Keith Lusher 03.19.26
Montana waterfowl hunters have a chance to weigh in on next year’s duck and goose seasons as Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks opens the public comment period for its proposed 2026 migratory bird regulations.
Comments will be accepted through March 29, with the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission scheduled to review the proposals during its April 16 meeting in Helena.
For most hunters, the proposed regulations will look familiar. Aside from normal calendar adjustments, FWP is recommending that most waterfowl rules remain the same as they were during the 2025-26 season.
Under the proposal, daily and possession limits for ducks, coots and geese would remain unchanged. That means hunters can expect a structure very similar to what they experienced last fall unless changes are made during the final review process.
The state is also planning to continue its special youth waterfowl hunt on Sept. 26-27, 2026. That early weekend gives younger hunters an opportunity to get into the marsh before the regular season begins and has become an important recruiting tool for introducing new hunters to waterfowling.
Another season expected to remain in place is the Central Flyway spring light goose conservation season. If approved, the hunt would run from March 1 through May 15, 2027 and would again allow hunters to harvest snow and Ross’s geese with no daily bag limit as part of ongoing efforts to control overabundant populations.
While duck and goose regulations are expected to stay largely the same, much of the discussion in this year’s proposal centers on sandhill cranes. FWP officials are reviewing hunting districts and permit numbers for crane seasons, which could see adjustments depending on commission feedback and public input.
Major changes to waterfowl zones are not part of this year’s review. Montana previously approved its current zone boundaries and season structures for the 2026 through 2030 seasons, meaning this year’s process focuses mostly on setting specific dates within those established frameworks.
Those frameworks are guided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which sets national limits on season lengths, opening dates and daily bag limits for migratory birds. States must work within those federal guidelines when establishing their own regulations.
Federal regulators are already analyzing population surveys and harvest data that will shape the 2026-27 hunting season. Recent modeling suggests pintail limits could continue at three birds per day, while scaup regulations remain more conservative due to population concerns.
Once federal frameworks are finalized later this year, states like Montana will lock in their exact season dates within those limits.
FWP officials say hunter feedback plays an important role in that process, especially in a state where migration timing and bird numbers can vary significantly from one region to another.
Hunters who want to comment on the proposed regulations can submit feedback through the FWP public comment portal or attend the April 16 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting.
More information about the proposals is available on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website.
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