HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set.
There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.
“The Atlantic Population Zone allows the Atlantic Flyway to closely manage harvest for this smaller, more delicate population of migratory Canada geese,” said Game Commission Waterfowl Biologist Amanda Hoyt. “The most recent breeding pair estimate on the AP breeding grounds in northern Quebec indicated a further decline from the previous year.”
As for pintail, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the Atlantic Flyway accounts for just 3.3% of continental pintail harvest. The flat pintail bag limit will apply so long as the other three Flyways have seasons open for pintail.
Other migratory game bird seasons are similar to last year’s seasons.
Annual migratory game bird seasons are selected by states from frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Game Commission selections were made after reviewing last year’s hunter harvests, population survey data and public input.
The population survey data indirectly accounts for mortality, which would include any significant impact from the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus outbreak.
While wildlife mortality events attributed to HPAI have been reported throughout the United States since 2022, including an event this past winter involving about 5,000 snow geese in southeastern Pennsylvania, the virus does not appear to be a significant contributing factor toward the reduction of any migratory game bird population.
Hunters encouraged to report banded birds
Migratory game bird hunters are encouraged to visit www.reportband.gov to report banded ducks, geese, doves and woodcock they harvest. Hunters will be requested to provide information on where, when and what species of migratory birds were taken, in addition to the band number. This information is crucial to the successful management of migratory birds.
Wildlife Operations Division Chief Ian Gregg stressed that reporting leg-bands helps the Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service learn more about migratory bird movements, and survival and harvest rates, which are critical to population management and setting of hunting regulations.
“Pennsylvania continues to monitor migratory game bird populations in cooperation with other wildlife management agencies across North America,” Gregg explained. “Information provided by hunters is essential to manage migratory game bird populations and support sustainable hunting opportunities through time. By reporting the recovery of a leg-band, hunters not only assist in managing the resource, but also have an opportunity to learn interesting facts about the bird they harvested.”
2025-26 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
DUCKS:
North Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-25, and Nov. 18-Jan. 10.
South Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-18, and Nov. 19-Jan. 19.
Northwest Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 11-Nov. 28, and Dec. 22-Jan. 10.
Lake Erie Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Nov. 3-Jan. 10.
Total Duck Bag Limits: 6 daily, 18 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including no more than 2 hen mallards, 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 3 pintails, 4 sea ducks; including no more than 3 eiders and no more than 1 female eider, 3 long-tailed ducks, and 3 scoters. Daily limit for scaup varies; see below. Possession limits are three times the daily limits.
Scaup Bag Limits:
North Zone: 1 scaup daily, Oct. 11-25 and Nov. 18-Dec. 18; 2 scaup daily, Dec. 19-Jan.10
South Zone: 1 scaup daily, Oct. 11-18 and Nov. 19-Dec. 26; 2 scaup daily, Dec. 27-Jan. 19
Northwest Zone: 1 scaup daily, Oct. 11-Nov. 26; 2 scaup daily, Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 22-Jan. 10
Lake Erie Zone: 1 scaup daily, Nov. 3- Dec. 18; 2 scaup daily, Dec. 19-Jan. 10
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession
Coots: 15 daily, 45 in possession.
CANADA GEESE (includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE):
Resident Population Goose Zone (RP)
All of Pennsylvania except for the Atlantic Population zone. Sept. 1-25 (8-goose daily bag limit); and Oct. 25-Nov. 28, Dec. 15-Jan. 17, and Jan. 30-Feb. 21 (5-goose daily bag limit in latter 3 segments).
Exception: See hunting digest
Atlantic Population Zone (AP)
The area east of SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. Sept. 1-25 (8-goose daily bag limit); and Nov. 25-28 and Dec. 20-Jan. 19 (1-goose daily bag limit in latter two segments).
Exception: See hunting digest
BRANT (All Zones): Oct. 11-Nov. 14. 1 daily, 3 in possession.
LIGHT GEESE (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese):
Atlantic Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 24, 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Jan. 26 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Resident Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 21-Feb. 21; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Feb. 23 – April 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS: No open season.
Junior Days:
Sept. 20; Open to junior hunters and mentored youth hunters when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, gallinules and coots, and Canada geese as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season. Hunting hours to close at sunset.
Junior, Veteran and Active Duty Military Days:
In Lake Erie Zone, Oct. 25; in Northwest Zone, Sept. 27; in North Zone, Nov. 1; and in South Zone, Nov. 8. Open to junior hunters and mentored youth hunters, when properly accompanied; veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code); and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training) for ducks, mergansers, gallinules and coots, and Canada geese as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season.
Veteran and Active Duty Military Days:
In Lake Erie Zone, Jan. 17; in Northwest Zone, Jan. 17; in North Zone, Jan. 17; and in South Zone, Jan. 24. Veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code); and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training) for ducks, mergansers, gallinules and coots, and Canada geese as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season.
DOVES: Sept. 1-Nov. 28, and Dec. 20-Jan. 3. 15 daily, 45 in possession.
WOODCOCK: Oct. 18-Nov. 28, and Dec. 15-24. 3 daily, 9 in possession.
WILSON’S SNIPE: Oct. 18-Nov. 28, and Dec. 15-24. 8 daily, 24 in possession.
GALLINULES: Sept. 1-Nov. 20. 3 daily, 9 in possession.
VIRGINIA AND SORA RAILS: Sept. 1-Nov. 20. Bag limits by single species or in the aggregate; 3 daily, 9 in possession.
CLAPPER AND KING RAILS: No open season.
All hunters are required to have a Migratory Game Bird License to hunt migratory birds including waterfowl, doves, woodcock, brant, coots, gallinules, rails and snipe. In addition to a Migratory Game Bird License, waterfowl hunters 16 or older need a federal duck stamp, and if the actual stamp is carried, it must be signed across the face. The electronic duck stamp, or E-Stamp, version of the federal duck stamp has now been authorized for use through the entirety of a waterfowl hunting season. Stamps can be purchased online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov or at any issuing agent. Physical stamps will be mailed to E-stamp purchasers in March. A Snow Goose Permit is required to participate in the Conservation Order for light geese.