North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Hunting  >  Seasons & Limits  >  Waterfowl Seasons & Limits  >  Season and Limits for Migratory Game Birds

Ducks, Mergansers & Coots

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
General Duck Season

October 2 – October 5, 2019,

November 16 – December 2, 2019,

December 14, 2019 – January 31, 2020

- Season closed on black ducks and mottled ducks until November 23

 Includes a total of 6 ducks with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders, 4 long-tailed ducks, 2 mallards with no more than 1 hen mallard, 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck and 1 fulvous whistling duck.  The season on harlequin ducks is closed.  The season on black ducks and mottled ducks is closed until November 23.
 
 Mergansers  Same as general duck season 5 mergansers with no more than 2 hooded mergansers
 Coots  Same as general duck season 15 coots
 September Teal (includes green-winged, blue-winged and cinnamon teal) September 12 – September 30, 2019 (East of U.S. 17) 6
 Special Sea Duck Season (in the special sea duck area)
 		 November 23, 2019 – January 31, 2020 5 sea ducks with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders and 4 long-tailed ducks 

 

The taking of sea ducks (scoter, eider and long-tailed ducks), except during the regular duck season shall be limited to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and to those coastal waters south of U.S. 64 that are separated by a distance of at least 800 yards of open water from any shore, island or marsh. Special sea duck bag limits and seasons apply in these areas.

Because sea ducks are limited to 60 days of hunting exposure in any area, there will be certain dates and locations where sea ducks may or may not be taken. Please see the following:

General Duck Season Open; Special Sea Duck Season Closed
Oct. 2-Oct 5 & Nov. 16-Nov. 22, 2019 - Sea ducks cannot be taken in the special sea duck area, but can be taken everywhere else. The general bag limit of six ducks with no more than four scoters, four long-tailed ducks and four eiders applies. Although sea ducks may not be taken in the special sea duck area during this time, other ducks may be taken in this area.

General Duck Season Closed; Special Sea Duck Season Open
Dec. 3-Dec. 13, 2019 - Sea ducks can be taken only in the special sea duck area, and cannot be taken in other locations. The special sea duck bag
limit applies and consists of five sea ducks with no more than four scoters, four long-tailed ducks and four eiders.

General Duck Season Open; Special Sea Duck Season Open
Nov. 23-Dec. 2 & Dec 14-Jan 31 - Sea ducks can be taken anywhere. Hunters should remember that the special sea duck limit applies when hunting in the special sea duck area and the general bag limit applies when hunting in all other areas. When both seasons overlap, the special sea duck bag limit may be in addition to the limits applying to other ducks.

 

  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified

Youth Waterfowl Day(s)

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag 
Youth Waterfowl Day(s) February 1 & February 8, 2020 Same bag limits as during the regular waterfowl season.  Legal species includes ducks, geese, brant, mergansers, and coots Youth must have a valid permit if hunting tundra swans and Canada geese (Northeast Hunt Zone only)
 

Youth under the age of 18 may participate in accordance with the guidelines listed below:

  • Youth under the age of 16 who have obtained Hunter Education Certification must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older
  • Youth under the age of 16 who have not successfully completed Hunter Education Certification must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older
  • Youth aged 16 & 17 must be properly licensed, must have HIP certification and a federal duck stamp and must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older
  • Accompanying adults that are properly licensed cannot duck hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on youth waterfowl days
  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified

Veteran's/Military Waterfowl Day(s)

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag 
Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day(s) February 1 & February 8, 2020 Same bag limits as during the regular waterfowl season.  Legal species includes ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers, and coots.  

Veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including National Guard and Reserves on the active duty (other than for training) may participate in accordance with the guidelines below. 

• Must be properly licensed, must have HIP certification and a federal duck stamp. 

• Must have a valid permit to hunt tundra swans and Canada geese (Northeast Hunt Zone Only).

Geese, Brant & Swans

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
Canada Goose
(September season)
 		 September 2 – 30, 2019 (statewide)

Expanded hunting methods are allowed only during the September season AND only in the area west of U.S. Highway 17. The expanded methods include:
  • Extended shooting hours to ½ hour past sunset
  • Use of unplugged guns
  • Use of electronic calls
 15
Canada Geese (Resident Population Zone) – includes  White-fronted geese October 2 – October 12, 2019,
November 16 – December 7, 2019,
December 14, 2019 – February 8, 2020		 5 Canada geese or White-fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate
Canada Geese (Northeast Zone) – includes White-fronted geese January 16 – January 31, 2020  1 Canada goose or 1 White-fronted goose with a valid permit (unlimited point of sale permits available)
Brant December 28, 2019 – January 31, 2020  1
Light Geese (includes snow and Ross’s geese) – regular season October 8, 2019 – February 8, 2020 25 (no possession limit)
Light Geese (includes snow, and Ross’s geese) – Conservation Order season February 10 – March 31, 2020
(by permit only)

Expanded hunting methods are allowed and include:
  • Extended shooting hours to ½ hour past sunset
  • Use of unplugged guns
  • Use of electronic calls
  •  no daily bag limit
  •  no possession limit
Tundra Swan November 9, 2019 – January 31, 2020 1 per season with valid permit

 

  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified

Doves and Other Webless Migratory Game Birds

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
Mourning Dove & White-winged dove
 		 September 2 – October 5, 2019, 
November 16, 2019 – November 30, 2019, December 9, 2019 - January 31, 2020		 15
Includes mourning doves or white-winged doves either singly or in the aggregate
King & Clapper Rails September 7 – November 27, 2019
 		 15
Includes king or clapper rails either singly or in the aggregate
Sora & Virginia Rails September 7 – November 27, 2019
 		 25
Includes sora or Virginia rails either singly or in the aggregate
 
Gallinule & Moorhens September 7 – November 27, 2019
 		 15
Includes gallinules or moorhens either singly or in the aggregate
 
Woodcock  December 7, 2019 – January 28, 2020 3
Common Snipe  October 28, 2019 – February 28, 2020 8

 

  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified

Extended Falconry Seasons for Migratory Game Birds

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
Mourning Dove & White-winged dove October 12 – October 26, 2019 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate
King, Clapper, Sora and Virginia Rails November 30, 2019 – January 4, 2020 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate
Gallinule & Moorhens November 30, 2019 – January 4, 2020 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate
Woodcock November 2 – November 30, 2019, 
February 1 – February 29, 2020		 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate 
Ducks, mergansers & coots  October 21 – November 2, 2019, 
February 1-15, 2020		 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate 

 

  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Falconry hours for all species are from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset.