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Ducks, geese, woodcock and marsh birds · 2026-27
Duck Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Michigan duck season opens with early teal, Sep 1 to Sep 9, 2026, then the youth weekend and the veterans and active-duty military days on Sep 19 to Sep 20, 2026; regular splits run Sep 26 to Nov 22, 2026 and Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026 in the North Zone, Oct 3 to Nov 29, 2026 and Dec 12 to Dec 13, 2026 in the Middle Zone and Oct 17 to Dec 13, 2026 and Dec 26 to Dec 27, 2026 in the South Zone. Dates, limits, land and rules for ducks, all from the DNR 2026 summaries.
Photo: bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The North Zone is the whole Upper Peninsula; the Middle/South line runs from Stony Creek in Oceana County across to Midland, Bay City and Willow Creek on Lake Huron. The daily bag is six ducks with species limits (four mallards with two hens, three wood ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks, two black ducks, three pintails, one or two scaup by zone and date) plus five mergansers. Hunters 16 and older need the base license, the $12 Michigan waterfowl license (HIP included) and the federal duck stamp, and lead-free shot is required statewide.
The DNR line on ducks
- Methods and dates: North, Middle and South zone splits; early teal Sept. 1-9; youth and veterans days Sept. 19-20.
- Bag: 6 ducks/day with species limits; 5 mergansers (2 hooded).
- Other points: Waterfowl license, HIP and federal stamp 16+.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
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Duck seasons by zone and unit
Each bar is one duck segment. Fall dates are 2026; January to April dates are 2027.
| Segment | Unit | Methods | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular (split 1) (Ducks) | North Zone | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 58 | |
| Regular (split 1) (Ducks) | Middle Zone | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 58 | |
| Regular (split 1) (Ducks) | South Zone | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 58 | |
| Regular (split 2) (Ducks) | North Zone | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Nov 28, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 2 | |
| Regular (split 2) (Ducks) | Middle Zone | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 2 | |
| Regular (split 2) (Ducks) | South Zone | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | 2 | |
| Early teal (Teal) | Statewide | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | 9 | |
| Veterans and active-duty military waterfowl days (Waterfowl) | Statewide | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 2 | |
| Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend (Waterfowl) | Statewide | Shotgun 10 gauge or smaller (3-shell capacity), lead-free shot, bow, crossbow, falconry | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 2 | |
| Falconry extra days (Ducks) | Statewide | Falconry only | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 14 | |
| Falconry extra days (Ducks) | Statewide | Falconry only | Feb 20, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | 19 |
Notes on the duck segments
- Hunting hours sunrise to sunset; 6/day. State parks closed.
- 3 migratory birds/day combined (WCO 3.422).
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary and the Wildlife Conservation Order, checked October 22, 2026.
Bag and license rules for ducks
These duck limits are statewide unless a unit, a property or a hunt sets its own.
Ducks
Daily 6: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 3 northern pintail, 1-2 scaup by zone/date. Possession 18 (3x daily).
Mergansers
Daily 5 (max 2 hooded); possession 3x daily.
Early teal
Daily 6; possession 3x daily (WCO 3.425).
Migratory birds by falconry
3 birds/day combined; possession 9 (WCO 3.422).
Duck license costs
| Product | Res. adult | Res. senior | Youth | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base license | $11 | $5 | $6 | $151 |
| Waterfowl license (includes HIP) | $12 | $12 | – | $12 |
| Harvest Information Program endorsement | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Federal migratory bird hunting stamp | Set federally | Set federally | – | Set federally |
| Migratory bird youth endorsement (includes HIP) | – | – | Free | – |
| Reserved waterfowl application | $5 | $5 | $5 | $5 |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
Michigan rules for ducks: reporting, hours, orange
Before going after ducks, check these reporting, hours and bait rules.
Harvest report
Ducks are not registered; the free HIP endorsement, taken at license purchase, is the federal harvest survey link.
Hunting hours
The duck day ends at sunset under WCO 2.5 and opens 30 minutes before sunrise. Early teal days use sunrise as the start.
Orange rule
Ducks fall under the migratory bird exception to the orange rule.
Bait rules
No bait for ducks: an area stays baited for 10 days after the bait is gone, though nonfood imitations such as plastic corncobs are allowed.
Sundays
Neither the 2026 summaries nor the Wildlife Conservation Order closes Sunday hunting for ducks.
Early teal
Sep 1 to Sep 9, 2026: Hunting hours sunrise to sunset; 6/day. State parks closed.
Youth and veterans days
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend and Veterans/Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunting Days both Sept. 19-20, 2026; veterans preference drawings at managed waterfowl areas Nov. 10-12.
Wetland Wonders
Seven managed waterfowl areas in southern Michigan with daily drawings: Fennville Farm, Fish Point, Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center, Nayanquing Point, Pointe Mouillee, Shiawassee River, St. Clair Flats (Harsens Island); plus Shiawassee NWR walk-in unit (no drawing from 2026).
Reserved waterfowl hunts
Aug. 1-28, 2026, $5; Results Sept. 14, 2026. Two hunt choices; parties up to 4.
First and last light, duck season
| Day | Opener or close | In A | In B | In C | In D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Veterans and active-duty military waterfowl days | 6:46 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Regular (split 1) opens | 6:54 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Regular (split 1) opens | 7:02 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Regular (split 1) opens | 7:17 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | 7:35 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Regular (split 1) closes | 7:02 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Regular (split 2) opens | 7:08 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Regular (split 1) closes | 7:10 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Regular (split 2) opens | 7:22 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:40 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Regular (split 2) opens | 7:30 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. |
| Dec 28, 2026 | Falconry extra days opens | 7:31 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summaries: harvest reporting, MCL 324.40116 hunter orange, baiting, hunting hours tables, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours by zone · Michigan hunting laws.
Duck units and zones in Michigan
Seven managed waterfowl areas hold their own drawings.
North Zone
All of the Upper Peninsula.
Middle Zone
Lower Peninsula north of the Middle/South line (WCO 1.2(19)).
South Zone
Lower Peninsula south of the line.
The scaup calendar
| Zone | Dates | Daily scaup |
|---|---|---|
| North Zone | Sept. 26 – Nov. 9 | 2 scaup |
| North Zone | Nov. 10–22 and Nov. 28–29 | 1 scaup |
| Middle Zone | Oct. 3–18 | 1 scaup |
| Middle Zone | Oct. 19 – Nov. 29 and Dec. 12–13 | 2 scaup |
| South Zone | Oct. 17 – Nov. 1 | 1 scaup |
| South Zone | Nov. 2 – Dec. 13 and Dec. 26–27 | 2 scaup |
Drawing areas
| Area | Phone | Youth hunt dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fennville Farm (Allegan County, Fennville) | 269-561-2258 | Oct. 17 (a.m.) nonreserved; Dec. 26 (a.m.) nonreserved |
| Fish Point (Tuscola County, Unionville) | 989-674-2511 | Oct. 3 (p.m.) reserved; Oct. 24 (p.m.) nonreserved |
| Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (Muskegon County, Twin Lake) | 231-788-5055 | Oct. 24 (a.m. and p.m.) nonreserved |
| Nayanquing Point (Bay County, Linwood) | 989-697-5101 | Oct. 3 (p.m.) reserved; Oct. 24 (p.m.) nonreserved |
| Pointe Mouillee (Wayne County, Rockwood) | 734-379-9692 | Oct. 17 (p.m.) reserved; Nov. 1 (p.m.) nonreserved |
| Shiawassee River (Saginaw County, St. Charles) | 989-865-6211 | Oct. 17 (p.m.) reserved; Nov. 7 (p.m.) nonreserved |
| St. Clair Flats (Harsens Island, St. Clair County, Algonac) | 810-748-9504 | Oct. 17 (p.m.) reserved; Nov. 7 (p.m.) nonreserved |
| Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (Saginaw County, Saginaw) | 989-777-5930 | N/A |
waterfowl summary, checked October 22, 2026.
Duck ground: harvest and public land
17 properties list waterfowl and ducks, from Michigan State Forest System down.
| Public area | Kind | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Forest System | State Forest | Alcona, Alger, Alpena… | 3,954,811 |
| Ottawa National Forest | National Forest | Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton… | 1,000,750 |
| Huron-Manistee National Forest | National Forest | Alcona, Crawford, Iosco… | 979,067 |
| Hiawatha National Forest | National Forest | Alger, Chippewa, Delta… | 899,499 |
| Hunting Access Program | Hunting Access Program | Alcona, Alpena, Arenac… | 20,076 |
| Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (11,182 acres) | Managed waterfowl area | Muskegon | 11,182 |
| Shiawassee River State Game Area (10,154 acres) | State Game Area | Saginaw | 10,154 |
| Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Saginaw | 10,000 |
| Fish Point State Wildlife Area (9,514 acres) | State Wildlife Area | Tuscola | 9,514 |
| Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (7,310 acres) | State Game Area | Wayne, Monroe | 7,310 |
| Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area (6,684 acres) | Federal WMA | Ogemaw, Clare, Oscoda… | 6,684 |
| Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (6,200 acres) | National Wildlife Refuge | Wayne, Monroe | 6,200 |
| Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area (4,308 acres) | State Wildlife Area | Bay | 4,308 |
| Fennville Farm Unit | Managed waterfowl area | Allegan | 4,100 |
| Harsens Island Unit | Managed waterfowl area | St. Clair | 3,355 |
Smaller duck properties
Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge · Michigan Wetland Management District
Properties and their game lists from DNR, USFS, FWS and NPS pages and the DNR land layers, retrieved 2026-10-22. Michigan public land directory · County guides.
What gear is legal for ducks
The weapon rows and method rules from the summaries and the WCO that apply to ducks.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl and migratory birds | Bow, crossbow or shotgun 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than 3 shells (one-piece plug); one firearm per person; lead-free shot (steel, bismuth, tungsten types) required statewide for ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe; falconry. | Lead shot for those species; shot size limits on managed waterfowl areas (WCO 3.414). |
Method limits for ducks
Firearm transport in vehicles
In or on a motor vehicle (parked or moving), all firearms unloaded in barrel and magazine and cased or in the trunk; bows/crossbows unloaded and uncocked or cased on public land and roads. On ORVs: unloaded and cased or with a key-locked trigger mechanism. Boats under power: firearms unloaded. Handguns cased and not readily accessible unless CPL.
Drones and vehicles
No hunting from cars, snowmobiles, aircraft, drones, motorboats, ORVs or sailboats (special permits excepted); drones may not be used to locate or recover game.
Float hunting
Hunting and trapping along waterways protected by the recreational trespass law belong to the riparian owners; permission needed.
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
Common Michigan duck questions
How does the Michigan scaup bag change through the season?
It changes by zone and date: North Zone Sept. 26 – Nov. 9: no more than 2 scaup; North Zone Nov. 10–22 and Nov. 28–29: no more than 1 scaup; Middle Zone Oct. 3–18: no more than 1 scaup; Middle Zone Oct. 19 – Nov. 29 and Dec. 12–13: no more than 2 scaup; South Zone Oct. 17 – Nov. 1: no more than 1 scaup; South Zone Nov. 2 – Dec. 13 and Dec. 26–27: no more than 2 scaup.
What are the September teal dates in Michigan?
Sep 1 to Sep 9, 2026, six teal a day, sunrise to sunset; state parks are closed to it.
Where is the Middle/South duck zone line?
From the Wisconsin border in Lake Michigan due west of the mouth of Stony Creek (Oceana County), along Stony Creek, Scenic Drive, Stony Lake and Garfield roads to M-20, M-20 to U.S. 10 BR in Midland, U.S. 10 to M-25 west of Bay City, M-25 through Tuscola and Huron counties to Willow Creek (Section 4, T18N R14E, Huron County), to its mouth on Lake Huron and due east to the international border.
Do youth need a waterfowl license?
Base license, HIP, Michigan waterfowl license ($12) and federal duck stamp for 16+; youth 10-15 need base plus migratory bird youth endorsement.
How do the Wetland Wonders drawings work?
Each managed waterfowl area draws on its own schedule, most at 5:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Fish Point, Nayanquing Point and Shiawassee River draw daily, Muskegon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Do I have to report ducks in Michigan?
Ducks are not registered; the free HIP endorsement, taken at license purchase, is the federal harvest survey link.
Does the duck season run on Sundays in Michigan?
Neither the 2026 summaries nor the Wildlife Conservation Order closes Sunday hunting for ducks.
What may a duck hunter carry afield?
Waterfowl and migratory birds: Bow, crossbow or shotgun 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than 3 shells (one-piece plug); one firearm per person; lead-free shot (steel, bismuth, tungsten types) required statewide for ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe; falconry.
When is the opener for ducks under the 2026 DNR rules?
The DNR sets ducks at regular (split 1) Sep 26 to Nov 22, 2026 (North Zone); regular (split 1) Oct 3 to Nov 29, 2026 (Middle Zone); regular (split 1) Oct 17 to Dec 13, 2026 (South Zone); regular (split 2) Nov 28 to Nov 29, 2026 (North Zone); regular (split 2) Dec 12 to Dec 13, 2026 (Middle Zone). More duck rows, zone by zone, appear in the table.
Is the take of ducks capped in Michigan?
Daily 6: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 3 northern pintail, 1-2 scaup by zone/date. Possession 18 (3x daily). Daily 5 (max 2 hooded); possession 3x daily.
What must I buy before going after ducks in Michigan?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Base license ($11); Waterfowl license (includes HIP) ($12); Harvest Information Program endorsement (Free); Reserved waterfowl application ($5).
Which game areas and forests carry ducks?
Of 17 public properties that qualify, the largest are Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest.
When does legal hunting time start and end for ducks?
The duck day ends at sunset under WCO 2.5 and opens 30 minutes before sunrise. Early teal days use sunrise as the start.
Does the orange law cover ducks?
Ducks fall under the migratory bird exception to the orange rule.
Are bait sites allowed for ducks?
No bait for ducks: an area stays baited for 10 days after the bait is gone, though nonfood imitations such as plastic corncobs are allowed.
Final notes on ducks
Before the duck trip, confirm your license, the property rules and the hunter orange rule for the dates you hunt.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); michaelhunter5 (CC BY 2.0).