Read from Game and Fish Department on August 8, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Game and Fish Department before you hunt.
Open the official North Dakota regulationsHunting 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 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 20 through January 3, 2027, with 20 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 Unit1,2,3,4North Dakota High Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 26 – Dec 6 First Segment | 6 Same species sub-limits as Low Plains Unit: 5 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 pintail, 2 redhead, 2 canvasback, 3 wood duck. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal Sep 26–Oct 4. Mergansers included. | 18 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 3 Second Segment | 6 Same species sub-limits as Low Plains Unit: 5 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 pintail, 2 redhead, 2 canvasback, 3 wood duck. Mergansers included. No bonus teal. | 18 | |
| Low Plains Unit5,6North Dakota Low Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 26 – Dec 6 Regular Season | 6 5 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 pintail, 2 redhead, 2 canvasback, 3 wood duck. Bonus: additional 2 blue-winged teal Sep 26–Oct 4 only. Mergansers included in 6-duck bag. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 5 | 15 |
| Lesser Scaup scaup aggregate | 1 | 3 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Blue-winged Teal bonus, Sep 26–Oct 4 only, in addition to 6-duck bag | 2 | 6 |
1Same species sub-limits as Low Plains Unit: 5 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 pintail, 2 redhead, 2 canvasback, 3 wood duck. Bonus 2 blue-winged teal Sep 26–Oct 4. Mergansers included.
2High Plains Unit split season segment 1. Resident-only Sep 26–Oct 4.
3Same species sub-limits as Low Plains Unit: 5 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 pintail, 2 redhead, 2 canvasback, 3 wood duck. Mergansers included. No bonus teal.
4High Plains Unit split season segment 2.
55 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 pintail, 2 redhead, 2 canvasback, 3 wood duck. Bonus: additional 2 blue-winged teal Sep 26–Oct 4 only. Mergansers included in 6-duck bag.
6Blue-winged teal bonus Sep 26–Oct 4 only. Resident-only Sep 26–Oct 4.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2North Dakota Low Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 27 – Oct 5 Bonus Blue-winged Teal | 6 No distinct early teal season · Teal included in regular duck season · Standard non-toxic shot & plugged shotgun | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1,2North Dakota High Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 27 – Oct 5 Bonus Blue-winged Teal | 6 No distinct early teal season · Teal included in regular duck season · Standard non-toxic shot & plugged shotgun | 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 Canada Goose Zone1,2 | Aug 15 – Sep 22 Early Canada Goose Season | 15 Canada geese only. Same boundaries as Low Plains Duck Unit. Federal Duck Stamp required beginning Sep 1. | 45 |
| Western Canada Goose Zone2,3 | Aug 15 – Sep 15 Early Canada Goose Season | 15 Canada geese only. Same boundaries as High Plains Duck Unit excluding Missouri River Canada Goose Zone. Federal Duck Stamp required beginning Sep 1. | 45 |
| Missouri River Zone4,5Missouri River corridor (goose zone) | Sep 26 – Jan 1 Regular Season | 5 Canada geese only. Possession limit three times the daily limit. | 15 |
| Missouri River Canada Goose Zone6,7 | Aug 15 – Sep 7 Early Canada Goose Season | 15 Canada geese only. Resident license and early September Canada goose license required. Federal Duck Stamp required beginning Sep 1. | 45 |
1Canada geese only. Same boundaries as Low Plains Duck Unit. Federal Duck Stamp required beginning Sep 1.
2Part of Early Canada Goose Season. Hunters may not aggregate limits across zones.
3Canada geese only. Same boundaries as High Plains Duck Unit excluding Missouri River Canada Goose Zone. Federal Duck Stamp required beginning Sep 1.
4Canada geese only. Possession limit three times the daily limit.
5Shooting hours modified: sunset on Sat/Wed Sep 26–Nov 28, 2026; all-day sunset from Nov 29, 2026.
6Canada geese only. Resident license and early September Canada goose license required. Federal Duck Stamp required beginning Sep 1.
7Part of Early Canada Goose Season. Days before Sep 1 are USFWS Management Take; days Sep 1+ are migratory bird framework. Hunters may not aggregate limits across zones.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Plains Unit1,2,3North Dakota High Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 26 – Dec 6 First Segment | 15 Same nontoxic shot, plugged shotgun, no electronic calls rules as ducks. Follow regular waterfowl season framework. ND Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP required. | 45 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 3 Second Segment | 15 Same nontoxic shot, plugged shotgun, no electronic calls rules as ducks. Follow regular waterfowl season framework. ND Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP required. | 45 |
1Same nontoxic shot, plugged shotgun, no electronic calls rules as ducks. Follow regular waterfowl season framework. ND Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP required.
2Same limits as Low Plains Unit; concurrent with High Plains Unit duck season segment 1.
3Same limits as Low Plains Unit; concurrent with High Plains Unit duck season segment 2.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2North Dakota Low Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 26 – Dec 6 Regular Season | 6 Counted within 6-duck aggregate bag. | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1,3,4North Dakota High Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 26 – Dec 6 First Segment | 6 Counted within 6-duck aggregate bag. | 18 |
| Dec 12 – Jan 3 Second Segment | 6 Counted within 6-duck aggregate bag. | 18 |
1Counted within 6-duck aggregate bag.
2Mergansers included in 6-duck daily bag; concurrent with Low Plains Unit duck season.
3Mergansers included in 6-duck daily bag; concurrent with High Plains Unit duck season segment 1.
4Mergansers included in 6-duck daily bag; concurrent with High Plains Unit duck season segment 2.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Unit 2 (east of US Hwy 281)1Sandhill crane unit east of U.S. Highway 281 | Sep 19 – Nov 15 | 2 Unit 2: east of U.S. Highway 281. Requires ND sandhill crane permit + general/small game license + HIP. Shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to 2 p.m.; extended to sunset on Saturdays & Wednesdays, Sep 26-Nov 15, 2026. Limits not combined between Units 1 and 2. | 6 |
| Crane Unit 1 (west of US Hwy 281)2Sandhill crane unit west of U.S. Highway 281 | Sep 19 – Nov 15 | 3 Unit 1: west of U.S. Highway 281. Requires ND sandhill crane permit + general/small game license + HIP. Shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to 2 p.m.; extended to sunset on Saturdays & Wednesdays, Sep 26-Nov 15, 2026. Limits not combined between Units 1 and 2. | 9 |
1Unit 2: east of U.S. Highway 281. Requires ND sandhill crane permit + general/small game license + HIP. Shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to 2 p.m.; extended to sunset on Saturdays & Wednesdays, Sep 26-Nov 15, 2026. Limits not combined between Units 1 and 2.
2Unit 1: west of U.S. Highway 281. Requires ND sandhill crane permit + general/small game license + HIP. Shooting hours 1/2 hr before sunrise to 2 p.m.; extended to sunset on Saturdays & Wednesdays, Sep 26-Nov 15, 2026. Limits not combined between Units 1 and 2.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide (Swan Lottery)1,2Statewide tundra swan lottery hunt | Oct 3 – Jan 3 | 1 Lottery license required; 2,200 licenses available. One swan per licensee. Tag must be attached immediately upon retrieving swan. | 1 |
1Lottery license required; 2,200 licenses available. One swan per licensee. Tag must be attached immediately upon retrieving swan.
2Tag must remain with carcass until Mar 31, 2027 or until meat is consumed.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Plains Unit1,2North Dakota Low Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Youth Waterfowl Weekend | 6 Youth 15 & under + veteran/active military · Non-hunting adult 18+ required · $5 waterfowl stamp still required for youth | 18 |
| High Plains Unit1,3North Dakota High Plains waterfowl unit | Sep 20 – Sep 21 Youth Waterfowl Weekend | 6 Youth 15 & under + veteran/active military · Non-hunting adult 18+ required · $5 waterfowl stamp still required for youth | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 1 – Sep 11 | 3 Licensed falconers only. Applicable to snipe, ducks, mergansers, and coots. Sep 1–4 and Sep 7–11 only (two segments). Federal migratory hunting stamp required. | 9 |
1Licensed falconers only. Applicable to snipe, ducks, mergansers, and coots. Sep 1–4 and Sep 7–11 only (two segments). Federal migratory hunting stamp required.
2Pre-season falconry extension: Sep 1–4, 2026 and Sep 7–11, 2026. Bag and possession limits for all permitted migratory birds shall not exceed 3 and 9, respectively, singly or in aggregate. Firearms prohibited afield during extended seasons.
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 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on August 8, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.