NONRESIDENT WATERFOWL HUNTING ZONES



Boundaries of nonresident waterfowl zones are shown on the map on Page 17. (Note: Hunters purchasing the statewide license are not restricted to zones.)

Zone 1 – U.S. Highway 281 from South Dakota to Jamestown; U.S. Highway 52 from Jamestown to Carrington; ND Highway 200 from Carrington to Hurdsfield; and ND Highway 3 from Hurdsfield to South Dakota.

Zone 2 – ND Highway 36 from Wilton to Tuttle; ND Highway 3 from Tuttle to Hurdsfield; ND Highway 200 from Hurdsfield to U.S. Highway 52 east of Bowdon; north on U.S. Highway 52 to ND Highway 97 south of Velva; west on ND Highway 97 to ND Highway 41; south on ND Highway 41 (south of Velva) to ND Highway 200 at Turtle Lake; west on ND Highway 200 to ND Highway 200A; south on ND Highway 200A to Washburn; and south on U.S. Highway 83 to Wilton.

Zone 3 – The remainder of the state.

Nonresident Waterfowl Zones Map

WATERFOWL REST AREAS

The following waterfowl rest areas are described by approximate distance from the nearest town, i.e., 5 N and 3 E of Bismarck means 5 miles north and 3 miles east of Bismarck. Approximate locations are shown on the waterfowl zone map. Legal descriptions of waterfowl rest areas can be found in the 2022 Waterfowl Rest Area Proclamation available from the Department’s Bismarck office. Waterfowl rest areas are in effect from September 24 through December 31. All waterfowl rest areas listed shall be closed to goose or waterfowl hunting during this period, and they are closed to small game hunting and fishing from September 24 through November 30, except as specified below. Beginning December 1, waterfowl rest areas will open to fishing, and small game and furbearer hunting, but not goose or waterfowl hunting, and remain open through the end of the respective seasons. In addition, waterfowl rest areas may be used for ice fishing prior to December 1 if ice conditions are suitable.

MCLEAN COUNTY: (1) Missouri River – An area enclosed by the following boundaries: Starting at the east bank of the Missouri River at the mouth of Turtle Creek south of Washburn, thence north along the east bank of the Missouri River to Garrison Dam, thence west along the face of the dam to the west bank of the Missouri River, thence south along the west bank of the Missouri River to a point directly west of the mouth of Turtle Creek, and thence east to the point of origin. (Portions in MERCER, MCLEAN, and OLIVER counties.) Closed to goose hunting only.
MERCER COUNTY: Missouri River – see McLean County.
OLIVER COUNTY: Missouri River – see McLean County.
ROLETTE COUNTY: See Towner County.
SHERIDAN COUNTY: (1) Sheyenne Lake - 15 N and 4 W of Goodrich.
TOWNER COUNTY: (1) McLaughlin Lake – 4 E of Rolla.

Migratory Game Birds General Regulations

Ducks and Mergansers
Species Specific Regulations
Limit Type Amount
Daily Limit 6 (see Ducks and Mergansers restrictions below)
Possession Limit Three times the daily limit
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
DUCKS AND MERGANSERS: SPECIES/SEX RESTRICTIONS

The daily bag limit on ducks (including mergansers) is 6 with species and sex restrictions as follows: 5 mallards of which only 2 may be hens, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 scaup, 1 pintail. Note: An additional 2 blue-winged teal may be taken September 24 through October 9 only. The possession limit on these restricted ducks is three times the daily limit.


Canada Geese
Species Specific Regulations - August Management Take/Early September Season
Daily Limit 15
Possession Limit 45
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
Species Specific Regulations - Regular Season
Daily Limit 8 (Zones Western, Eastern); 5 (Missouri River)
Possession Limit 24 (Zones Western, Eastern); 15 (Missouri River)
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day through end of season.
Extended shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays from September 24 through November 26; and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from November 27 through end of season. Note: A hunter may take up to 8 Canada geese in a day, provided no more than 5 come from the Missouri River Zone. Subsequently, a hunter may possess up to 24 Canada geese, provided not more than 15 come from the Missouri River Zone.

Missouri River Canada Goose Zone: starting where ND Highway 6 crosses the South Dakota border; then north on ND Highway 6 to Interstate 94; then west on Interstate 94 to ND Highway 49; then north on ND Highway 49 to ND Highway 200; then west on ND Highway 200; then north on ND Highway 8 to the Mercer/McLean county line; then east following the county line until it turns south toward Garrison Dam; then east along a line (including Mallard Island) along the south shore of Lake Sakakawea to U.S. Highway 83; then south on U.S. Highway 83 to ND Highway 200; then east on ND Highway 200 to ND Highway 41; then south on ND Highway 41 to U.S. Highway 83; then south on U.S. Highway 83 to Interstate 94; then east on Interstate 94 to U.S. Highway 83; then south on U.S. Highway 83 to the South Dakota border; then west on the South Dakota border to ND Highway 6.

Western Zone has the same boundaries as the High Plains Duck Unit described in the combined guide, excluding the Missouri River Canada Goose Zone.

Eastern Zone has the same boundaries as the Low Plains Duck Unit described the combined guide.

Canada Goose Hunting Zones, Nonresident Waterfowl Zones

Migratory Game Birds General Regulations

White-fronted Geese
Species Specific Regulations
Limit Type Amount
Daily Limit 3
Possession Limit 9
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day through end of season.
Extended shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays from September 24 through November 26; and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from November 27 through end of season.

Migratory Game Birds General Regulations

Light Geese
Species Specific Regulations - Fall
Limit Type Amount
Daily Limit 50
Possession Limit No Limit
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day through end of season.
Extended shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays from September 24 through November 26; and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from November 27 through end of season.

Migratory Game Birds General Regulations

Sandhill Crane
Species Specific Regulations - Unit 1
Daily Limit 3
Possession Limit 9
Open Area That portion of North Dakota west of U.S. Highway 281.
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day through end of season.
Species Specific Regulations - Unit 2
Daily Limit 2
Possession Limit 6
Open Area That portion of North Dakota east of U.S. Highway 281.
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day through end of season.
A hunter may take up to 3 cranes in one day, provided all 3 birds are taken from Unit 1, or no more than 2 birds are taken from Unit 2. Nonresident sandhill crane hunters must possess either a small game license or a waterfowl license. Nonresident sandhill crane permits are valid for use within the dates and zones of nonresident waterfowl or small game licenses selected during purchase. Sandhill cranes may be taken from a floating craft, excluding a sink box, if such a craft is beached, or fastened within or tied immediately alongside any type of fixed hunting blind, or from such craft resting at anchor.

WARNING – Know your crane species BEFORE you hunt. Endangered whooping cranes occasionally fly with sandhill cranes. Adult whoopers are snow white and young whoopers are white with some rusty brown feathers; black wing tips show on both. If you see a whooping crane, contact a Game and Fish official or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Migratory Game Birds General Regulations

Coot
Species Specific Regulations
Limit Type Amount
Daily Limit 15
Possession Limit 45
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
High Plains/Low Plains Unit Map, Nonresident Waterfowl Zones

Migratory Game Birds General Regulations

Special Youth Waterfowl Season
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Legally licensed residents and nonresidents 15 years of age or younger may hunt ducks, mergansers, coots or geese. An adult of at least 18 years of age must accompany the youth hunter into the field. The adult may not hunt ducks, geese, mergansers or coots, unless they qualify to hunt during the Veteran and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Season. The daily bag limit, including species restrictions, and all other regulations that apply to the regular duck and goose hunting seasons apply to this special season. Exception: The additional 2 blue-winged teal allowed during the first 16 days of the regular season are not allowed during the youth season.

Tundra Swan
Lottery Information- https://gf.nd.gov/hunting/tundra-swan

Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Licenses are issued by lottery. Successful applicants receive a tag allowing harvest of one swan during the season. Only one tag is allowed per hunter. In no case is it legal to possess a swan unless it is properly tagged. Since swans are waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period that their nonresident waterfowl license is valid and must stay within selected zones (exception – statewide license does not restrict hunters to zones).

https://gf.nd.gov/regulations/small-combined#birds