CONTACT:
Jessica Carloni: (603) 868-1095
Andrew Timmins: (603) 271-1742
March 5, 2026

A male and female eider duck swimming together on the water. The male has distinctive black and white plumage with a yellow patch on its head, while the female has brown mottled feathers.

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public meeting on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2026–2027 waterfowl-hunting seasons on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the NH Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH. Comments made at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire’s 2026–2027 migratory game bird hunting season dates. If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to provide input, please email comments@wildlife.nh.gov and enter “Waterfowl season setting” in the subject line. Written comments will be accepted and considered until March 31, 2026.

The proposed 2026–2027 New Hampshire waterfowl season dates are very similar to last year’s and reflect hunters’ requests to have added opportunity later in the season. The general duck season is 60 days, with a daily bag limit of 6 ducks. The regular goose season (determined by the status of North Atlantic Population [NAP] Canada geese) will be like last year with a 60-day season and a 2-bird bag limit. The Department will offer special veteran and active military days statewide January 23–24, 2027 and a youth waterfowl weekend September 26–27, 2026.

Proposed seasons for ducks, mergansers, coots, sea ducks and Canada geese (regular season) include:

  • The proposed Northern Zone season would open on October 2 and run through November 30, 2026.
  • The proposed Inland and Connecticut River Zone season would open on October 13 and run through November 11; then reopen November 25 through December 24, 2026.
  • The proposed Coastal Zone season would open on October 6 and run through October 12; then reopen November 26, 2026, through January 17, 2027.

To view the full draft proposal, visit https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/waterfowl-and-migratory-bird-hunting-new-hampshire.

To view a map of the waterfowl zones, visit https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/waterfowl-hunting-zones.

The NH Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to conserve, manage and protect our fish, wildlife, and marine resources and habitats. Visit huntnh.com for more information.

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