BirdHuntEarly Canada Goose
- Aug 15 – Sep 22, 2026
Canada geese15 daily45 poss.
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Waterfowl 2026-27
North Dakota
Central Flyway
Open now · Duck, Coot & MerganserSeason
Open now
Duck, Coot & Merganser
Daily duck bag
6
7 species limits apply
Next draw deadline
None
No open applications
Nonresident rules
Nonresidents open 9 days after residents (Oct. 5 in 2026). The nonresident waterfowl license allows up to 14 days: two 7-day periods in two different nonresident zones chosen at purchase. Nonresidents may not hunt Game and Fish WMAs or PLOTS Oct. 10-16, 2026.
Season calendar
AugSepOctNovDecJan
Early Canada Goose Eastern Zone
Early Canada Goose Missouri River Zone
Early Canada Goose Western Zone
Youth Waterfowl Season
Veterans Waterfowl Season
Duck, Coot & Merganser High Plains Unit
Duck, Coot & Merganser Low Plains Unit
Today
Seasons & bag limits
Early Canada Goose
- Aug 15 – Sep 7, 2026
Canada geese15 daily45 poss.
Early Canada Goose
- Aug 15 – Sep 15, 2026
Canada geese15 daily45 poss.
Youth Waterfowl Season
- Sep 19 – Sep 20, 2026
Veterans Waterfowl Season
- Sep 19 – Sep 20, 2026
Duck, Coot & Merganser
- Oct 5 – Dec 6, 2026
- Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Ducks (including mergansers)6 daily18 poss.
- 5 mallards
- 2 hen mallards
- 1 scaup
- 3 pintails
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 3 wood ducks
Coots15 daily45 poss.
Duck, Coot & Merganser
- Oct 5 – Dec 6, 2026
Ducks (including mergansers)6 daily18 poss.
- 5 mallards
- 2 hen mallards
- 1 scaup
- 3 pintails
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 3 wood ducks
Coots15 daily45 poss.
What you need to buy
General Game and Habitat License
Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
$20.00
Waterfowl Restoration Stamp
Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
$5.00
Nonresident Waterfowl License (zone-restricted)
Source · checked Sep 23, 2026 ·
$153.00
Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate
Source · checked Sep 23, 2026 ·
$5.00
Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
$25.00
Total for a 14-day trip
$208.00
Public land & walk-in access
Programs and the rules that apply to them. We don't publish specific spots.
Walk-in program
PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen)
Nonresident limitsNonresidents: Nonresidents may not hunt any game on PLOTS from Oct. 10 through Oct. 16, 2026 (the first seven days of pheasant season), unless it's land they own.
Private land leased for walk-in hunting: on foot only, and anything other than hunting needs the landowner's permission. Tracts are in the annual PLOTS guide.
Maps and details · Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
Public land
Game and Fish wildlife management areas
Nonresident limitsNonresidents: Nonresidents may not hunt any game on Game and Fish WMAs from Oct. 10 through Oct. 16, 2026 (the first seven days of pheasant season).
Maps and details · Source · checked Sep 30, 2026 ·
Field Notes for North Dakota
More Central Flyway states
Official sources
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