The US Fish and Wildlife Service sets the rules for next year's duck hunting season

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing the rules for the 2025-26 migratory bird hunting season. These rules set the maximum limits for how long states can allow hunting, how many birds hunters can take, and where they can hunt.

Every year, the federal government sets the outer limits for hunting migratory birds. States then choose their specific hunting seasons and bag limits within these federal rules. This document is a routine part of that annual cycle, ensuring hunting levels match bird populations and habitat conditions.