Duck season in Texas generally runs from early November through late January, but exact dates depend on the year and which zone you hunt in (High Plains, North, or South).

Current Texas duck season timing

For the 2025–2026 hunting year, Texas Parks & Wildlife lists the regular duck season roughly as:

  • High Plains Mallard Management Unit:
    • October 18–19, 2025, then October 24, 2025 – January 25, 2026.
  • North Zone:
    • November 8–30, 2025, and December 6, 2025 – January 25, 2026.
  • South Zone:
    • November 1–30, 2025, and December 13, 2025 – January 25, 2026.

There is usually also an early teal season in September and special youth/military weekends in October–November, which shift slightly year to year.

[9][3] [3][5][9] [5][9][3]
Zone Approx. regular duck season Example 2025–26 dates
High Plains M.M.U. Late Oct – late Jan Oct 18–19 & Oct 24, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
North Zone Early Nov – late Jan Nov 8–30, 2025 & Dec 6, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
South Zone Early Nov – late Jan Nov 1–30, 2025 & Dec 13, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026

What you should do before you go

Because dates, zones, and bag limits can change each season, always:

  1. Check the latest Texas Parks & Wildlife online regulations for the exact year you plan to hunt.
  1. Confirm your zone (High Plains, North, or South) based on where you’ll be hunting.
  1. Verify license, federal duck stamp, HIP certification, and daily/possession limits for ducks and any special rules for species like mottled or “dusky” ducks.

Hunters on forums and guides also point out that water levels and migration timing can make certain weeks much better than others, even within the open season, so many plan trips around cold fronts and recent bird reports.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.