Ohio Duck Season 2026-27: Zones A, B, C, Dates and Limits
Ohio ducks, Oct. 26, 2026
Open now
Regular Season (first segment)
Next to open
Nov. 14
Duck season by zone
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season (first segment) | Zone B | Oct. 17, 2026 to Oct. 25, 2026 | Closed |
| Regular Season (first segment) | Zone C | Oct. 17, 2026 to Oct. 25, 2026 | Closed |
| Regular Season (first segment) | Zone A | Oct. 17, 2026 to Nov. 1, 2026 | Open now |
| Regular Season (second segment) | Zone A | Nov. 14, 2026 to Dec. 27, 2026 | Opens in 19 days |
| Regular Season (second segment) | Zone B | Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027 | Opens in 26 days |
| Regular Season (second segment) | Zone C | Dec. 12, 2026 to Jan. 31, 2027 | Opens in 47 days |
Seasons cover ducks, mergansers and coots. All three zones open the same day and close on different dates.
New waterfowl zones for 2026-27
Ohio replaced its Lake Erie Marsh, North and South zones with Zones A, B and C, starting with the 2026-27 season.
- Zone A: Auglaize, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hardin, Henry, Marion, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams and Wyandot counties, part of Lucas County, and Lake Erie waters out to a line that starts at the Erie-Lorain county line and runs about 100 yards offshore, around Cedar Point and the Sandusky Bay area, to the Michigan line.
- Zone B: northeast Ohio and part of northwest Ohio, including Allen, Ashtabula, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Hancock, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning and Medina counties, with a boundary that runs from the Ashland County line along several state routes to SR 39 and the Pennsylvania line. It includes the Lake Erie islands and waters not in Zone A.
- Zone C: the rest of the state.
During the public comment period, Logan County was moved to Zone C, and Allen and Putnam counties to Zone B. The full road-by-road description is in rule 1501:31-7-07.
Scaup limit by date
Ohio sets the scaup limit by season days instead of calendar dates: 1 a day during the first 15 days of the duck season in your zone, and 2 a day during the last 45. Counting the open days on this page, the limit goes up to 2 on:
| Zone | Season days | 2 scaup from |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 60 | Nov. 1, 2026 |
| Zone B | 60 | Nov. 27, 2026 |
| Zone C | 60 | Dec. 18, 2026 |
Calculated from the season dates in the rule. Possession is 3 scaup during the first 15 days and 6 afterward.
Early teal and veterans days
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Teal | Statewide | Sept. 5, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026 | Closed |
| Veterans and Active Military Days | Statewide | Oct. 3, 2026 to Oct. 4, 2026 | Closed |
- Early teal: 6 teal a day and 18 in possession after the second day. Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.
- Veterans and active military days: statewide for veterans and members of the armed forces on active duty, including National Guard and reserves on active duty.
- Youth waterfowl days: the rule allows hunters 17 and younger, accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 or older, but its dates still read Oct. 4 and 5, 2025. Check with the Division of Wildlife for the 2026 youth days.
Daily bag and possession limits
| Species | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Total ducks | 6 | 18 |
| Mallards (hens) | 4 (2) | 12 (6) |
| Wood ducks | 3 | 9 |
| Pintails | 3 | 9 |
| Black ducks | 2 | 6 |
| Redheads | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasbacks | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled ducks | 1 | 3 |
| Scaup | 1 or 2 | 3 or 6 |
| Mergansers (hooded) | 5 (2) | 15 (6) |
| Coots | 15 | 45 |
Possession limits apply after the second day of the season.
Shooting hours
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset during the regular season. Early teal hours are sunrise to sunset.
Falconry
Licensed falconers may hunt ducks, mergansers and coots whenever their waterfowl zone is open to goose hunting, which runs later than the duck season in every zone.
Licenses and stamps
- A valid Ohio hunting license and HIP certification.
- An Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp for hunters 18 and older.
- A signed Federal Duck Stamp for hunters 16 and older.
Federal waterfowl rules
- Only approved nontoxic shot may be used or possessed for ducks and coots.
- Shotguns may hold no more than three shells unless plugged with a one-piece filler.
- Hunting over bait and using live birds as decoys are prohibited.
Frequently asked questions
When does duck season start in Ohio?
The regular duck season opens Oct. 17, 2026 in all three zones. The early teal season runs Sept. 5, 2026 to Sept. 13, 2026 statewide.
What are the new Ohio waterfowl zones?
Starting with the 2026-27 season, Ohio uses Zones A, B and C. Zone A covers northwest Ohio and the western Lake Erie shore, Zone B covers northeast Ohio and the rest of Lake Erie, and Zone C is the rest of the state. They replace the Lake Erie Marsh, North and South zones.
When does duck season end in Ohio?
Zone A closes Dec. 27, 2026, Zone B Jan. 10, 2027 and Zone C Jan. 31, 2027.
How many scaup can I take in Ohio?
One a day during the first 15 days of the duck season in your zone, and two a day during the last 45 days.
What do I need to hunt ducks in Ohio?
An Ohio hunting license, HIP certification, an Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp if you are 18 or older, and a signed Federal Duck Stamp if you are 16 or older.
Duck season in other states
Texas · Pennsylvania · Michigan · Wisconsin · Georgia · New York · Missouri · Minnesota · Indiana · Virginia · North Carolina · Kentucky · Tennessee · Alabama.
Deer seasons are on the Ohio deer season page.
Source: Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-7-06 (seasons and limits, effective June 30, 2026) and 1501:31-7-07 (waterfowl zones); ODNR zone map release and licenses and permits. Federal rules: 50 CFR 20.21 and 20.108.
Verified on Oct. 24, 2026.
Always check the Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations and federal rules before hunting waterfowl.