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 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Plains Unit1,2,3 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 4 Second Split | |||
| Low Plains Unit1,4 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 Regular Season | 6 | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck Dusky duck aggregate with black duck | 1 | 3 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 1 | 3 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Aggregate scaup combined | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup Aggregate scaup combined | 1 | 3 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard either · Max 2 hens per day | 5 | 15 |
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
2High Plains regular duck; nonresidents open Oct 4
3High Plains extended duck season
4Low Plains regular duck; nonresidents open Oct 4
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 Regular Season | 15 | 45 |
| High Plains Unit1,3,4 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 4 Second Split |
1Same as ducks · Non-toxic shot · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls
2Low Plains coots
3High Plains coots
4High Plains extended coots
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 4 Second Split | |||
| Low Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 27 – Dec 7 Regular Season | 5 | 15 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Plains Unit1,2 | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Youth Waterfowl Weekend | 6 | 18 |
| Low 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
2High Plains youth/veterans waterfowl weekend
3Low 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 was verified on March 9, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.