Palmetto Plain

Federal · FWS final rule, 50 CFR 20

Duck, goose and dove seasons: federal hunting limits will now be set by a memorandum every three years instead of annual rules

Effective Aug. 31, 2026

Published · Last updated

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The short version

  • Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published federal regulations setting the outer limits for migratory game bird hunting, such as season dates and lengths, shooting hours and bag limits. States then set their own seasons inside those limits.
  • Under this final rule, effective August 31, 2026, the Service will instead issue a "Migratory Game Bird Hunting" (MGBH) memorandum once every three years, by February 28, with at least 30 days for public comment.
  • The Service will still make harvest decisions every year and will update the memorandum sooner if its decision frameworks call for changes.
  • The covered birds include ducks, geese and swans; doves and pigeons; cranes; rails, coots and gallinules; and woodcock and snipe. International treaties still limit hunting to Sept. 1 through March 10 and no more than 107 days for any species.
Status
Final rule published and effective Aug. 31, 2026.
Official source
Federal Register, 91 FR 55794 (Aug. 31, 2026), FR Doc. 2026-17733, "Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting"
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Program

What it does

  • From annual rules to a memorandum. The Service “will issue a memorandum to establish the limits and authorize seasonal migratory game bird hunting once every 3 years.” It says this “eliminates the need for subsequent annual Federal regulation promulgation and rulemaking.” (Final rule, Summary)
  • What the memorandum sets. The “authorization conditions” from which states and tribes set their seasons: season dates, season lengths, shooting hours, daily bag and possession limits, areas open to hunting, and other restrictions. (Final rule)
  • Public comment. A Federal Register notice will announce each memorandum, with a comment period of at least 30 days, and the memorandum will be posted on the Service’s website. (Final rule)
  • Annual updates still possible. The Service will update the memorandum by February 28 in any year its decision frameworks call for changes. (Final rule)
  • 2026–27 season. For this season, the Service said the memorandum would be available “no later than August 31,” with a 30-day comment period. (Final rule)

What stays the same

The international conventions still limit migratory game bird hunting to the fall-winter period (September 1 to March 10), and to no more than 3.5 months, which the Service interprets as 107 days, for any species. (Final rule, Background)

Who it affects

Hunters of ducks, geese, doves, woodcock, snipe, rails and other migratory game birds, and state wildlife agencies such as the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, which set state seasons within the federal limits. (Final rule)

What it means for you

Day to day, hunters keep following their state’s seasons and bag limits. In South Carolina, those come from SCDNR. What changes is how the federal outer limits are issued and how often. (Final rule)

Current status

In effect since August 31, 2026. (Final rule, “Dates”)

Sources

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Every statement above is drawn from the official source text linked here; section references are shown in grey. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.