Waterfowl

• General Licensing Information
• Fall Waterfowl Seasons
• Spring Light Goose Season

   

Waterfowl Hunters: To prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species state law requires the following:

• Before leaving a body of water drain all water and remove all mud, plant seeds and fragments from boats, motors, trailers, decoys, waders and other hunting equipment. Brush hunting dogs free of mud and seeds.
• Boats, trailers, motors and hunting equipment brought into the state must be free of all aquatic vegetation, mud, plant seeds, and water.

General Licensing Information:

• 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.
• 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. Note: to hunt waterfowl a federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) is required.
• Nonresident youth hunting licenses. A nonresident under age sixteen need only purchase a North Dakota resident fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a North Dakota resident general game and habitat license to hunt small game and waterfowl except swans and wild turkeys; provided, that the nonresident's state, or province or territory of Canada, of residence provides a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents who are also under age sixteen. (Currently states of Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin qualify.) To be eligible, a nonresident youth may not have turned sixteen before September first of the year for which the license is issued and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian who is licensed to hunt small game or waterfowl in this state and is subject to the same regulations as the adult family member or legal guardian.
• A nonresident full-time student living in North Dakota and attending an institution of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the Board of Higher Education, a private institution, or a tribal college may qualify to purchase resident (non lottery) licenses.
• Harvest Information Program (HIP):  All migratory bird hunters must register annually with the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program before hunting ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Hunters who purchase a license through the Department, Instant Licensing on the Web, or Instant Licensing on the Telephone are automatically registered. Register with HIP:
  • By telephone:  Call toll free 1-888-634-4798. After answering a brief survey, you will receive a HIP registration number which must be recorded on your fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate.
  • On the Web:
    • Register for HIP here or
    • Check your number if you are already registered.
• 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).

Fall Waterfowl Seasons

• 2012 Early Canada Goose Season
  • August 15 - September 15 (except in the Missouri River Zone which closes September 7).  See Early Canada Goose Season regulations.
     
• 2012 Regular Seasons - Waterfowl Hunting Regulations
  • Early Resident Waterfowl Season Opener: September 22.
  • Regular (Residents and Nonresidents) Waterfowl Season Opener: September 29.

Fall Waterfowl Hunting Licensing Requirements - See also General Licensing Information above.

• Residents must possess the following licenses:
  • Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate - $1.
  • Small Game License - $6 - Not required of residents under age 16.
  • General Game and Habitat License - $13, or a Combination License - $32 (which includes the Small Game License, General Game and Habitat License, and Furbearer, and Fishing licenses).
  • Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - $15, required of all hunters 16 years of age and older.
     
• Nonresidents 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 available:
    • 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 (see **Nonresident Waterfowl Hunting Zones below) 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 Hunting Zones - (View Nonresident Zones Map)
      • 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.

Spring Light Goose Season

2013 season dates: February 16 - May 5 - See Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations.

Spring Waterfowl Hunting Licensing Requirements - See also General Licensing Information above.

• A federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) is not required for spring season.
   
• Residents must possess the following licenses:
  • Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate - $1.
  • Small Game License - $6 (Not required of residents under age 16)
  • General Game and Habitat License - $13, or a Combination License - $32 (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses).
  • Note:  Residents may use licenses from the previous fall or for the current year.  Licenses for the current year are available only from the game and fish department, On-Line Licensing, or from Instant Licensing by Telephone at 1-800-406-6409.
     
• Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:
  • Nonresident Statewide Spring Light Goose License - $50.
    • This is a separate, special license for the spring season. 
    • Spring season days do not count against the fall nonresident time restriction.