A total of 2,200 tundra swan licenses are available by lottery for the 2026 season. The deadline to apply is Aug. 19
North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $50. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season.
The statewide tundra swan hunting season opens on Oct. 3. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl licenses are valid.
All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license, and a waterfowl habitat restoration stamp. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license.
Small Game, Waterfowl, Furbearer Regulations Set
North Dakota’s 2026 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, with some noteworthy changes from last year.
These changes include:
Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 26. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota on Monday, Oct. 5.
Starting Nov. 29, shooting hours for geese will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset to the end of the respective goose season.
American marten will be allowed for take for the first time in 2026. The season will mirror the fisher season.
Fisher can now be trapped statewide, removing the restricted area in the Turtle Mountains where American martens are located.
River otter harvest will change to a three-week season, running from Nov. 23 through Dec. 13. Previously, the season was Nov. 23 through March 15, closing after the quota of 30 otters was met.
Hunters and trappers can find upland game, migratory game bird and furbearer/trapping regulations, on the Game and Fish website. Printed guides will be available at vendor locations.
Early Canada Goose Dates Announced
North Dakota’s early Canada goose season dates are set, with bag limits and licensing requirements the same as last year.
Opening day is Aug. 15 in all three zones. Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone; Sept. 15 in the western zone; and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone.
Early Canada goose limits are 15 daily and 45 in possession.
Limits and shooting hours are different from the regular season, while the zone boundaries remain the same. Shooting hours for early Canada goose are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Residents need a $10 early Canada goose license and a general game and habitat license. Also, residents 16 and older need a small game license. Nonresidents need only a $50 early Canada goose license. In addition, all early Canada goose hunters need a waterfowl habitat restoration stamp. Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
Harvest Information Program certification is required and beginning Sept. 1 a federal duck stamp for hunters 16 and older is needed. Those who HIP registered to hunt the spring light goose conservation order in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required in each state only once per year.
Waterfowl rest areas, closed to hunting during the regular season, are open during the early season. Most land in these rest areas is private, so hunters may need permission to access them.
Early Canada goose regulations can be found in the small game, waterfowl and furbearer proclamation and hunting regulations on the Game and Fish website. Printed guides will be at vendors by late August.
Hunting of Canada geese in August and early September is intended to reduce local Canada goose numbers. Game and Fish is attempting to provide additional hunting opportunities to increase pressure on locally breeding Canada geese.
Pronghorn Applications Due
The deadline to apply for the 2026 pronghorn hunting season is Aug. 5.
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply.
Fall Flight Forecast
Duck brood numbers are up 55% from 2025, and North Dakota Game and Fish Department migratory game bird biologists expect a fall flight of ducks about 9% higher than last year.
The fall flight forecast is based on information collected during the department's annual May breeding duck survey and July duck brood survey, which together estimate the number of adult ducks and ducklings expected to enter the fall population.
John Palarski, department migratory game bird management supervisor, said timely rains during late May and June greatly improved brood-rearing habitat across parts of North Dakota.
"The 2026 mid-July water index was up 36% from last year, creating favorable habitat during much of the nesting and brood-rearing period," he said. "Far northwestern North Dakota received considerable rainfall and was noticeably wetter than last year. Additional precipitation in the Devils Lake area created excellent wetland conditions in northeastern North Dakota, where intact seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands provided high-quality brood habitat."
Palarski added that although temporary water was abundant in some areas this year, North Dakota's long-term duck production continues to depend on intact prairie wetlands.
Blue-winged teal and gadwall were the most common broods recorded during the survey, accounting for nearly 53% of all identified broods. Most duck species showed increases in brood numbers compared to 2025, with notable increases in gadwall (97%), northern pintail (76%), and redheads (76%). The redhead brood count was the highest recorded during the survey's 62-year history.
2026 Pronghorn Season Set
The 2026 pronghorn hunting season is set with 1,310 licenses available in 18 units, the same number as last year.
Biologists flew 15,292 survey miles in June and July to estimate pronghorn populations and set tag allocations. The statewide population increased 12% from 2025 but conservative harvest strategies continue to encourage population growth.
Each unit will once again have a season that is split into an early bow-only portion, and a later gun/bow season.
The bow-only portion of the season is Sep. 4 (noon) – Sept. 27. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on their license.
From Oct. 2 (noon) – Oct. 18, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or archery equipment, but must stay in their assigned unit.
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a pronghorn license. Applicants must be at least 12 on or before Dec. 31.
Hunters can apply online. The application deadline is Aug. 5.
First-Come, First-Served Deer Gun Licenses Available
Ninety-five deer licenses are available in unit 3F2 for North Dakota’s 2026 deer gun season. These licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Aug.12 at 10 a.m. Central time. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
Hunters who want to purchase additional licenses may do so Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. Central time. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license, which can be used during the archery season with a bow; deer gun season with a bow, rifle or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. However, youth under age 14 (at the end of the calendar year) will be issued a concurrent season license for archery only. There is no limit on the number of concurrent season licenses a hunter can purchase.
Hunters with concurrent season licenses are restricted to the type of antlerless deer printed on the license and must stay in the unit in which the license is assigned.
Unit
Type
Available
3F2
Antlerless whitetail
95
Near Record Walleye Production Will Bolster Fisheries
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department stocked nearly 12 million walleye fingerlings statewide earlier this summer, about 11 million of which were raised at Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery and 1.1 million at Valley City National Fish Hatchery.
The record combined walleye production from both federal hatcheries was more than 12 million in 2017.
“Traditionally, on large production years, significant numbers of walleye fingerlings would go to big systems”, according to Jerry Weigel, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fish production and development section supervisor, “but this year, 2.3 million walleye went into Lake Sakakawea and just under 500,000 into Stump, Darling and Ashtabula, with the remaining fish stocked into over 150 other lakes”.
Each spring, walleye eggs are collected by fisheries personnel and taken to Garrison Dam and Valley City national fish hatcheries where they are hatched. Shortly after, the walleye fry are stocked into production ponds and after a month of growth, 1-inch or larger fingerlings are collected and stocked across the state.
Distribution trucks traveled more than 12,000 miles over a two-week period in June to stock fingerlings.
“Stocking conditions in 2026 were optimal given the unusually cool temperatures over the weeks in June when fish were being stocked,” Weigel said.
The receiving waters were rich in invertebrates, critical food for the survival of the newly stocked walleye. Conditions are favorable for good survival and growth of young walleyes.
Additionally, 1.1 million northern pike fingerlings where stocked into 37 waters statewide. These pike stockings are generally limited to waters that do not support walleye but provide unique fishing opportunities and enjoyment from the fast-growing pike.
Department partnerships with national hatcheries, department stocking efforts and favorable conditions continue to bolster excellent fishing opportunities across the state for years to come.
Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest Open
The 2026 Watchable Wildlife Contest is open and the deadline for submitting photos is Oct. 1.
The contest has three categories; nongame species, game species and plants and insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category determined by the number of qualified entries.
Wildlife photographers interested in submitting photos should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/wildlife/watchable-photo-contest. Please follow all directions and enter required information to assist department staff in managing submissions.
Contestants are limited to no more than five entries. Photos must have been taken in North Dakota.
By submitting an entry, photographers grant permission to Game and Fish to publish winning photographs in North Dakota OUTDOORS, on the department’s website and social media channels.
For more information or questions, contact Patrick Isakson, department conservation supervisor, at pisakson@nd.gov.
Fur Harvester Classes Scheduled
The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is holding a class Aug. 4, 6, and 8 at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck and a class Oct. 1, 2 and 3 at the Velva Wildlife Club.
Fur harvester education classes are 16 hours in length, free, voluntary, and cover topics associated with trapping and fur hunting. Much of the instruction includes hands-on experience with traps and equipment commonly used for harvesting furbearers and properly caring for the pelts.
Successful completion of this training provides certification recognized by other states where mandatory trapper education training is required. Participants can enroll in the August class now on the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov/education/fur-harvester. Enrollment for the October class will open at a later date.
The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is also hosting a training seminar on using cable devices in North Dakota Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Velva Wildlife Club.
The seminar is free and available to anyone who would like information and experience using cable devices. All aspects of cable device construction, care, use, ethics, responsibility and legal requirements are covered. Much of the instruction includes hands-on field application and set construction. Preregistration is required by contacting Rick Tischaefer at 701-460-1055.
State Fair Conservation and Outdoor Skills Park
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will host thousands of visitors to its free Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park July 17-25 at the State Fair in Minot.
Visitors of all ages can try their hand at the fishing pond, air rifle shooting gallery and archery range.
In addition to these hands-on outdoor activities, the area offers a live fish display, boat and water safety station, furbearer exhibit and native prairie plantings. An information center staffed by Game and Fish Department personnel is located in the Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park, on the north end of the fairgrounds near the State Fair Center.
The park is open daily during the fair from 1-7 p.m.
Report Boat Accidents
Boat accidents involving injury, death or disappearance of a person must be reported to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of the occurrence. If property damage exceeds $2,000, but no deaths or injuries occur, a boat operator has five days to file a report.
These reporting requirements are mandatory whether one or more boats are involved.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department