2026–27 North Dakota Duck Season Dates: Residents & Nonresidents

Hunting Seasons & Draw Alerts / North Dakota

Checked September 28, 2026 · Finalized season dates

North Dakota’s regular 2026 duck season opened September 26 for residents. The nonresident opener is October 5, 2026. Both Plains units close December 6; only the High Plains Unit has a second regular period, December 12, 2026–January 3, 2027. These dates also cover coots and mergansers. Source: North Dakota Game and Fish’s finalized season table.

2026–27 North Dakota duck season dates

The department marks these dates Finalized. The September 19–20 youth and veteran/active military seasons have already ended. Check the agency’s current table and unit map.

What changed for visiting hunters?

The resident-only opening period increased from seven to nine days in 2026. It runs September 26–October 4, so visitors should plan around the October 5 opener. Read the department’s March 23 announcement.

Choose your dates and hunting locations together. A statewide season opening does not establish access to a particular parcel, and the length of the season does not determine how many days your nonresident license allows you to hunt.

An October access restriction to check before booking

Nonresidents cannot hunt department wildlife management areas or Conservation PLOTS areas October 10–16, 2026, except PLOTS land they own. The restriction is separate from the October 5 waterfowl opener. Review Section 6 of the official 2026–27 proclamation and confirm access for each planned location.

Planning a December or January trip

The Low Plains regular season ends December 6. The High Plains regular season pauses December 7–11 and resumes December 12. Use the official map rather than a general east-versus-west description to check a property near the boundary. Section 39 and Figure 5 provide the unit definition and map.

A January 2027 closing date belongs to the 2026–27 hunting season. It is not a 2027 fall opener or a draw application deadline. This guide does not project dates for the next fall season.

Licenses, legal hours and your trip checklist

1. Confirm your eligibility using the official residency rules.
2. Review the resident license requirements or nonresident waterfowl requirements, including any applicable license zones, designated days, stamps and registration.
3. Match your hunting location to the season unit and check official hunting maps and access information.
4. Check the current proclamation for bag limits, species restrictions and legal hours. Section 4 states that hunting hours are prescribed in Central Time; use official local sunrise/sunset information for the place and date.

Save the official sources with your trip details and recheck them before departure. A change in access, your license dates or your chosen unit can affect an otherwise valid plan.

Other North Dakota seasons and future updates

This page covers regular ducks, coots and mergansers. For other species and application opportunities, start with the official season calendar. Return to our national hunting seasons and draw alerts hub for selected verified updates, including Wyoming’s 2027 preference point fee change.

Sources and change log

Published September 28, 2026 after checking the department’s duck season table, March 23 opener announcement and 2026–27 proclamation. Added the resident/nonresident dates, October public-access restriction and High Plains split-season explanation. Official agency rules and subsequent emergency orders govern the hunt.