2024 Waterfowl Season

North Dakota’s waterfowl season opens for residents Sept. 21, while nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl Sept. 28.

The season for swans opens Sept. 28 for both residents and nonresidents who have purchased a swan license.

Shooting hours for all geese are one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day.

Extended shooting hours for all geese are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of each season. Starting Dec. 1, all day hunting is also allowed on Sundays through the end of each season. 

A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older. As a result of the Duck Stamp Modernization Act, the electronic stamp is now valid for the entire waterfowl hunting season. A physical stamp will be mailed in March 2025 to individuals who purchased the e-stamp. Hunters wanting to support conservation by purchasing extra duck stamps, or prefer a physical stamp, should visit the Amplex website.

Hunters who do not HIP certify when they buy a North Dakota license can add it through the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. Those who registered to hunt North Dakota’s spring light goose season or August Management Take/Early September Canada goose season do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required in each state only once per year.

Hunters should refer to the North Dakota 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Guide for further details on the waterfowl season.