Bield:Hunt
Waterfowl

Scaup (Greater / Lesser)
hunting regulations.

Huntable in 49 states 49 with general season. Click any state for the state-specific page.

Greater and lesser scaup are diving ducks (also called "bluebills") with similar appearance — medium-sized birds with iridescent green or purple heads (drakes) and a powder-blue bill. Greater scaup are slightly larger and prefer larger water bodies. Continental populations have declined over decades, leading to conservative bag limits.

Most flyways allow 1-2 scaup daily within the aggregate duck bag. They're commonly encountered on big lakes, coastal bays, and major rivers during migration. Diver-style decoy spreads and longer pass shooting are typical methods.

Verify before hunting

Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with your state wildlife agency. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.

Where scaup (greater / lesser) can be hunted

49 states

Browse all species or download Bield: Hunt to start tracking sits and patterns by species and zone.