Waterfowl Hunting

Fall Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese, Coots, Mergansers, Tundra Swans)

Fall Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

2009 fall season dates:

• Early Canada goose: August 15 - September 15 - See Early Canada Goose Hunting Guide (Regulations).
• Youth Waterfowl: September 19-20.
• Ducks, Geese - ND residents only: September 26 - October 2.
• Regular Duck, Goose, Swan: October 3 - December 6. See Fall Waterfowl Hunting Regulations for details.

HIP (Harvest Information Program) registration is required of all migratory bird hunters.

Hunter Education Requirements and Who is Exempt

Persons born after 1961 must complete a certified hunter education course and show proof of certification when buying or applying for hunting licenses (official courses offered by other states and Canadian provinces meet these requirements).  Exceptions: Persons under age 12 who hunt only with their parent or legal guardian; persons who hunt exclusively on land of which they are the record title owner or operator; and those who obtain an Apprentice Hunting License.

Resident waterfowl hunters must possess the following licenses :

• Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate - $1.
• Small Game License - $6
  • Not required of residents under age 16.
  • Military - Upon presentation of valid leave papers and a valid North Dakota operator's license, a resident who is on leave and is an active duty as a member of the United States armed forces or the United States merchant marine may hunt small game, fish, or trap during the open season without a license.
• General Game and Habitat License - $13, or a Combination License - $32 (includes Small Game, General Game and  Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses).
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - $15 (not required for those under age 16).

A nonresident must possess the following licenses:

• A nonresident Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2)
• General Game and Habitat License ($13)
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - $15 (not required for those under age 16)
• Nonresident waterfowl license - two types are vailable:
  • A statewide license costing $125, good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period; or
  • A zone-restricted license costing $85 that requires the nonresident to select hunting zones according to the following restrictions: 
    1. A nonresident must select Zone 1 or Zone 2 for one seven-day period and Zone 3 for the other seven-day period; or
    2. Zone 3 for the full 14 days or two seven-day periods; or
    3. Zones 1 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period or zones 2 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period.  This option effectively reduces the license to seven days only, as the two 7-day periods are run at the same time. 
• Nonresident Waterfowl Zones:
  • Zone 1. U.S. Highway 281 from South Dakota to Jamestown; U.S. Highway 52 from Jamestown to Carrington; N.D. Highway 200 from Carrington to Hurdsfield; and N.D. Highway 3 from Hurdsfield to South Dakota.
  • Zone 2. N.D. Highway 36 from Wilton to Tuttle; N.D. Highway 3 from Tuttle to Hurdsfield; N.D. Highway 200 from Hurdsfield to U.S. Highway 52 east of Bowdon; north on U.S. Highway 52 to N.D. Highway 97 south of Velva; west on N.D. Highway 97 to N.D. Highway 41; south on N.D. Highway 41 (south of Velva) to N.D. Highway 200 at Turtle Lake; west on N.D. Highway 200 to N.D. Highway 200A; south on N.D. Highway 200A to Washburn; and south on U.S. Highway 83 to Wilton.
  • Zone 3. The remainder of the state.

View a map of Nonresident Waterfowl Zones (313Kb PDF).  This document requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® to view and print.  Get a free copy of Reader® at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Sandhill Crane:

After obtaining a sandhill crane permit a nonresident may hunt crane with either a nonresident waterfowl license or a nonresident small game license, subject to the restrictions such as time periods and zones specified on that license.

A Nonresident May Not Hunt G&F Lands October 10-16

Nonresidents may not hunt on lands owned or leased by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS), for the first week of pheasant season (October 10-16). This restriction applies to all types of hunting, not just pheasants.  This restriction does not apply to lands owned or managed by other state agencies that may be open to hunting, such as state school lands, federal lands that may be open to hunting, such as US Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), or to private lands not enrolled in the G&F PLOTS program.

Nonresident small game and waterfowl licenses are issued only through the Department's Bismarck office, Online Services, and by calling instant licensing at 1-800-406-6409 (Note: for instant licensing on the telephone, a service charge of $4 is assessed for each transaction under $70 and $10 for transactions of $70 or more).

Get Waterfowl Identification brochures from USGS

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