Waterfowl numbers are down, and that means hunters might have to work a bit harder to find birds when waterfowl season opens in North Dakota and Minnesota. John Palarski, migratory game bird management supervisor, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Bismarck. Instead of settling in North Dakota, early breeding ducks such as mallards and pintails likely kept going north in search of more favorable wetland and nesting conditions. In 2024, North Dakota had 26,216 nonresident waterfowl hunters, Game and Fish statistics show – a 20-year high – surpassing the previous high of 24,928 nonresidents in 2023. ADVERTISEMENTFor a complete rundown on North Dakota waterfowl regulations, including bag limits, season dates and license requirements, check out the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov .