Another Change To ND Waterfowl Hunting Affecting NR’s

Another Change to Affect Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunters

Non-resident waterfowl hunters in North Dakota will notice another change intended to give resident hunters a little more time and space before the influx of out-of-staters. This has many non-resident hunters crying "fowl" play and are not happy with the regulation that will go into effect during the 2026 waterfowl season in North Dakota.

Next Seasons Start Date

The waterfowl season for residents will begin next year on Saturday, September 26th. The non-resident opener will begin on Monday, October 5th. Resident hunters will now get the first 9 days of the season, including the first two weekends. Previously, non-residents began their season 7 days after the resident opener, or the following Saturday after the resident opener.

This has gone over like a "fart in church" with most non-resident duck hunters, if you have seen the chatter on different social media forums. Check out this clip from a podcast from Fish Hunt Forever.

I think the main issue is losing another hunting weekend. I'm sure some small-town North Dakota cafes, restaurants, bars, and hotels will not be happy either. This could mean less revenue.

My Thoughts as a Resident Hunter

As a resident duck hunter, I appreciate the extra time we get in the field before things get crowded. With that being said, I have numerous non-resident hunting friends, and I understand their concerns, where you lose yet another weekend of a pretty short season as it is, depending on the weather. Which side of the fence are you on?