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Idaho Ducks and Mergansers season for 2026-27, with every row
Season dates, bag and license for Idaho ducks in 2026-27, starting youth and veterans/active military waterfowl weekend on September 26, 2026 and ducks on October 3, 2026.
Photo: mark6mauno (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Idaho ducks, the short version
The window for ducks spans September 26, 2026 to January 31, 2027; youth and veterans/active military waterfowl weekend opens it. In the IDFG brochure, the duck bag is: 7 (2 hen mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x. County lists define the duck areas, so a county page shows which dates apply there.
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Ducks and Mergansers areas and counties
| Duck area | Defined as | Ducks and Mergansers dates |
|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | All parts of the state not in Areas 2 and 3 |
|
| Area 2 | Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Valley; Blackfoot Reservoir drainage of Bingham; part of Caribou |
|
| Area 3 | Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone |
|
From duck areas (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
All dated duck windows in Idaho
Each line is one IDFG duck window with the area it covers and the tag it needs.
| Hunt | Where | Tag or license | When | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth and veterans/active military waterfowl weekend | Statewide | – | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Regular daily bags | |
| Ducks | Area 2 | Permit |
| 7 (max 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x daily | |
| Ducks | Area 3 | Permit |
| 7 (max 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x daily | |
| Ducks | Area 1 | Permit |
| 7 (max 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x daily |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho counties in the duck areas
County lists define the duck areas; the count column shows how many rows reach each county.
| County | Rows | Hunting units | Region | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bingham | 2 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Caribou | 2 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Ada | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Adams | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Bannock | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Bear Lake | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Benewah | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Blaine | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Boise | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Bonner | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Bonneville | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Boundary | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Butte | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Camas | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Canyon | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Cassia | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Clark | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Clearwater | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Custer | 1 | – | Salmon | MT |
| Elmore | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Franklin | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Fremont | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Gem | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Gooding | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Idaho | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT/MT |
| Jefferson | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Jerome | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Kootenai | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Latah | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Lemhi | 1 | – | Salmon | MT |
| Lewis | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Lincoln | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Madison | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Minidoka | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Nez Perce | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Oneida | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Owyhee | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Payette | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Power | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Shoshone | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Teton | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Twin Falls | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Valley | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Washington | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Limits on ducks for 2026-27
These are the duck limits in IDFG's words; check the counting period before a second trip.
| Where or what | Limit as recorded |
|---|---|
| Ducks | 7 (2 hen mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x |
| Also printed | 7 (max 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x daily |
| Also printed | Regular daily bags |
From bag limit (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Ducks and Mergansers license prices
From the IDFG fee tables: the license first, then any tag, permit or application the duck rows call for.
| License, tag or permit | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting license | Resident | $15.75 ($12.75 Price Lock) |
| Hunting license | Nonresident | $185.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Junior hunting license | Resident | $8.25 ($7.25 Price Lock) |
| Combination hunting & fishing | Resident | $38.75 ($33.50 Price Lock) |
| Combination hunting & fishing | Nonresident | $264.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Sportsman's Package | Resident | $144.60 ($124.25 Price Lock) |
| Small game hunting license | Nonresident | $141.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| 3-day small game license | Nonresident | $71.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | Resident | $2.75 ($1.75 Price Lock) |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | Nonresident | $5.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
License basics behind the duck table: A hunting license is required to hunt (including predatory and unprotected wildlife); a trapping license to trap gray wolf; a tag for every big game species.
From license and tag fees, nonresident fees and license requirements (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Field rules that matter for ducks
Read these before heading out for ducks; the penalty schedule is on the laws page.
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Shooting hours | Duck hunters: official shooting hours table for the 2026-2027 migratory game bird seasons (except crows) by county group (brochure pages 15-17). |
| Shot | Duck hunters: nontoxic shot required for all waterfowl. |
| Baiting | Duck hunters: state and federal baiting rules for migratory game birds (brochure page 18). |
| Youth and veterans | Duck hunters: youth-only controlled deer, elk, pronghorn and bear hunts; pheasant youth season October 8-14, 2026; youth/veterans waterfowl weekend September 26-27, 2026; youth spring turkey April 8-14. |
| Hunting Passport | Duck hunters: Hunting Passport (8+ junior or adult) lets a person hunt without hunter education when accompanied by an adult license holder within normal conversation range; mentors may not accompany more than two mentored hunters. |
| Residency | Duck hunters: proof of residency is required to buy resident licenses (brochure page 118). |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 15, Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 25, Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 18, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 115, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 122 and Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 119 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Open land for duck hunters
Public land picked for ducks: first the places named for them, then wildlife areas, refuges and Access Yes! ground in duck country.
Pleasant Valley Grazing Association (Access Yes!) carries the waterfowl flag in the Access Yes! flags.
Flagged for waterfowl: Little Fish Creek Grazing Assoc. (Access Yes!) (Access Yes! flags).
Waterfowl listed at Sterling Wildlife Management Area (IDFG WMA page).
Upper Kirtley Creek (Access Yes!) carries the waterfowl flag in the Access Yes! flags.
The Access Yes! flags mark Janss Farms (Access Yes!) for waterfowl.
Waterfowl listed at PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) (IDFG brochure).
From Pleasant Valley Grazing Association (Access Yes!) and Sterling Wildlife Management Area (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Carry this in Idaho duck
Built around mountain, desert and river-bottom hunts.
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White-fronted geese and wigeonPhoto: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain)
Green-winged teal on the waterPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain)
Wood duck and wigeon held for bandingPhoto: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain)
Ducks and Mergansers, answered
Which Idaho license covers duck hunting?
Hunting ducks takes a hunting license plus the migratory bird (HIP) permit ($2.75 resident). The duck row lists: Hunting license + HIP + federal duck stamp.
Is there a bag limit for ducks in Idaho?
For ducks, the brochure line reads: 7 (2 hen mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x; 7 (max 2 female mallard, 2 redhead, 3 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 scaup); possession 3x daily; Regular daily bags.
What are the shooting hours for ducks in Idaho?
Ducks follow the official IDFG table on pages 15 to 17 of the migratory brochure, set by county group; this page does not recalculate it.
Are ducks open statewide in Idaho?
The duck rows name Area 1, Area 2, Area 3 and Statewide. Tribal reservations stay closed to non-member duck hunting.
Can I use any shotgun for ducks?
For ducks: nontoxic shot required for all waterfowl.
Is hunter orange the law for duck season?
The duck rule is a recommendation: hunter orange is recommended, required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required (including IDFG properties and leases) and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts; minimum 36 square inches above the waist.
Which tech rules apply to duck hunters?
For ducks: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
May I use feed to attract ducks?
For ducks: state and federal baiting rules for migratory game birds (brochure page 18).
When does duck hunting open in Idaho?
The duck calendar spans September 26, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Youth and veterans/active military waterfowl weekend: September 26, 2026; Ducks: October 3, 2026. Some duck dates are live as of November 12, 2026.