Waterfowl
Kentucky Duck Seasons and Limits, 2026-27
Where and when ducks, coots and mergansers may be taken in Kentucky this license year, with sources on every table.
Photo: Todd Young (CC BY 2.0)
Quick facts on Kentucky ducks, coots and mergansers
The 2026-27 KDFWR rules give ducks, coots and mergansers 5 rows of dates, the last one closing February 21, 2027. The species summary for ducks, coots and mergansers notes: federal duck stamp, state permit, HIP. A duck hunter may use the following: shotgun, non-toxic shot, falconry.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Duck season dates in Kentucky
Dates below are the KDFWR dates for ducks, coots and mergansers; a WMA or other public area can be shorter, so check its own page as well.
| Hunt type | Area | Calendar | Bag | Fine print | Today? | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September teal | Statewide | Sep 19–23, 2026 | 6 daily (max 2 wood ducks), 18 possession (max 6 wood ducks) | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | ||
| Youth days | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 Feb 13, 2027 | Same as regular season (scaup 2 daily) | Youth under 16 with an adult. | Waterfowl guide p. 11 | |
| Veteran, military days | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 Feb 14, 2027 | Same as regular season | Active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans; proof of status required. | Waterfowl guide p. 11 | |
| Regular duck | Statewide | Nov 26–29, 2026 Dec 7–Jan 31, 2027 | 6 daily (max 4 mallards, only 2 hens; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 3 pintails; 2 black ducks; 2 canvasback; 1 scaup Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 7-17, 2 scaup Dec. 18-Jan. 31); possession 3x daily; coot 15 daily/45 possession; merganser 5 daily (2 hooded) | Waterfowl guide p. 10 | ||
| Falconry | Statewide | Nov 26–Feb 21, 2027 | 3 daily, 9 possession | Waterfowl guide p. 10 |
Zones and closed areas for ducks, coots and mergansers
Duck, coot, merganser and goose seasons are statewide (one zone). September Canada goose has Western and Eastern zones.
| Special season | Area | Dates | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| September teal | Statewide | Sep 19–23, 2026 | 6 daily (max 2 wood ducks), 18 possession (max 6 wood ducks) |
Ballard Zone: Part of Ballard County north and west of the Ballard-McCracken line, KY 358, US 60 and Wickliffe city limits to the Mississippi; blinds 100 yd apart and 50 yd from property lines; one uncased shotgun per blind; public land closed to September goose. Land Between the Lakes: LBL requires its own LBL hunt permit ($25) with a Kentucky license; LBL deer quota hunts are drawn by computer (301 KAR 2:050); LBL migratory bird hunting closed last Saturday in Sept. – Nov. 30.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 11 and Guide p. 34 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Duck limits in KDFWR wording
Group lines appear when KDFWR prints ducks, coots and mergansers together with other species.
| Group | Bag |
|---|---|
| Ducks | 6 daily (max 4 mallards, only 2 hens; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 3 pintails; 2 black ducks; 2 canvasback; 1 scaup Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 7-17, 2 scaup Dec. 18-Jan. 31); possession 3x daily |
| Coot | 15 daily, 45 possession |
| Merganser | 5 daily (only 2 hooded); possession 3x daily |
| September teal and wood duck | 6 daily (max 2 wood ducks), 18 possession |
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Lawful gear for ducks, coots and mergansers
Kentucky sets method rules by season group; the lines that apply to ducks, coots and mergansers are below, with a few general rules every hunter follows.
| Method group | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl and migratory birds | Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot no larger than T for waterfowl and cranes; shells max 3.5 in. | Lead shot for waterfowl/cranes; rifles; recorded calls (except light goose conservation order); sink boxes. |
| Subject | What KDFWR says |
|---|---|
| Wanton waste | Reasonable effort to recover big game and upland birds and remove edible parts. |
| Vehicles and boats | No taking wildlife from a vehicle; boats may be used (not under power) for small game, furbearers and waterfowl; disabled hunters may use a stationary vehicle with an exemption. |
| Suppressors | Suppressors may be used to hunt legal game with a valid license. |
In one line, ducks, coots and mergansers may be taken with: shotgun, non-toxic shot, falconry.
Source: Waterfowl guide p. 10, Guide p. 11 and Guide p. 10 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
What it costs to hunt ducks, coots and mergansers
Prices are the 2026-27 KDFWR fees for what a duck hunter may carry; the license year runs March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
| Permit | In-state | Out-of-state | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $15.86 | $15.86 | Not needed for hunters under 16 or for crows. | |
| $25 | $25 | E-stamp sold at fw.ky.gov (new); physical stamp at post offices must be signed. | |
| $15.86 | $15.86 | Ballard WMA quota waterfowl hunts; buy online before the hunt. |
A duck hunter aged 12 to 15 buys the youth license or permit where one exists; children under 12 need none.
Migratory bird and waterfowl hunters must complete the HIP survey (My Profile) and write the confirmation number on the license.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Rules on the ground for ducks, coots and mergansers
What KDFWR expects of duck hunters in the field, from what to wear to what to report.
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | Ducks, coots and mergansers are on the KDFWR exception list (waterfowl and dove hunters), so a duck hunter needs no orange even during gun deer days. |
| Bait | area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl. |
| Harvest report | No Telecheck for ducks, coots and mergansers; KDFWR reports only deer, elk, turkey, bear, bobcat, river otter and sandhill crane. |
| Hunter education | If you were born on or after January 1, 1975, carry proof of hunter education on a duck hunt, or buy the free one-year exemption permit and stay with a licensed adult. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Public places that list ducks, coots and mergansers
13 public areas in the KDFWR land records list ducks, coots and mergansers or open them on the 2026-27 WMA chart; the twelve largest are below.
| Area | Kind | Counties | Acres | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | 710,298 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 209,423 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 183,503 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 170,938 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 146,434 | Listed species | ||
| Recreation area | 107,594 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 21,019 | Listed species | ||
| Refuge | 11,852 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 11,173 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 8,735 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 8,014 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 4,132 | Listed species |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Packing for a hunt in Kentucky ducks, coots and mergansers
Kentucky ducks, coots and mergansers cards match the seasons listed above.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Chest waders
Waterfowl hunters along the Ohio and Mississippi bottoms pack chest waders.
Mallard decoys
Goose and duck mornings near the big reservoirs go better with mallard decoys.
Legal shooting hours for ducks, coots and mergansers
Kentucky clocks fell back on November 1, 2026 and spring ahead on March 14, 2027, so duck times jump an hour across those dates.
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Benton (Marshall) | Burlington (Boone) | Prestonsburg (Floyd) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | 6:08 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. CDT | 6:53 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. EDT | 6:45 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. EDT |
| Nov 21, 2026 | 6:07 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. CST | 6:58 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. EST | 6:47 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. EST |
| Nov 22, 2026 | 6:09 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. CST | 6:59 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. EST | 6:48 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | 6:13 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. CST | 7:03 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. EST | 6:52 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:32 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. CST | 7:24 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. EST | 7:12 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. EST |
Hours rule from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for each county seat on its own clock (KDFWR prints no sunrise table, so sunrise and sunset are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the exact point, on Central Time in the 41 western counties and Eastern Time elsewhere, with daylight time ending November 1, 2026 and starting March 14, 2027.); checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Mallard drakes and a hen resting on dry grass in LouisvillePhoto: Todd Young (CC BY 2.0)
Snow geese in flightPhoto: Birding for Climate (Public domain)
Flock of mallards taking flight over a marshPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
Common questions on ducks, coots and mergansers
How may ducks, coots and mergansers be taken?
Shotgun, non-toxic shot, falconry. Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot no larger than T for waterfowl and cranes; shells max 3.5 in.
What paperwork goes with a duck hunt?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit $15.86 resident, $15.86 nonresident; Federal Duck Stamp $25 resident, $25 nonresident; 1-Day Ballard Waterfowl Permit $15.86 resident, $15.86 nonresident. The full duck price list is above.
When must a duck hunter wear orange?
Ducks, coots and mergansers fall under an exception: Waterfowl and dove hunters.
What are legal shooting hours for ducks, coots and mergansers?
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset; dove Sept. 1 on private land and Sept. 1-Oct. 26 on public dove fields: 11 a.m. local time to sunset; sandhill crane sunrise to sunset. Duck hunters east of the time line use Eastern Time, west of it Central Time.
Is there a veterans duck day?
Youth: Nov 21, 2026; Feb 13, 2027. Veterans and military: Nov 22, 2026; Feb 14, 2027. Youth under 16 with an adult. Active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans; proof of status required.
Does Kentucky allow bait for duck hunting?
area stays baited 10 days after removal; areas manipulated for doves are not legal for waterfowl.
What are the trespass rules for duck hunters?
Permission, verbal or written, is the rule for any duck hunt on another person’s land, and that includes railroad tracks.
Is there public duck hunting in Kentucky?
The land records show ducks, coots and mergansers on 13 areas, from WMAs to federal ground; start with the table on this page.
Is there a daily limit on ducks, coots and mergansers?
Kentucky counts ducks, coots and mergansers like this: 6 daily (max 4 mallards, only 2 hens; 3 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 3 pintails; 2 black ducks; 2 canvasback; 1 scaup Nov. 26-29 and Dec. 7-17, 2 scaup Dec. 18-Jan. 31); possession 3x daily; 15 daily, 45 possession; 5 daily (only 2 hooded); possession 3x daily.
When does duck season start in Kentucky?
Regular duck (Statewide): Nov 26 to Nov 29, 2026; Dec 7, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027; Falconry (Statewide): Nov 26, 2026 to Feb 21, 2027; September teal (Statewide): Sep 19 to Sep 23, 2026; Veteran, military days (Statewide): Nov 22, 2026; Feb 14, 2027. Remaining duck lines appear in the season table.