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

Ducks, Mergansers & Coots

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
General Duck Season

Inland Duck Zone:

October 19 – October 21, 2023

November 4 – November 25, 2023

December 19, 2023 – January 31, 2024 

(black ducks and mottled ducks is closed until November 18)

Coastal Duck Zone:

October 27 – October 28, 2023

November 4 – November 25, 2023

December 18, 2023 – January 31, 2024 

(black ducks and mottled ducks is closed until November 18)

 Daily bag limits are the same in each duck zone.

Includes a total of 6 ducks with no more than 4 total sea ducks [no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (1 hen eider), or 3 long-tailed ducks], 4 mallards (no more than 2 hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck and 1 fulvous whistling duck. 

  • Prior to January 9 the scaup bag limit is 1, on January 9 and after it is 2.

  • The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
 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 13 – September 30, 2023 6
(The September Teal Season is open only in the area east of U.S. Highway 17)
 Sea Ducks 
 		 October 27 – October 28, 2023
November 4 - November 25, 2023
December 18, 2023 - January 31, 2024		 Includes scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks. 4 total sea ducks with no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (1 hen eider), or 3 long-tailed ducks. Sea Duck daily bag limits count towards the general duck daily bag limit of 6 ducks.  

 

  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified
  • Falconers may hunt during the Webless Migratory and Waterfowl Seasons, but the daily bag limit for falconry is three and the possession limit is nine, singly, or in aggregate.  The falconry limit is not in addition to the gun bag limit.

Goose and Duck Zone Maps

Geese, Brant & Swans

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
Canada Goose
(September season)
 		 September 1 – 30, 2023 (statewide)
 

 

 15  
In the area west of US Highway 17 only, expanded hunting methods are allowed for Canada geese. 
These include:
  • Extended shooting hours to ½ hour past sunset
  • Use of unplugged guns
  • Use of electronic calls

This applies to this area only during the month of September
Canada Geese (Resident Population Zone) – includes  White-fronted geese October 19 – October 28, 2023,
November 4 – November 25, 2023,
December 18, 2023 – February 10, 2024		 5 Canada geese (includes Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in aggregate)
Canada Geese (Northeast Hunt Zone) – includes White-fronted geese December 28, 2023 – January 31, 2024  2 Canada geese (includes Canada geese or white-fronted geese either singly or in aggregate)
Brant December 28, 2023 – January 31, 2024  1
Light Geese (includes snow and Ross’s geese) – regular season October 10, 2023 – February 10, 2024 25 (no possession limit)
 
Light Geese (includes snow and Ross’s geese)  February 12 – March 31, 2024 
(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
  • to learn more or apply for a permit after July 1. go to ncwildlife.org/LightGoose 
Tundra Swan November 4, 2023– January 31, 2024
(by permit only)		 1 per season with special permit (4,721 permits will be issued)
  • Limited number of permits will be issued to hunt tundra swans.  Permits will be issued by a random drawing authorizing each permit holder to harvest one tundra swan.  Refer to ncwildlife.org/PermitHunt or call 888-248-6834 for application information and requirements.

 

  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified
  • There shall be no hunting o migratory game birds by any method on Sundays.
  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Falconers may hunt during the Webless Migratory and Waterfowl Seasons, but the daily bag limit for falconry is three and the possession limit is nine, singly, or in aggregate.  The falconry limit is not in addition to the gun bag limit.

Youth Waterfowl Day(s)

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag 
Youth Waterfowl Day(s) February 3 & February 10, 2024 (Statewide) Same bag limit as during the regular waterfowl season(s).  Waterfowl hunting outside the regular season is allowed on the day(s) officially designated as "Youth Waterfowl Day."  Legal species include ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers, and coots.  Youth must have a valid permit if hunting tundra swans.  Refer to the Game Lands Section for guidelines on hunting game lands, including permit-only areas.
 

Youth that are 17 or younger 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 3 & February 10, 2024 (Statewide)     Same bag limit as during the regular waterfowl season(s).  Waterfowl hunting outside the regular season is allowed on the day(s) officially designated as "Veterans/ Military Waterfowl Day."  Legal species include 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 with valid credentials, must have HIP certification and a federal duck stamp.
• Must have a valid permit to hunt tundra swans.  Refer to the Game Lands Section for guidelines on hunting game lands, including permit-only areas.

Doves and Other Webless Migratory Game Birds

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
Mourning Dove & White-winged dove
 		 September 2 – October 7, 2023, 
November 11 – November 25, 2023,
December 9, 2023 - January 31, 2024		 15
Either singly or in the aggregate for Mourning Doves and White-winged Doves
King & Clapper Rails September 2 – November 22, 2023
 		 15
Includes King or Clapper rails either singly or in the aggregate
Sora & Virginia Rails September 2 – November 22, 2023
 		 25
Includes Sora or Virginia rails either singly or in the aggregate
 
Gallinule & Moorhens September 2 – November 22, 2023
 		 15
Includes Gallinules or Moorhens either singly or in the aggregate
 
Woodcock  December 11, 2023 – January 31, 2024 3  
Common Snipe  October 27, 2023 – February 28, 2024 8  
  • Possession limits are three times the daily bag unless otherwise specified
  • Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise specified
  • There shall be no hunting of migratory game birds by any method on Sundays
  • Falconers may hunt during the Webless Migratory and Waterfowl Seasons, but the daily bag limit for falconry is three and the possession limit is nine, singly, or in aggregate.  The falconry limit is not in addition to the gun bag limit.

Extended Falconry Seasons for Migratory Game Birds

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag
Mourning Dove & White-winged dove October 9 – October 21, 2023 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate
Rails, Gallinule and Moorhens December 9, 2023 – January 13, 2024 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate
Woodcock December 1, – December 9, 2023 
February 3 – February 24, 2024		 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate 
Ducks, mergansers & coots  October 2 – October 14, 2023, 
February 1 - 10, 2024		 3 migratory game birds singly or in the aggregate 
  • Falconers may also hunt during the applicable gun seasons for migratory game birds.  The daily bag and possession limits of 3 and 9 respectively, also apply while hunting during the gun seasons.
  • Falconry hours for all species are from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset.
  • Falconry for migratory game birds is not allowed on Sundays.
  • Daily bag and possession limits are for all species singly or in the aggregate. the taking of harlequin ducks is prohibited.