Wisconsin · 2026-27 waterfowl

Wisconsin Duck & Goose Season 2026-27

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

September 26, 2026 to December 15, 2026, split across 3 zones (Northern Zone, Southern Zone, Open Water Zone), with split season segments inside the window. The full table on this page was read from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)'s own published page, linked beside it; confirm there before you hunt.

Q: What about goose season in Wisconsin?

The goose table on this page lists the seasons as Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) publishes them, by species group and zone. Wisconsin's season sheet lists one regular goose season per zone; no separate snow goose or brant line appears on the sheet.

Q: Is there a September teal season in Wisconsin?

Yes: September 1, 2026 to September 9, 2026, as published by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Statewide early teal season.

Q: Which duck zone am I in?

Wisconsin's zones (Northern Zone, Southern Zone, Open Water Zone) are drawn by the agency along highways, rivers and county lines. Your zone is determined from the agency's own map: Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.

Ducks: September 26, 2026 to December 15, 2026, across 3 zones. Every date below was read from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s own published page, linked beside it, inside the Mississippi Flyway framework.

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 15, 2026

Duck season

published

3 zones

Zones

with split segments

Mississippi

Flyway

federal framework

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Source

read 2026-09-01

The main event

Duck season in Wisconsin, zone by zone

Ducks, 2026-27

publishedMississippi Flyway

Duck season is OPEN now in the Northern Zone, through November 24, 2026.

Wisconsin duck seasons 2026-27, as published by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Zone	Season segments
Northern Zone	September 26, 2026 to November 24, 2026
Southern Zone	October 3, 2026 to October 11, 2026October 17, 2026 to December 6, 2026
Open Water Zone	October 17, 2026 to December 15, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons (PUB-CS-076-2026, updated 06/08/2026), accessed 2026-09-01.

Ducks and coots share zone dates. Youth waterfowl hunt runs Sep 19 to 20, 2026.

September teal: September 1, 2026 to September 9, 2026. Statewide early teal season.

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 Wisconsin

Geese, 2026-27

published

Goose season	Dates
Early Canada goose, statewide	September 1, 2026 to September 15, 2026
Regular goose, Northern Zone	September 16, 2026 to December 16, 2026
Regular goose, Southern Zone	September 16, 2026 to October 11, 2026October 17, 2026 to December 6, 2026December 19, 2026 to January 2, 2027
Regular goose, Mississippi River Zone	October 3, 2026 to October 11, 2026October 17, 2026 to January 5, 2027

Dates read from 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons (PUB-CS-076-2026, updated 06/08/2026), accessed 2026-09-01.

Wisconsin's season sheet lists one regular goose season per zone; no separate snow goose or brant line appears on the sheet.

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 Wisconsin’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.

Wisconsin 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

Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)and USFWS, and the regulations page is linked below.

Current Wisconsin regulations

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

Wisconsin 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

Wisconsin waterfowl season questions

When is duck season in Wisconsin for 2026-27?

What about goose season in Wisconsin?

Is there a September teal season in Wisconsin?

What is a flyway, and which one is Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.