Hunting North Dakota this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
North Dakota is part of the Central Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 20 through January 4, 2026, with 24 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Game and Fish Department within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1,3,4 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 4 Second Split |
Species-by-species limits are being verified against Game and Fish Department. Dates and daily bag limits above are confirmed.
1Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls · NEW 2025: $5 Waterfowl Habitat Stamp (all ages) · Nonresidents must apply zone-specific (max 14 consecutive days) · Resident-only Sep 27-Oct 3
2Low Plains regular duck; nonresidents open Oct 4
3High Plains regular duck; nonresidents open Oct 4
4High Plains extended duck season
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Oct 5 Bonus Blue-winged Teal | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Oct 5 Bonus Blue-winged Teal | 6 | 18 |
1No distinct early teal season · Teal included in regular duck season · Standard non-toxic shot & plugged shotgun
2ND bonus blue-winged teal season concurrent with first 9 days of duck season (not a traditional pre-season early teal)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Zone | Sep 27 – Dec 20 Regular Season | 8 | 24 |
| Western Zone | Sep 27 – Dec 25 Regular Season | 8 | 24 |
| Missouri River Zone | Sep 27 – Jan 2 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Sep 27 – Jan 4 Regular Season | 50 | 150 |
| Low Plains Unit1 | Sep 27 – Jan 4 Regular Season | 50 | 150 |
| High Plains Unit1 | Sep 27 – Jan 4 Regular Season | 50 | 150 |
1Snow/Ross geese; no possession limit; Central Flyway. Bag limit needs confirmation from NDGF proclamation.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Plains Unit1,2,3 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 4 Second Split | |||
| Low Plains Unit1,4 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 Regular Season | 15 | 45 |
1Same as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
2High Plains coots
3High Plains extended coots
4Low Plains coots
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
| High Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 4 Second Split |
1Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls · Same zone structure as ducks
2Max 2 hooded mergansers per day. Concurrent with duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Unit 2 (east of US Hwy 281)1 | Sep 20 – Nov 16 | 2 | 6 |
| Crane Unit 1 (west of US Hwy 281)1,2 | Sep 20 – Nov 16 | 3 | 9 |
1Sandhill crane permit + general game and habitat license; HIP certification; shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to 2 pm (extended to sunset Sat/Wed later in season)
22026-27 opener is tentative (Sep 19, 2026) pending proclamation signature, so 2025-26 is latest official. Shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to 2 pm daily, extended to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays later in the season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide (Swan Lottery)1,2 | Oct 4 – Jan 4 | 1 | 1 |
1Lottery license (2,200 statewide; resident $10, nonresident $50); one swan per license per season; tundra swans ONLY — North Dakota has no trumpeter season; taking one is a violation
22025-26 used — 2026 season is tentative (opener Oct 3, 2026, lottery deadline Aug 19, 2026) pending governor's proclamation. Lottery of 2,200 licenses statewide, residents and nonresidents eligible; each license includes one swan tag for the season; tundra swans only (corrected 2026-07-03 per USFWS frameworks — the any-species swan language covers only parts of MT/UT/NV).
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Youth Waterfowl Weekend | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1,3 | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Youth Waterfowl Weekend | 6 | 18 |
1Youth 15 & under + veteran/active military · Non-hunting adult 18+ required · $5 waterfowl stamp still required for youth
2Low Plains youth/veterans waterfowl weekend
3High Plains youth/veterans waterfowl weekend
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1 | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Veterans/Active Military Weekend | 6 | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1 | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Veterans/Active Military Weekend | 6 | 18 |
1Same dates as youth waterfowl weekend; same bag limits as regular season
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2025-2026 season. This data has not yet been verified against official sources for this season. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.