youth 15 and younger, veterans and active-duty military can hunt ducks, Canada geese, mergansers and coots. Youth must be with an adult at least 18, and only the youth may hunt unless the adult is a veteran or active-duty service member, according to Georgia DNR. It’s the weekend before the regular opener, so the birds haven’t seen a decoy spread yet.
Licenses, Stamps and HIP
Anyone 16 or older needs a Georgia hunting license, a Georgia Waterfowl & Migratory Bird License and a Federal Duck Stamp. Georgia DNR says a physical federal stamp is no longer required: the electronic stamp bought through Go Outdoors Georgia counts as a legal license from July 1 through June 30. Sportsman’s license holders and resident landowners hunting their own land can get the Georgia migratory bird license free, but they still need the federal stamp. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Where and When to Hunt Ducks in Georgia
Georgia isn’t a big-water state like Arkansas, so most public-land duck hunting happens on WMAs, reservoirs and beaver swamps. Wood ducks make up a big share of the harvest, especially in the first split. The coast and the big Piedmont reservoirs pick up divers and more migrators after the first real cold fronts in late December.
- Opening week (Nov. 21–29): mostly wood ducks, gadwall and early ring-necks. Work small water and creek swamps at first light.
- Late season (late December – January): your best chance at mallards, wigeon and divers as cold weather to the north pushes birds south.
- Hunt pressure: WMAs can set their own hunting days and rules, so check the specific area before you go.
Planning Around Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is Nov. 26, 2026. See what else is open that week in our Thanksgiving hunting guide, and sharpen up before opening day with 5 pro tips from a wingshooting expert.
Georgia Duck Season FAQ
When does duck season start in Georgia in 2026?
Youth, veteran and active-duty military days are Nov. 14–15. The regular season opens Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026.
When does duck season end in Georgia?
Jan. 31, 2027, the last day of the second split.
What is the duck limit in Georgia?
Six ducks a day. Under the Atlantic Flyway framework that can include up to 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck and 1 scaup. Confirm with Georgia DNR before you hunt.
Do I need a duck stamp in Georgia?
Yes. Hunters 16 and older need a Federal Duck Stamp plus a Georgia Waterfowl & Migratory Bird License.
Gear Up for the Season
Every Hunt One More® design is built around faith, service and time in the field. Layer up in The Lord Is My Guide® tees and hoodies for those cold mornings in the blind, and put a Hunt One More decal on the truck or the boat before opening day.
Trust the process. Trust the hunt. And when the birds are still working, hunt one more.
Duck Season Dates in Other States
Hunting more than one state this winter? Here are our other 2026–27 duck season guides.
- Southeast Duck Season Dates 2026–27: All 10 States (coming Nov. 14)
- Alabama Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 10)
- Arkansas Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 5)
- Florida Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 8)
- Louisiana Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 3)
- Mississippi Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 12)
- North Carolina Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Oct. 30)
- South Carolina Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 7)
- Tennessee Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 13)
- Virginia Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 1)
Keep Reading on Camp Talk
- Georgia Deer Season 2026–27
- 5 Pro Tips From A Wingshooting Expert
- Thanksgiving Hunting 2026: What’s Open
Season dates and bag limits come from Georgia DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This guide is for planning only. Always confirm current regulations, license requirements and bag limits with Georgia DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you hunt.