MDC reminds waterfowl hunters of changes to zone boundaries and season dates

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds waterfowl hunters of changes to the duck-zone boundaries in Missouri and season dates for 2026-2030 waterfowl hunting.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) allows states to change the number and locations of their duck zones every five years. In late 2025, MDC held 13 public meetings and conducted mail and email surveys of waterfowl hunters to establish zone boundaries and season dates for the 2026-2030 duck seasons.

Waterfowl hunting in Missouri is divided into three zones: North, Middle, and South. Based on feedback regarding zone boundaries, the North/Middle Zone boundary changed in two areas. One area impacts Lincoln, Warren, St. Charles, St. Louis, and St. Louis City counties. The second change impacts Saline, Cooper, Chariton, Howard, Randolph, and Boone counties. No changes were made to the Middle/South Zone boundary.

The 2026 season dates for the North Zone are Oct. 31 through Dec. 29. Season dates for the Middle Zone are Nov. 7 through Dec. 13, and Dec. 19 through Jan. 10, 2027. Dates for the South Zone are Nov. 26 – 29 and Dec. 7 through Jan. 31, 2027.

MDC reminds waterfowl hunters of changes to duck-zone boundaries in Missouri (shown) and season dates for 2026-2030 waterfowl-hunting in the state.

Regarding season timing, the North Zone season moved slightly earlier than past ones to open Oct. 31. The Middle Zone opening moved slightly later than past seasons to Nov. 7. The split in the Middle Zone season moved from mid-November to mid-December. No changes were made to South Zone season dates.

MDC added that waterfowl hunters should be poised for fall flights similar to 2025 as the USFWS Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) total duck breeding populations in 2026 were similar to the 2025 estimate and May pond estimates increased by 14 percent. May ponds are the number of water-filled breeding ponds counted during the WBPHS and used as an index of habitat quality and waterfowl production.

MDC notes that hunters may see fewer mallards as their population estimate was 11% (5.9 million) below 2025, 26% below the long-term average, and the lowest estimate since 1993.

MDC also reminds hunters that shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other species as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Get more information on nontoxic-shot requirements at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/nontoxic-shot-regulations.

Per the Federal Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023, the Federal Duck Stamp has been converted to a digital version and hunters are no longer required to carry a paper copy. Hunters must have a digital version in their possession.

Learn more about duck zones and other waterfowl-hunting information from MDC at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl/duck-zones or get MDC’s 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest, available where hunting permits are sold and online through the provided link.