Photo: Mike Budd, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Georgia’s 2026-27 duck season opens with a nine-day Thanksgiving split, November 21 to 29, 2026, then reopens December 12 and runs to January 31, 2027. The daily limit is 6 ducks, with tighter limits for some species. Youth, active-duty military and veterans get their own days November 14–15. Dates, limits and lake rules below come from Georgia DNR’s 2026-27 regulations.
- Duck seasonNov. 21–29 and Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
- Youth & veterans daysNov. 14–15, 2026
- Daily limit6 ducks (species limits apply)
- Quota deadlineOct. 15 for managed WMA impoundments
2026-27 Waterfowl Season Dates
| Species | Dates | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks | Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | 6 (see species limits) |
| Mergansers | Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | 5 |
| Coots and gallinules | Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | 15 |
| Canada geese | Sept. 5–27; Oct. 10–25; Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | 5 |
| Snow and white-fronted geese | Oct. 10–25; Nov. 21–29; Dec. 12 – Jan. 31 | 5 |
| Teal (early season) | Sept. 12–20, 2026 (closed) | 6 |
| Youth, military & veterans days | Nov. 14–15, 2026 | Regular limits |
Why the odd dates? Federal rules allow Georgia no more than 60 days and one split. DNR always runs a nine-day season from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after, then ends the season on the last legal day, January 31, so the second split’s opening day moves around each year. On youth days, hunters under 16 must have an adult 18 or older with them, and the adult may not hunt.
Duck Species Limits
The 6-duck daily limit can include no more than:
| Species | Daily limit |
|---|---|
| Mallard | 2 (only 1 hen) |
| Wood duck | 3 |
| Canvasback | 2 |
| Redhead | 2 |
| Black duck or mottled duck | 1 |
| Pintail | 1 |
| Scaup | 1 |
| Fulvous whistling duck | 1 |
| Sea ducks (scoter, eider, long-tailed duck) | Up to 4 total; 3 of each, only 1 hen eider |
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Outfitters, guides, lodging and processors: reach hunters planning a Georgia season. See our advertising options or download the 2026 media kit (PDF).
Licenses & Gear
- Georgia hunting license (16 and older), or a combo or Sportsman’s license. See the license price table.
- GA Waterfowl & Migratory Bird License: $5, or free with a Sportsman’s, lifetime, honorary or disability license and for resident landowners on their own land.
- Federal Duck Stamp: required for every waterfowl hunter 16 and older, landowners included. An electronic stamp bought on GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com is valid right away; the physical stamp is mailed later.
- Non-toxic shot only: 10 gauge or smaller with federally approved non-toxic shot, size F or smaller. You may not have lead shot with you while hunting waterfowl.
- Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
Where to Hunt Ducks on Public Land
Managed Impoundments (Quota Only)
Duck hunting on DNR’s managed impoundments is by quota draw: Altamaha WMA (Butler and Champney islands), B.F. Grant, Oconee, Rum Creek and West Point (Glovers Creek) WMAs and the Cordele Hatchery. Hunters use assigned blinds or ponds and must stop at noon, except on the last Saturday of the season. Apply at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com by Oct. 15; you can’t apply as a group, but selected hunters may bring up to two others.
Other WMAs
On other WMAs, waterfowl may be hunted any day of the statewide season unless the area listing says otherwise. Geese may be hunted on WMAs whenever the area is open for small game, except on managed impoundments and dove fields. Browse our WMA map.
Coastal Rivers
Altamaha WMA, in the delta of the Altamaha River near Darien, includes the Butler and Champney island impoundments listed above. See our Coastal Georgia WMAs page for areas and contacts.
Rules for Hunting Big Lakes
Lanier & Allatoona
No hunting within 600 feet of a dock, house, structure, bridge, road, boat ramp, marina or open recreation area. Check with the Corps of Engineers and the regional DNR office for open dates and areas. See Georgia lakes.
Georgia Power Mountain Lakes
Burton, Seed, Rabun, Tallulah Falls, Tugalo and Yonah are open for ducks and geese, but not within 300 feet of any dock, house, boat ramp, marina or open recreation area without permission. Region 2 office: 770-535-5700.
Lake Walter F. George
A Corps of Engineers permit is required to hunt waterfowl anywhere on the lake except Eufaula NWR (229-768-2516). No hunting within 600 feet of developed areas, and hunting from land only in designated hunting areas.
Blackshear, Oconee, Seminole, Sinclair & Oliver
No hunting within 300 feet of a dock, house, structure, bridge, road, boat ramp, marina or open recreation area (Lake Oliver south of Standing Boy Creek).
Common Questions
When is duck season in Georgia 2026?
Duck season runs Nov. 21 to 29, 2026 and Dec. 12, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027, with youth, active-duty military and veterans days on Nov. 14 and 15.
What is the duck limit in Georgia?
6 ducks per day, including no more than 2 mallards (only 1 hen), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 1 scaup and 1 black or mottled duck.
Do I need a duck stamp in Georgia?
Yes. Every waterfowl hunter 16 and older needs a Federal Duck Stamp, plus a Georgia hunting license and the GA Waterfowl and Migratory Bird License.
Can you duck hunt on Lake Lanier?
Yes, but not within 600 feet of any dock, house, structure, bridge, road, boat ramp, marina or open recreation area. Check with the Corps of Engineers and DNR's regional office for open areas.
More Hunting Guides
Sources we checked
Everything in this guide was checked on October 12, 2026, against Georgia DNR’s official 2026-27 regulations (published for DNR by eRegulations, last updated August 27, 2026) and DNR’s migratory bird information page. If anything here differs from the official guide, the official guide wins.
- Migratory bird seasons – dates, limits, licenses, shot, lake rules
- Public hunting opportunities – managed impoundments, WMA waterfowl rules
- Quota hunts – waterfowl application deadline and rules
- Georgia DNR migratory bird information – season structure
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.