Michigan Duck Season 2026-27: Waterfowl Zone Dates

Q: When is duck season in Michigan for 2026-27?

September 26, 2026 to December 27, 2026, split across 3 zones (North Zone, Middle Zone, South Zone), with split season segments inside the window. The full table on this page was read from Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)'s own published page, linked beside it; confirm there before you hunt.

Q: What about goose season in Michigan?

The goose table on this page lists the seasons as Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) publishes them, by species group and zone. Michigan lists dark goose (brant, Canada, white-fronted) and light goose (blue, Ross's, snow) seasons by zone plus two special goose management units.

Q: Is there a September teal season in Michigan?

Yes: September 1, 2026 to September 9, 2026, as published by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Statewide early teal season, blue-winged and green-winged teal only; hunting hours begin at sunrise.

Q: Which duck zone am I in?

Michigan's zones (North Zone, Middle Zone, South Zone) are drawn by the agency along highways, rivers and county lines. Your zone is determined from the agency's own map: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) publishes the official zone map and boundary descriptions, linked from this page.

Q: Where are the bag limits, shooting hours and stamp requirements?

At Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), linked on this page, along with the federal duck stamp and HIP registration rules from USFWS. Those change annually and are legally binding. This page carries the season window, sourced and dated.

Q: Can these dates change?

Yes. This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 2, 2026, says so in the copy, and links the exact agency page it read. Agencies amend and correct their own tables; treat the agency page as the final word on the morning you hunt.

This page covers the 2026-27 season year. Dates were read from the agency sources linked below, last checked September 2, 2026. Seasons change annually and agencies correct their own pages; confirm against the linked agency page before you hunt.

September 26, 2026 to December 27, 2026

Duck season

published

3 zones

Zones

with split segments

Mississippi

Flyway

federal framework

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Source

read 2026-09-01

The main event

Duck season in Michigan, zone by zone

Ducks, 2026-27

publishedMississippi Flyway

Duck season is OPEN now in the North Zone, through November 22, 2026, with 2 zone segments open.

Michigan duck seasons 2026-27, as published by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Zone	Season segments
North Zone	September 26, 2026 to November 22, 2026November 28, 2026 to November 29, 2026
Middle Zone	October 3, 2026 to November 29, 2026December 12, 2026 to December 13, 2026
South Zone	October 17, 2026 to December 13, 2026December 26, 2026 to December 27, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary, accessed 2026-09-01.

Coot, duck and merganser share zone dates. Youth waterfowl weekend and veterans/active-duty days run Sep 19 to 20, 2026.

September teal: September 1, 2026 to September 9, 2026. Statewide early teal season, blue-winged and green-winged teal only; hunting hours begin at sunrise.

Waterfowl hunter setting goose decoys on a tidal flat with a retriever watching — Setting decoys with help. Photo: Rebecca Fabbri/USFWS. “Waterfowl hunter and dog” — Rebecca Fabbri / USFWS Alaska Region — Public domain

Geese

Goose seasons in Michigan

Geese, 2026-27

published

Goose season	Dates
Dark goose (brant, Canada and white-fronted), North Zone	September 1, 2026 to December 16, 2026
Dark goose, Middle Zone	September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026October 3, 2026 to December 18, 2026
Dark goose, South Zone (excludes Allegan County GMU and Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU)	September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026October 17, 2026 to December 13, 2026December 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027February 6, 2027 to February 15, 2027
Dark goose, Allegan County GMU	September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026October 17, 2026 to November 4, 2026December 19, 2026 to February 14, 2027
Dark goose, Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU	October 20, 2026 to December 19, 2026
Light goose (snow, blue and Ross's), North Zone	September 1, 2026 to December 16, 2026
Light goose, Middle Zone	September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026October 3, 2026 to December 18, 2026
Light goose, South Zone (excludes the two GMUs)	September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026October 17, 2026 to December 13, 2026December 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027February 6, 2027 to February 15, 2027
Light goose, Allegan County GMU	September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026October 17, 2026 to November 4, 2026December 19, 2026 to February 14, 2027
Light goose, Muskegon County Wastewater System GMU	October 20, 2026 to December 19, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Summary, accessed 2026-09-01.

Michigan lists dark goose (brant, Canada, white-fronted) and light goose (blue, Ross's, snow) seasons by zone plus two special goose management units.

Canada geese dropping into a refuge wetland with wings set — Canada geese dropping into a refuge marsh. Photo: Jennifer Jewett/USFWS. “Canada Geese” by Jennifer Jewett / USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0

The structure over the state

How Michigan’s dates get set: the Mississippi Flyway

Waterfowl seasons are the most federal of all hunting seasons. Migratory birds cross every border, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes annual frameworks for each of the four administrative flyways, setting the earliest openers, latest closers and maximum season lengths, and each state then selects its own dates and zones inside its framework.

Michigan selects its dates inside the Mississippi Flyway framework. The continent's busiest duck corridor, following the Mississippi River system.

Large mixed flock of ducks and geese over water at sunset — A mixed flock of ducks and geese at sunset. Photo: Steve Hillebrand/USFWS. “A mixed flock of ducks and geese fly from a wetland area” — Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Public domain

Rules

Michigan waterfowl hunting regulations

Season windows are carried here with their source and read date attached. Everything else a hunter is bound by, including the federal duck stamp and HIP registration every waterfowl hunter needs, is set by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)and USFWS, and the regulations page is linked below.

Current Michigan regulations

Bag limits and species restrictions, shooting hours, duck stamp and HIP requirements, license rules, and youth or veteran season details for Michigan are set by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), are legally binding and change annually. Its current regulations page is linked here.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR): current regulations

Father and daughter in waders with a retriever in a duckweed marsh — Father and daughter on Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Photo: Tim Miller/USFWS. “Waterfowl Hunting (Upper Mississippi River NWFR)” — Tim Miller / USFWS Midwest Region — Public domain

Michigan waterfowl season questions

When is duck season in Michigan for 2026-27?

What about goose season in Michigan?

Is there a September teal season in Michigan?

What is a flyway, and which one is Michigan in?

Waterfowl seasons are set in two steps: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes annual federal frameworks for each of the four administrative flyways (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, Pacific), setting the outside limits, and each state selects its season dates and zones inside its flyway's framework. Michigan selects its dates inside the Mississippi Flyway framework. The continent's busiest duck corridor, following the Mississippi River system.

Which duck zone am I in?

Where are the bag limits, shooting hours and stamp requirements?

Can these dates change?

Wetland at sunset with a fallen snag and mountains on the horizon — Wood River Wetland, Oregon. The habitat the flyways run on. Photo: Greg Shine/BLM. “Wood River Wetland” — Greg Shine / Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington — Public domain

This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 2, 2026. Every season window is republished from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) page linked beside it, read on the date shown; windows the agency had not yet published are labelled not yet published. Bag limits, legal methods, shooting hours, stamp and license rules are set by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose pages are the final word on the day you hunt. See also the national waterfowl season guide.

Michigan Duck & Goose Season 2026-27