The 2026-27 Atlantic Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast
Posted 2026-09-10 by
East Coast hunters can look forward to extra goose hunting days in some states, and strong numbers of ringnecks and black ducks, but mallard numbers are down slightly
Many northern Atlantic Flyway states experience good diver hunting action late in the season. Photo by Jim Nelson.
The fall migration has just begun, but duck hunters are already looking forward to this season in the Atlantic Flyway.
Thanks to increases in the Atlantic Population of Canada geese, season lengths in some zones — such as parts of southeastern Pennsylvania — have expanded from 30 to 45 days, and the daily bag limit has increased to three birds.
Meanwhile, numbers of ringnecks and black ducks — critical birds for the Atlantic Flyway — in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Eastern Survey Area were strong this spring.
The news wasn’t all great. Eastern mallard numbers decreased slightly, and biologists say it’s critical that those numbers remain healthy, as only about 15% of mallards shot in the Atlantic Flyway come from the Prairie Pothole Region. Further, research has estimated that less than 30% of the flyway’s mallards are truly wild because of the widespread release of game-farm birds in the 20th century.
Ultimately, hunter success this season will likely hinge on weather and migration, but there should be plenty of opportunity this fall from New England to Florida. Check out Realtree’s 2026 Duck Hunting Nation grades for each Atlantic Flyway State, and dig into more detail with each link.
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CONNECTICUT
The Constitution State might rate a low grade, but it actually offers some decent waterfowl hunting, including puddlers inland and sea ducks along the coast. Sure, the state’s harvest numbers aren’t impressive, but that’s a matter of scale. The state only had about 2,600 duck hunters in 2025.
DELAWARE
This tradition-rich state boasts the Delmarva Peninsula, which is an important wintering area for a huge variety of migratory waterfowl. Further, it holds some important waterfowl refuges, including Bombay Hook and Prime Hook. The state continues to provide good and varied hunting opportunities.
FLORIDA
The Sunshine State earned a good Duck Hunting Nation grade, but that’s only part of the story. Florida is a waterfowling destination like no other, with whistling ducks, mottled ducks and coastal divers on the menu. Plus, you probably won’t freeze your tail off while enjoying great gunning.
GEORGIA
Few folks mention Georgia as a go-to duck state, but it produces some fine action. The Peach State offers excellent wood duck hunting, plus solid diver opportunities, especially for wintering ringnecks. And goose action seems to be increasing.
MAINE
Famous for sea ducks, the Pine Tree State also offers solid shooting for black ducks, wood ducks, divers and geese. And you’ll never top the scenery or post-hunt seafood offerings here.
MARYLAND
Chesapeake Bay. East Coast goose hunting. Maryland’s waterfowling tradition is beyond deep. And the state continues to produced today, offering productive gunning for puddlers, divers and coastal sea ducks.
MASSACHUSETTS
The Bay State’s average grade doesn’t reflect the waterfowl hunting opportunities there. It’s just a bit low because hunters are feeling the pinch of urban sprawl and resulting pressure. Still, its variety is impressive, with puddlers and geese inland, and sea ducks and brant along the coast.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Duck and goose hunting opportunities are a bit limited in the Granite State, but you also won’t find much competition. Woodies and black ducks are common inland, and hunters find sea ducks along the state’s 18 miles of coastline.
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NEW JERSEY
It’s funny how some folks don’t associate The Garden State with waterfowl hunting. It features hundreds of miles of bayshore and ocean coastline, plus uncountable ponds, wetlands and lakes. Wood ducks are thick in the northern portion of the state. Enormous numbers of black ducks and snow geese winter in the salt marshes. That equals an A grade from Duck Hunting Nation.
NEW YORK
With numerous lakes, inland wetlands and coastline along two Great Lakes, the Empire State offers excellent duck and goose hunting. Take your pick: big honkers in ag fields, mallards and woodies on small waters, or divers and longtails on the big water. Whatever your choice, New York rates an A grade.
NORTH CAROLINA
Speaking of A grades, it’s tough for duck hunters to ignore North Carolina. Hunters took almost 400,000 ducks here in 2025-’26, including almost 120,000 wood ducks. Plus, the state offers solid hunting for divers and other puddle ducks. Oh, and you can get a swan tag, too.
PENNSYLVANIA
Turkeys and deer probably overshadow Pennsylvania’s waterfowl, but duck and goose hunting in the state is solid. With many lakes, rivers, marshes and ag fields, hunters find good numbers of mallards, black ducks, geese and other fowl. And there’s plenty of public land.
RHODE ISLAND
Like Connecticut, the tiny Ocean State has relatively few waterfowl hunters but pretty decent opportunities. Hunters consistently take sea ducks along the coast, and woodies and other puddlers inland.
SOUTH CAROLINA
With thousands of miles of tidal and coastal shorelines, the Palmetto State is a bit of a sleeper duck hunting spot. Wood ducks dominate the bag, of course, but hunters also take surprising numbers of mallards, other puddlers and ringnecks.
VERMONT
The Green Mountain State’s Duck Hunting Nation entry describes it as “a white-bread kind of place” for duck hunting. Mallards, woodies and black ducks are common inland, and divers arrive later. And hunting pressure is more than manageable.
VIRGINIA
Chesapeake Bay? Mallards and divers? Big-water scoters? And a swan season? Historic Virginia earns a solid B grade from Duck Hunting Nation. Pressure can be an issue in some areas, but Old Dominion also offers some quality quota hunts.
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WEST VIRGINIA
Well, not every state can boast great duck hunting. It’s not that West Virginia stinks. It’s just not really duck country. Still, hunters take respectable numbers of mallards, wood ducks and geese.
