Southeast Duck Season Dates 2026–27
Updated October 27, 2026, with official 2026–27 season dates.
Duck season is opening across the South. Louisiana’s West Zone goes first on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana’s East Zone follow on November 21. Alabama and Mississippi open the day after Thanksgiving, November 27, and Tennessee opens November 28. North Carolina and Virginia are already in the middle of their split seasons. Every date below comes from each state’s wildlife agency or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2026–27 season memo, and each state name links to our full guide.
Southeast Duck Season Dates 2026–27
| State | 2026 opener | Splits | Last day | Youth/veteran days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Nov. 18 (Oct. 9–12 split done) | Nov. 18–29; Dec. 19 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 6 |
| North Carolina | Nov. 7 (October splits done) | Nov. 7–28; Dec. 17/18 – Jan. 30 | Jan. 30 | Dec. 5, Feb. 6 |
| South Carolina | Nov. 21 (youth only Nov. 14) | Nov. 21–28; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Nov. 14 (youth); Feb. 6, 13 |
| Georgia | Nov. 21 | Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Nov. 14–15 |
| Florida | Nov. 21 | Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Nov. 14, Feb. 13 (youth); Feb. 6–7 (vets) |
| Alabama | Nov. 27 | Nov. 27–28; Dec. 5 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Nov. 21, Feb. 6 |
| Tennessee | Nov. 28 | Nov. 28–29; Dec. 5 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 6, 13 (youth); Feb. 7, 14 (vets) |
| Mississippi | Nov. 27 | Nov. 27–29; Dec. 4–6; Dec. 9 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 6–7 |
| Arkansas | Nov. 21 | Nov. 21–29; Dec. 10–23; Dec. 26 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 6–7 |
| Louisiana (West) | Nov. 14 | Nov. 14 – Dec. 6; Dec. 19 – Jan. 24 | Jan. 24 | Nov. 7, Jan. 30 |
| Louisiana (East) | Nov. 21 | Nov. 21 – Dec. 6; Dec. 19 – Jan. 31 | Jan. 31 | Nov. 14, Feb. 6 |
Bag Limits: What’s the Same and What’s Not
Every state on this list allows 6 ducks a day, with possession at three times that. Most share the federal species limits: 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks and 1 mottled duck. Here’s where they differ:
- Scaup: most states start at 1 a day and go up to 2 later in the season. The switch dates differ by state, so check your state’s guide.
- Louisiana: only 1 hen pintail, 1 black duck, and no mottled ducks for the first 15 days, per LDWF.
- North Carolina: black ducks and mottled ducks are closed until Nov. 21, per the NCWRC proclamation.
- South Carolina: east and south of I-95, just 1 black or mottled duck a day, and only 1 hooded merganser.
- Tennessee: possession is only 1 limit on opening day and 2 on day two, per TWRA.
- Arkansas: WMA shooting ends at noon for most of the season, per AGFC.
What to Expect This Season
The birds are coming south with a smaller mallard flight than usual. The 2026 breeding survey put mallards at 5.9 million, down 11% from 2025 and 26% below the long-term average, and pintails at 48% below average, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The good news is that gadwall, wigeon and green-winged teal are still above their long-term averages, and shovelers are up 19%.
Water is the other big question. Arkansas is coming off 14 months of drought and more than 20 inches behind in rainfall. In its October drought report, AGFC said it could flood only about 42% of its moist-soil units at the start of October. If you hunt the Delta in Arkansas, Mississippi or northeast Louisiana, plan on birds bunching up on whatever water there is until the winter rains come.
Before Your First Hunt
- Federal Duck Stamp: required for every waterfowl hunter 16 and older, in every state.
- HIP certification: required in every state where you hunt migratory birds, even if you’re already HIP-registered at home.
- State stamp or permit: each state has its own, from Arkansas’ $7 resident waterfowl stamp to Florida’s $5 waterfowl permit. Nonresidents in Arkansas also need a WMA waterfowl permit.
- Youth and veteran days: most states hold them right before the opener or right after the close, and they’re often the best hunts of the year because the birds haven’t been pressured yet.
Southeast Duck Season FAQ
Which Southern state opens duck season first in 2026?
Louisiana’s West Zone, on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. North Carolina and Virginia already held short October splits.
Which states are open for duck hunting on Thanksgiving weekend?
Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina (through Nov. 28), Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama (Nov. 27–28), Mississippi (Nov. 27–29) and Tennessee (Nov. 28–29).
When does duck season end in the South?
Most states close Jan. 31, 2027. North Carolina closes Jan. 30, and Louisiana’s West Zone closes Jan. 24.
How many ducks can you shoot a day in the Southeast?
Six in every state on this list, with species limits that vary slightly by state.
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 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 Guides by State
Want the full details for one state? Each guide covers zones, bag limits, licenses and where to hunt.
- Alabama Duck Season 2026–27
- Arkansas Duck Season 2026–27
- Florida Duck Season 2026–27
- Georgia Duck Season 2026–27
- Louisiana Duck Season 2026–27
- Mississippi Duck Season 2026–27
- North Carolina Duck Season 2026–27
- South Carolina Duck Season 2026–27
- Tennessee Duck Season 2026–27
- Virginia Duck Season 2026–27
Keep Reading on Camp Talk
- Thanksgiving Hunting 2026: What’s Open
- 5 Pro Tips From A Wingshooting Expert
- Southeast Deer Rut Dates 2026
- How the Outdoors Heals First Responders
Dates and limits come from each state wildlife agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This guide is for planning only. Always confirm current regulations with your state agency before you hunt.