Duck Hunting Season in Wyoming: Season Dates, Bag Limits, and More

Wyoming is a great place for hunters, especially those who like to go duck hunting. There are plenty of wetlands, meaning that ducks are plentiful. You can find multiple species of ducks and other waterfowl, as well as knowledgeable guides to help you make the most out of your time in Wyoming. If you are lucky enough to live in the Cowboy State, you’ve probably seen firsthand just how majestic the landscape and animals who live there can be.

Can You Duck Hunt in Wyoming?

Yes, duck hunting is allowed in Wyoming. Like other states, there are restrictions on the time that you can duck hunt as well as how many birds you can take. Wyoming regulates the hunting of migratory game birds. These include ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, sandhill cranes, mourning doves, rail, snipe, and Canada geese.

Before you get ready for the hunt, it’s important to become familiar with the species of ducks in Wyoming as well as the restrictions on hunting various species. There are strict duck hunting season dates each year. Daily bag and possession limits also restrict the number of ducks you can harvest from different species. Keeping up-to-date and following all regulations will ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable day.

What Kind of Ducks are in Wyoming?

There are plenty of duck species found in Wyoming. Some are more plentiful in secluded areas while others can be found all around the state. Mallard ducks are common and one of the most easily recognized species. Male mallard ducks have bright green heads and brown and cream feathers on their bodies. Females are brown all over. These ducks are found in many states. When most people think of ducks, they are likely picturing a mallard.

American wigeons also have green heads (males) and brown feathers (females), although their patterns are different than the mallards. They are also smaller and have blue-grey bills. They aren’t as comfortable around people so you may have to go to more rural areas to find them. Gadwalls have more subdued feathers. Both males and females are mostly brown. But don’t forget about these ducks when you are planning your hunting trip.

Other species include Northern pintails with long tails, Northern shovelers with wide beaks, and blue-winged teals with (you guessed it) blue patches on their wings. There are many other species in Wyoming as well. This is one reason that working with a guide can be beneficial. Not only do they know what to look for, they know the best places to find ducks.

When Does Duck Hunting Season Start in Wyoming?

The exact dates of duck hunting season can change year to year based on the current conditions. In 2022, duck hunting season opened on September 24th. There are different opening dates for different parts of the state. These are designated as different flyway zones. Some zones had a later opening date of October 8.

You will need a permit to hunt ducks in Wyoming. The National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program administers the permits and requires a Wyoming-specific validation for the HIP permit. They expire on June 30th each year so hunters will need to get a new HIP permit before the following duck hunting season. They are only required for hunters over the age of 14.

Hunters over the age of 16 also need a duck hunting stamp. This authorization is given by the federal government through an official Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. These are required to hunt ducks as well as geese and mergansers. Stamps can be physical copies, signed in ink across the face, or electronic stamps.

Both permits and stamps should be taken with you when you hunt. All hunters, regardless of age, are required to have these documents with them.

Duck Hunting Season Dates in Wyoming

In 2022, duck hunting season ran from September 24 to January 6, 2023. Some sections had later opening dates, however. There were also certain dates within that range not included in duck hunting season. It is important to know where you are hunting, what species you are going for, and all of the associated limitations. Wyoming divides the state into different areas: the Pacific Flyway and the Central Flyway. The Central Flyway has three distinct zones.

The C1 zone includes all of Big Horn, Converse, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, and Washakie counties. It also includes parts of Fremont County. The C1A zone includes Goshen and Platte counties. The C2 zone includes Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan, and Weston counties. It also includes parts of Carbon County.

Wyoming designates certain dates during duck hunting season for youth, Veterans, and Active Duty military. In 2022, these days were September 17 and 18 in the Pacific Flyway and Central Flyway zone C2. In zones C1 and C1A of the Central Flyway, the dates were September 24 and 25. During these days, only youth hunters under the age of 18 (accompanied by an adult), Veterans, and Active Duty military personnel can hunt ducks. They are still required to adhere to all other regulations, including permits and daily bag and possession limits.

Daily Bag Limits and Possession Limits

The daily bag limit refers to the number of ducks that you can harvest in a single day. This is different from the possession limit, which is the total number of ducks that you can have in your possession. This includes ducks that you harvested that day as well as any ducks that you harvested that are in your home or other location.

In Wyoming, the daily bag limit is 7. This can be any combination of species, as long as you still adhere to the following limitations put out by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. You cannot harvest more than 2 hen mallards, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 scaups, and 1 pintail. There are added restrictions on scaup season, which ended in 2022 on December 18.

The daily bag limit in all zones of the Central Flyway is 6. Like the Pacific Flyway, these can be a combination of species. However, there are maximums for some species. These are 5 mallards (only 2 can be hens), 1 pintail, 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, and 1 scaup. You can also take 2 blue-winged teal that will not count against the daily bag limit, but only on certain days in each zone.

The possession limit is 21. In all zones of the Central Flyway, the possession limit is 18. Again, this can be any combination of species.

Successful Duck Hunting

Wyoming is a great state for hunting but it still pays to come prepared. In addition to your permit and stamp, you’ll need some gear. At a minimum, this means a gun. A shotgun is a common choice. You’ll need shells as well. Duck decoys and duck calls are also very helpful.

You’ll need something to help you retrieve any ducks that you take. This can be a pair of waders to allow you to trek into the watery marsh or wetlands after the ducks. You can also bring a hunting dog trained for duck hunting. It’s important that you have worked extensively with your dog before taking them on a hunt. Only highly trained dogs should be with you when you hunt, as a spooked dog can make things very dangerous very quickly.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Rudolf Ernst