NDGF ducks
Duck brood numbers are up 55% from 2025, and North Dakota Game and Fish Department migratory game bird biologists expect a fall flight of ducks about 9% higher than last year.
The fall flight forecast is based on information collected during the department’s annual May breeding duck survey and July duck brood survey, which together estimate the number of adult ducks and ducklings expected to enter the fall population.
John Palarski, department migratory game bird management supervisor, said timely rains during late May and June greatly improved brood-rearing habitat across parts of North Dakota.
“The 2026 mid-July water index was up 36% from last year, creating favorable habitat during much of the nesting and brood-rearing period,” he said. “Far northwestern North Dakota received considerable rainfall and was noticeably wetter than last year. Additional precipitation in the Devils Lake area created excellent wetland conditions in northeastern North Dakota, where intact seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands provided high-quality brood habitat.”
Palarski added that although temporary water was abundant in some areas this year, North Dakota’s long-term duck production continues to depend on intact prairie wetlands.
Blue-winged teal and gadwall were the most common broods recorded during the survey, accounting for nearly 53% of all identified broods. Most duck species showed increases in brood numbers compared to 2025, with notable increases in gadwall (97%), northern pintail (76%), and redheads (76%). The redhead brood count was the highest recorded during the survey’s 62-year history.
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