Indiana Duck Season Dates 2026-2027: Rules, Zones & Bag Limits
If you’re planning a duck hunt in the Hoosier State this year, you need one thing above all: accurate, current dates and rules. The Indiana duck season 2026-2027 runs through three separate waterfowl zones — North, Central, and South — each with its own split-season structure, which means opening day varies by as much as two weeks depending on where you hunt. The good news is the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has finalized and published the full 2026-2027 framework, so everything below reflects the official regulations.
This guide covers regular season dates, daily and possession limits, license and stamp requirements with current fees, youth and veteran waterfowl days, the September teal season, public hunting opportunities, and the species most likely to show up in your decoys. Regulations can change at both the state and federal level, and public properties often add their own rules — always verify the current regulations with the Indiana DNR before you head out.
Indiana Duck Season 2026-2027 at a Glance
| Information | 2026-2027 Details |
|---|---|
| Regular Duck Season | North Zone: Oct. 24 – Dec. 13, 2026 and Dec. 19 – 27, 2026 |
| Central Zone: Oct. 31 – Nov. 8, 2026 and Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 | |
| South Zone: Nov. 7 – 8, 2026 and Nov. 28, 2026 – Jan. 24, 2027 | |
| Hunting Zones | 3 zones: North, Central, South (Ohio River region) |
| Daily Bag Limit | 6 ducks, any species combination within sub-limits |
| Possession Limit | 3 × daily bag limit (18 ducks, except as limited by species) |
| Shooting Hours | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset (sunrise to sunset during early teal season) |
| Youth Waterfowl Days | North: Oct. 17–18; Central: Oct. 24–25; South: Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, 2026 |
| Veteran/Military Days | Same dates as youth days in each zone |
| Early Teal Season | Sept. 5–13, 2026, statewide (no teal hunting on Kankakee FWA) |
| Required License | Indiana hunting license (resident or nonresident) |
| Indiana Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Stamp Privilege — $11, required 18 and older |
| Federal Duck Stamp | Required at 16 and older — $25 (E-Stamp available) |
| HIP Registration | Required for all migratory bird hunters, all ages |
Indiana Duck Season Dates for 2026-2027
Indiana runs a split duck season in every zone, with an early segment followed by a longer winter segment. Here are the official dates straight from the DNR’s migratory game bird regulations page.
| Duck Hunting Zone | Segment 1 | Segment 2 |
|---|---|---|
| North Zone | Oct. 24 – Dec. 13, 2026 | Dec. 19 – 27, 2026 |
| Central Zone | Oct. 31 – Nov. 8, 2026 | Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027 |
| South Zone | Nov. 7 – 8, 2026 | Nov. 28, 2026 – Jan. 24, 2027 |
Key dates to circle:
- Statewide opening day (North Zone): Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Central Zone opens: Sunday, November 1, 2026
- South Zone opens: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Last day of the season statewide: Sunday, January 24, 2027 (South Zone)
Notice the pattern: the North Zone gets the early push of mallards and is the first to open in late October, while the South Zone — the area along the Ohio River — stays open the latest, giving hunters a January option after northern waters freeze. The Central Zone’s second segment runs straight through the holidays, which is prime time for late-season divers when the weather gets serious.
Indiana Duck Hunting Zones
Indiana splits the state into three waterfowl zones, each with its own season dates:
- North Zone: The portion of Indiana north of a line running east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31.
- Central Zone: The portion of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary and north of the South Zone boundary — the largest of the three zones, covering central Indiana.
- South Zone: The portion of Indiana south of the Central Zone boundary, roughly tracking the southern tier of counties toward the Ohio River.
Two things matter here. First, hunting the wrong zone on the wrong weekend is an easy way to take birds illegally — a duck shot on November 15 is legal in the North Zone but not yet legal in the Central or South Zone’s first segment. Second, the zone boundaries don’t follow county lines cleanly in every place, so check the official map before you pick a spot. The DNR publishes the Indiana waterfowl zone map on its waterfowl page, and there’s also an interactive ArcGIS version of the North, Central, and South zone boundaries you can zoom into for your exact hunting location.
Indiana Duck Season Bag Limits
The statewide daily bag limit is six ducks per hunter per day, using any combination of species within the sub-limits below. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit (18), except where a species sub-limit effectively reduces it — you can never possess more of a species than three times its daily sub-limit.
| Duck Species | Daily Limit | Important Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard | 4 | No more than 2 females per day |
| Wood Duck | 3 | — |
| Northern Pintail | 3 | — |
| Black Duck | 2 | — |
| Canvasback | 2 | — |
| Redhead | 2 | — |
| Scaup | 1 or 2 | 1 per day on or before Nov. 7 (North), Nov. 26 (Central), Dec. 10 (South); 2 per day after those dates |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | — |
| Other ducks (coots, mergansers) | Counted in the 6-duck aggregate | Mergansers and coots are managed in most zones under the same aggregate framework |
The scaup rule is the one hunters forget most often. Early in the season the limit is a single scaup; once the zone’s date threshold passes, it jumps to two. Because the changeover dates differ by zone, a scaup limit that’s 1 in the South Zone on December 10 is already 2 in the North Zone — another reason to know your zone cold.
What License Do You Need to Hunt Ducks in Indiana?
Indiana Hunting License
Every duck hunter in Indiana needs a valid Indiana hunting license before carrying a shotgun afield. Residents pay $20 for an annual hunting license; nonresidents pay $90 for an annual license or $50 for a five-day license. Residents age 17 and younger can use the Youth Consolidated Hunt/Trap license for $12.
Age rules work like this:
- Youth 15 and younger: Need a valid hunting license and a HIP number (no federal or state waterfowl stamp required).
- Youth 16–17: Need a youth hunting license, HIP number, and the Federal Duck Stamp.
- Adults 18 and older: Need a valid hunting license, HIP number, the Federal Duck Stamp (or E-Stamp), and the Indiana Waterfowl Stamp Privilege.
Hunters born after December 31, 1986 must provide proof of completion of a hunter education course when applying by mail, and most online purchases will prompt for it.
Indiana Waterfowl Stamp or Validation
Indiana requires a Waterfowl Stamp Privilege at $11, valid for the license year, for any hunter 18 or older pursuing waterfowl. It’s sold as a stamp privilege through the GoOutdoorsIN licensing system rather than a physical sticker. Hunters 17 and under are exempt from the state waterfowl stamp. (Dove and upland hunters, note: this is separate from the $11 Game Bird Habitat Stamp Privilege, which is required for doves, pheasants, quail, and similar species — you need the Waterfowl Stamp Privilege specifically for ducks and geese.)
Federal Duck Stamp
Anyone 16 or older hunting migratory waterfowl must carry the current Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp — the classic “Duck Stamp” — priced at $25 for the 2026-2027 stamp. Since the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023, an Electronic Duck Stamp (E-Stamp) is a legal substitute: you get a federally compliant proof of purchase immediately, and a physical E-Stamp arrives in the mail between March 10 and June 30 of the following year. If you buy the traditional paper stamp, you must sign it in ink across the face to make it valid for hunting — an unsigned stamp and a store receipt are not legal substitutes.
HIP Registration
HIP stands for the Harvest Information Program, a cooperative federal-state survey that tracks migratory bird harvest. Every migratory bird hunter in Indiana — including those exempt from license requirements — must register for a HIP number before hunting ducks, geese, coots, doves, mergansers, woodcock, snipe, or sora. Registration is done through your GoOutdoorsIN.com account and is included in the license purchase workflow. You can look up a lost HIP number through your online account or by calling DNR at 317-232-4200.
License Summary Table
| Requirement | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $20 annual | $90 annual / $50 five-day | Youth 17 & under: $12 consolidated |
| HIP Registration | Required, all ages | Required, all ages | Free with license purchase; required even if license-exempt |
| Indiana Waterfowl Stamp/Validation | $11 (18+) | $11 (18+) | Exempt for 17 & under |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $25 (16+) | $25 (16+) | E-Stamp accepted; sign physical stamps |
Indiana Duck Hunting License Costs for 2026-2027
| License or Permit | Resident Cost | Nonresident Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Hunting License | $20 | $90 |
| Five-day Hunting License | — | $50 |
| Youth Consolidated Hunt/Trap (17 & under) | $12 | — |
| Waterfowl Stamp Privilege | $11 | $11 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $25 | $25 |
| HIP Registration | Included with license purchase | Included with license purchase |
Two things can push the total higher than the sticker price. Online and app purchases through GoOutdoorsIN carry a $3 tech fee per license plus a credit card processing fee; mail orders carry a $1 tech fee per license. Fees are subject to change, so treat these as the official numbers as of August 31, 2026 and confirm on the DNR license fee page before buying. For a typical adult resident with an annual license, the state waterfowl stamp, and a $25 federal duck stamp, plan on roughly $56–$60 plus tech fees before your first shot.
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in Indiana
Indiana sets aside a dedicated youth waterfowl weekend in each zone, always the weekend before that zone’s regular season opens:
- North Zone: October 17–18, 2026
- Central Zone: October 24–25, 2026
- South Zone: October 31 – November 1, 2026
During these days, youth hunters may take ducks, geese, mergansers, and coots under the regular season daily bag limits. Requirements by age: youth 15 and under need a valid hunting license and HIP number; youth 16–17 need a youth hunting license, HIP number, and Federal Duck Stamp. An adult must accompany the young hunter — and the companion may not shoot during the youth days, with the exception of qualifying veterans and active-duty military (see below). Check the specific WMA you plan to hunt, since some properties regulate youth-day access.
Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunting Days
Indiana combines veterans and active-duty military members into the same special weekend as the youth hunt:
- North Zone: October 17–18, 2026
- Central Zone: October 24–25, 2026
- South Zone: October 31 – November 1, 2026
These are separate, special hunts held before the regular season in each zone, not additional days added on top of it. Qualifying veterans and active-duty service members must carry all normal licenses and stamps for their age group, and regular daily bag limits apply. Be ready to document veteran or military status if asked; the DNR’s property staff and conservation officers can request proof. These days are a genuine opportunity for veterans who can’t get out during the regular season to hunt low-pressure waterfowl often still stacked up on the first big migration fronts.
Early Teal Season in Indiana
Indiana offers a statewide early teal season from September 5–13, 2026 — the DNR’s most accessible on-ramp for new waterfowlers, since pressure and competition are lower than in the regular season.
- Legal species: Blue-winged teal and green-winged teal only (any combination)
- Daily bag limit: 6
- Possession limit: 18
- Shooting hours: Sunrise to sunset (not one-half hour before sunrise — teal season hours are later)
- Licenses/permits: Valid hunting license and HIP registration
- Special restriction: No teal hunting on Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area
Because early teal season runs before most ducks are in adult plumage, the DNR stresses species ID: hen mallards, wood ducks, northern shovelers, and even pied-billed grebes and coots are legal game in the regular season but illegal during teal season, and several look similar to teal in September. If you’re not 100% sure it’s a teal, let it pass.
Indiana Duck Hunting Shooting Hours
During the regular duck season, legal shooting hours statewide are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The early teal season shifts to sunrise to sunset, and the DNR explicitly warns that shooting hours may vary at some DNR properties — if you’re hunting a Fish & Wildlife Area, reservoir, or refuge, confirm the property’s posted hours before you set up. A good rule: know your sunrise time for your exact location, and be prepared to be fully legal by sunset.
Where Can You Hunt Ducks in Indiana?
Public Land
Indiana’s best-known public waterfowl opportunities sit on its Fish & Wildlife Areas. The marquee names include Goose Pond FWA (Greene County), a restored wetland complex that’s become one of the top duck destinations in the Midwest; Willow Slough FWA in the northwest; Kingsbury FWA in the northwest; Kankakee FWA; LaSalle FWA; and Hovey Lake FWA on the Ohio River in the south. Reservoirs like Monroe Lake and Brookville Reservoir also host waterfowl hunting with open-water and timber opportunities.
Every public property can have its own restrictions — check at the area headquarters about open hunting units, special regulations, access points, and shell limits before hunting. Many properties also require checking in and out, and some units rotate open days.
Private Land
On private land, written or verbal permission from the landowner is required, and Indiana’s trespassing laws are enforced with real penalties — accessing private property without permission, including crossing it to reach public water, can land you in trouble. Build relationships with landowners in agricultural areas (harvested corn and soybean fields with adjacent water are duck magnets), and always confirm boundary lines before setting decoys that might drift across a property line.
Public Hunting Draws and Reservations
Indiana runs a reserved waterfowl hunt draw on several state properties — including Goose Pond, LaSalle, Kankakee, Kingsbury, Hovey Lake, Willow Slough, Monroe Lake, and Brookville Reservoir — plus participating private lands in Bartholomew, DeKalb, and Sullivan counties. Hunters apply online through the GoOutdoorsIN Activity Hub during designated windows:
- Teal and Early Goose: application window July 6–29, 2026
- Early Season Waterfowl: application window August 17 – September 16, 2026
- Late Season Waterfowl: application window August 17 – September 16, 2026
The DNR runs a random draw weighted by a preference-point system: you earn one point per unsuccessful application per hunt type, and your odds improve by the square of your points, resetting to zero when you’re drawn. A $1 tech fee applies per application. Goose Pond also holds daily in-person waterfowl draws during the season — 5:30 a.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with 11 a.m. draws and 11:30 a.m. hunting starts on Wednesdays. If reserved-hunt applications are your goal, mark the September 16 deadline now, because the application period for early and late season waterfowl is still open as of this writing.
Important Indiana Duck Hunting Regulations
- Non-toxic shot only. All waterfowl hunting requires USFWS-approved non-toxic shot: steel (iron), bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix, tungsten-bronze, and the other listed alloys. Lead shot — including lead plated with copper or nickel — is illegal. Note that some DNR properties restrict how much ammunition you can carry into the field.
- Shotguns must be plugged. Your gun cannot hold more than three shells unless fitted with a one-piece plug that can’t be removed without disassembling the firearm. A 10-gauge is the largest legal shotgun for waterfowl.
- No baiting. Hunting on or over any baited area is illegal if you know or should know it’s baited; an area remains “baited” for 10 days after bait is completely removed.
- No electronic calls. Recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or imitations are prohibited. Mouth calls and other manual calls are fine.
- No live decoys, no sinkboxes. Both are illegal for taking migratory game birds.
- No rifles or pistols. Migratory game birds may only be taken with shotguns (10 gauge or smaller), and traps, snares, and nets are prohibited.
- Retrieval and wanton waste. You must make a reasonable effort to retrieve downed birds; relinquishing game to waste is a violation.
- Know your target. Species identification is your legal responsibility — with the pintail, canvasback, and scaup sub-limits, misidentifying birds is both unethical and costly.
- Property-specific rules. WMAs, refuges, and reservoirs can add restrictions on access, shooting hours, and even the amount of ammo carried — check with the property office.
Best Ducks to Hunt in Indiana
Indiana sits squarely in the Mississippi Flyway, and its mix of restored wetlands, bottomland timber, and agricultural fields supports a broad species lineup.
- Mallard: The bread-and-butter bird of the Hoosier season. Mallards pile into emergent wetlands, timber, and harvested grain fields from late October through December; the North Zone’s late-October opener is timed to catch the first serious mallard push.
- Wood Duck: A classic early-season timber bird, especially in river systems and wooded sloughs. They fly early, and they’ll drop into timber holes and smaller spreads where mallards won’t. Great target on youth days, since wood duck numbers are highest in October.
- Green-winged Teal and Blue-winged Teal: Blue-wings are the primary September target during early teal season; green-wings linger later and are a staple of November hunts on shallow marshes and mudflats. Teal decoy readily and work small, close spreads.
- Gadwall: A steady, underrated late-season bird that often tags along with mallard flocks on big-water reservoirs like Monroe and on Goose Pond’s open units.
- Northern Shoveler: The spoonbill is a common sight on Goose Pond’s shallow units, often mixed with teal and gadwall. Their “shoveling” feeding style makes them odd balls in a spread, but they decoy well.
- American Wigeon: Wigeon show up on larger marshes and reservoir edges, frequently buzzing decoy spreads in tight flocks, and they’re notorious for “sneaking” on spotted spreads.
- Canvasback and Redhead: The premier diver targets. Look for them on the open water of Monroe Lake, Brookville, and the Ohio River’s backwaters — especially in December, when redhead numbers build toward their seasonal peak.
- Scaup: Late-season divers on the big waters and the Ohio River. Remember the 1-bird early limit switching to 2 later in the season, depending on your zone’s changeover date.
- Black Duck: The prize of the eastern flyway shows up in small numbers, mostly in northern and central Indiana wetlands among mallard flocks. With a 2-bird limit, make sure you can tell a black from a very dark hen mallard before you squeeze.
Tips for Hunting During the Indiana Duck Season
- Scout before you shoot. Indiana duck hunting is won on the ground, not in the sky. Walk or motor your chosen wetland a week before the season, watch where birds feed and loaf, and set up within a few dozen yards of their actual flight lines. Teal feed in water about 6 inches deep; mallards will feed in flooded corn and soybean stubble.
- Let the weather work for you. The best hunting in Indiana comes with cold fronts out of the northwest. A hard freeze in the North Zone pushes birds south into the Central Zone, and deep December freezes concentrate birds on the few open waters — hunt those refuges hard.
- Match your spread to the water. Timber hunters in southern river bottoms want scattered wood duck and mallard decoys in small family groups; Goose Pond-style wetland hunters can run big open-water spreads of 2–3 dozen with a spinning wing or jerk rig for motion; reservoir divers like Monroe call for long lines of diver decoys out in open water.
- Call with restraint. Indiana mallards are often call-shy by mid-season. Start quiet with a soft greeting and feed chuckle, and let the birds sell themselves. Teal, by contrast, respond to fast, aggressive whistling.
- Concealment beats everything. Ducks see color and detect motion. Brush your blind completely with local vegetation, break up your outline, keep movement minimal, and watch the wind — set up so approaching birds work into the wind, never straight over your head.
- Check water levels and access. Indiana’s wetlands fluctuate with the Ohio and Wabash river levels. A spot that held ducks in October can be a mudflat in November — check the water level and access conditions at the property office the day before you hunt.
- Identify before you shoot, every time. With species sub-limits on scaup, pintail, canvasback, black ducks, and wood ducks, a fast identification is a legal requirement. Bring a waterproof ID card and check birds dropped in the decoys at close range.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Duck Season
When does Indiana duck season open in 2026-2027?
The North Zone opens October 24, 2026; the Central Zone opens October 31, 2026; and the South Zone opens November 7, 2026. Each zone has a second season segment later in the fall and winter, with the last day of the statewide season being January 24, 2027 in the South Zone.
How many ducks can I shoot per day in Indiana?
The daily bag limit is six ducks total, with species sub-limits: 4 mallards (max 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, and 1–2 scaup depending on the date and zone, plus 1 mottled duck.
Do I need a federal duck stamp to hunt ducks in Indiana?
Yes, if you’re 16 or older. The 2026-2027 Federal Duck Stamp costs $25, and an electronic E-Stamp is a legal substitute. Hunters 15 and under don’t need the federal stamp.
What is the possession limit for ducks in Indiana?
The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit, or 18 ducks, with the same species sub-limits applied — you can’t possess more of a species than three times its daily sub-limit.
Can nonresidents hunt ducks in Indiana?
Yes. Nonresidents buy an annual hunting license for $90 or a five-day license for $50, plus the $11 Indiana Waterfowl Stamp Privilege and the $25 federal duck stamp if 16 or older, and must register for HIP.
What dates are the youth and veteran waterfowl days in Indiana?
The combined youth/veteran/military waterfowl weekend is October 17–18 in the North Zone, October 24–25 in the Central Zone, and October 31 – November 1 in the South Zone — the weekend immediately before each zone’s regular opener.
Is there an early teal season in Indiana?
Yes — September 5–13, 2026, statewide, with a 6-bird daily limit on blue-winged and green-winged teal, an 18-bird possession limit, and sunrise-to-sunset shooting hours. Teal hunting is not allowed on Kankakee FWA.
What shotgun rules apply to waterfowl hunting in Indiana?
Your shotgun must be plugged to hold no more than three shells and can’t be larger than 10-gauge. You must use USFWS-approved non-toxic shot — lead is prohibited for waterfowl.
Before You Hunt: Check the Latest Indiana Regulations
Migratory bird regulations are rebuilt every year from the federal framework, and public land rules, emergency closures, and special restrictions can shift at any time. This guide reflects the official Indiana DNR regulations published for the 2026-2027 season as of August 31, 2026, but it’s not a substitute for the rulebook. Immediately before your hunt, verify the current season dates, bag limits, property rules, and any emergency closures directly with the Indiana DNR. When in doubt, a call to the property office can save you a ticket and a ruined morning.
Official Indiana Duck Hunting Resources
- Indiana DNR waterfowl & migratory game bird regulations — season dates, bag limits, and the official zone map
- Indiana DNR migratory game bird seasons and regulations page — full 2026-2027 season tables
- Indiana license fees page — current license and stamp privilege costs
- GoOutdoorsIN — official license purchase, HIP registration, and reserved hunt applications
- Indiana reserved hunt information — waterfowl draw applications and deadlines
- USFWS Federal Duck Stamp service page — stamp prices, E-Stamps, and signing requirements
Planning a trip across the border? Compare season structures with our Indiana hunting season guide or check nearby Illinois duck season dates to find the best week of hunting in the western Great Lakes region.