Duck2023-2024 Seasons & Regulations

Daily Bag & Possession Limit

Early Teal

• 6 in the aggregate

Regular Duck

• 6 in the aggregate (includes mergansers)
• Includes no more than:
• 5 mallards (only two of which may be hens)
• 3 wood ducks
• 2 redheads
• 2 canvasback
• 1 scaup
• 1 pintail
• 1 "dusky" duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone)
• All other species not listed: 6

Coot

• 15

Possession Limit

• Three times the daily bag limit.

Falconry

• Daily bag and possession limits shall not exceed 3 and 9 migratory game birds, respectively, singly or in the aggregate

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Duck Hunting Zone Map

High Plains Mallard Management Unit

West of a line from the International Toll Bridge at Del Rio, north along U.S. Hwy. 277 to Abilene, State Hwy. 351 and State Hwy. 6 to Albany, and U.S. Hwy. 283 to Vernon, east along U.S. Hwy. 183 to the Texas-Oklahoma state line.

South Zone

South of a line from the International Bridge and U.S. 277 Spur at Del Rio, east along U.S. 90 to San Antonio, east along IH 10 to the Texas-Louisiana state line.

North Zone

Remainder of the state.

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Duck Hunting Regulations

Legal Shooting Hours

From one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

See sunrise and sunset computations.

Dusky (Mottled) Duck Harvest Off-limits First Five Days

A dusky duck is defined as a mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids. Due to similarities in appearance, all dusky ducks will be off limits during the first five days of the season in each zone. Recent concerns about the mottled duck populations by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have forced a delay in harvest.

Youth Only Season

16 years of age or younger. Regular season bag limits apply for all legal species of geese, ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules. Dusky ducks are legal during the Youth-only and Veteran Special season. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. A Federal Ducks Stamp is required for all persons 16 years of age or older.

Veterans and Active Duty Military

Restricted to veterans and current members of the US Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training).

See information for proof of veteran or active duty status.

Falconry Season

A person holding a valid Texas falconry permit may take migratory game birds by means of falconry from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during open seasons listed herein and during the falconry seasons.

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License Requirements

Hunting License

All migratory game bird hunters must have a valid hunting license.

Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp Endorsement

A Migratory Game Bird Endorsement is required to hunt any migratory game bird (waterfowl, coot, rail, gallinule, snipe, dove, sandhill crane, and woodcock). A valid Federal Duck Stamp and HIP Certification are also required of waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older.

Harvest Information Program

When you purchase a hunting license, indicate to the license clerk that you intend to hunt migratory game birds and need to be HIP certified by answering a few simple questions.

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Migratory Game Bird Regulations

Definitions

General Rules

Methods

License, Permit and Endorsement Requirements

Species Illegal to Hunt

Waterfowl Banding Maps