Texas duck season has two halves, and the second one is where a lot of hunters get caught with gear that isn't ready. The first split is already running. When it closes, you get a short break to fix whatever got wet, scuffed or left in the truck, and then the late season opens with colder mornings and more time on the water.
Gear that fits this hunt: the Dry Pocket Waterproof Floating Shotgun Bag ($119.99) and the Murphy Waterproof Floating Backpack Dry Bag with Shell Bag ($149.99).
How we chose: Venator has not field-tested this gear. Picks are matched on the maker's stated specifications and construction, from gear we carry and have in stock.
The dates that set your deadline
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists the 2026-27 regular duck season in two segments for each zone:
- North Zone: Nov. 14-29, then Dec. 5, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027.
- South Zone: Nov. 7-29, then Dec. 12, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027.
- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Oct. 24-25, then Oct. 30, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027, with no break.
That means North Zone hunters have the break from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, and South Zone hunters have it from Nov. 30 through Dec. 11. Use it. For the season ahead and what the habitat looks like this year, read our Texas duck season 2026-27 outlook.
Do you need a floating shotgun case?
It depends on how you get to the blind. A walk-in hunter with a hard case in the truck and a pit blind ten steps away doesn't need one. A boat, layout, kayak or wade hunter has a different problem: one slick gunwale or one deep step and a $1,200 shotgun is on the bottom.
The Dry Pocket Waterproof Floating Shotgun Bag ($119.99) is built for that case. According to the maker, it is:
- Rated IPX8 airtight, waterproof to 100 feet, with buoy-like flotation designed to float with a shotgun inside.
- 56 inches long with a 9-inch opening, sized to fit a 52-inch shotgun (butt to barrel) with chokes installed. Measure your gun before you buy.
- Made of a scent-proof TPU shell with a removable padded liner, two waterproof zipper pockets for shells and chokes, a magnetic double-lock auto-sealing closure and a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
One caution that applies to every floating product on this page: the maker states these are not personal flotation devices. A bag that floats your gun back to you does nothing for you. Wear your life jacket on the boat.
Dry backpacks: three ways to carry the rest
The same maker builds a family of floating dry packs. Specs below come from the product pages.
Waterproof Floating Backpack Dry Bag ($99.99)
The simplest option: a 25-liter TPU pack with a front pouch, padded straps and an internal pocket sized for a laptop. It is 22 inches tall and 2.4 pounds empty. Good for layers, a thermos, a phone and a few boxes of shells on a kayak or a short boat run.
Waterproof Floating Backpack Dry Bag, Desert Sage ($129.99)
Same 25-liter capacity, with a chest strap, web pouches on both sides and a long row of carabiner points on the straps and front pouch for hanging gear. If you run a lot of small items, the attachment points are the reason to step up.
The Murphy: Dry Bag with Shell Bag ($149.99)
A 30-liter main compartment plus a second waterproof shell bag that detaches with four magnetic buckles and, per the maker, holds more than 75 shells. For a hunter who carries a full day's ammunition and wants it separate from the layers, this is the one the shell bag was designed for.
Which one fits your hunt
- Boat, layout or kayak access: the floating shotgun case plus the Murphy. That covers the gun, the shells and the dry layers in two sealed pieces ($269.98 together at current prices).
- Wading to a blind: the Murphy or the Desert Sage pack, with your gun in a regular sleeve. If you wade deep, add the case.
- Walk-in or pit blind: you can skip the case. A 25-liter dry pack is plenty for layers and shells.
Pair it with what you wear
A dry pack only helps if you're warm when you set up. The late split is colder, and wading in a cold hole is where under-wader layers matter. Start with our under-waders layering guide, and if you haven't settled on waders, read bootfoot vs stockingfoot waders. The GWT breathable wader with 800g boots ($169.99) and the Sherpa neck gaiter ($39.99) round out the kit. See everything in the Waterfowl & Duck Hunting collection.
If you are still deciding between guiding and going alone this season, our guided Texas duck hunt guide covers what to ask before you book.
Before the second split opens: a short checklist
- Measure your shotgun, butt to muzzle with chokes in, before choosing a case.
- Dry out and inspect waders and boots during the break. Patch leaks now, not on opening morning.
- Pack the dry bag the night before and put your license, endorsement and ID in the waterproof pocket.
- Check your zone's dates on TPWD's page before you drive: North reopens Dec. 5, South Dec. 12.
FAQ
When does the second duck split open in Texas?
Per TPWD's 2026-27 season dates, the North Zone reopens Dec. 5 and the South Zone reopens Dec. 12. Both run through Jan. 31, 2027.
Will a floating shotgun case keep me afloat?
No. The maker states the bag floats with a shotgun inside but is not a personal flotation device. Wear a life jacket.
Will it fit a long-barrel shotgun?
The case is 56 inches long and is sized for a 52-inch shotgun, butt to barrel, with chokes installed. Measure first.
Do I need a dry pack if I hunt a pit blind?
Not necessarily. Dry packs matter most when your approach involves water: a boat, a kayak or a wade. For a short walk-in, a regular pack works.
