The North Dakota Fall Flight Forecast For Duck Hunters

The Fall Flight

According to the North Dakota Game and Fish, North Dakota waterfowl hunters in 2026 have reasons to be optimistic. Despite a dry spring that led to North Dakota's pond index plummeting, along with waterfowl numbers in general, certain areas picked up some beneficial rain at the end of May and early June. This led to a good brood production overall in the state. That, along with an expected better flight of ducks and geese from Canada, means we could see a steady stream of birds this fall. All Good News.

Changes to the Season

Two notable differences from previous years. The first 9 days of the waterfowl season in North Dakota are for residents only, beginning on Saturday, September 26th. Non-residents can begin hunting waterfowl on Monday, October 5th. This change has ruffled a few feathers with out-of-state hunters. This change is meant to give our resident hunters in North Dakota more opportunities, so take advantage of it. The other big change is that the state will go to all-day goose hunting on November 29th for the remainder of the season.

(SEE ALSO: Why NR Hunters are Upset Over New Regulations)

Overall Health of the Duck Population

The brood index is up a whopping 55% from last year, which is surprising news considering we started off this spring so dry. Gadwalls, Pintails, and Redhead ducks lead the way with significant increases.

Because we had such good production on the prairie this spring and summer, this will likely mean a lot of young birds in the fall flight, which should lead to plenty of decoying opportunities and good hunting. Overall, you can expect an 8 to 9 percent greater fall flight compared to last year. Again, very good news for North Dakota waterfowl hunters.

It's also noted that Sandhill Cranes are at record highs in population. Canada goose numbers look strong this year too in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Game and Fish remind hunters to be aware of dry conditions and be careful not to start fires when driving off roads.

To see more from the North Dakota Game and Fish and their hunting preview, check out the video below.

The video is courtesey of the North Dakota Game and Fish YouTube Channel.