2024-2025 Pacific Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast
Posted 2024-10-03 by
Check out Duck Hunting Nation's grades for Washington, Oregon, Montana and more
Pintails remain an important duck in the Pacific Flyway. Beginning in 2025-2026, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow hunters to take three pintails per day. Photo by F-stop_1984.
The Pacific Flyway has a long waterfowl hunting tradition, from the famous duck clubs of California through the wilds of western Montana and the Pacific Northwest. And it’s the only flyway where you have a legitimate shot at several bucket-list species. Hunting prospects for 2024-2025 look good, so dive into more details with each link.
ALASKA
Harlequin ducks? Yep. Maybe a king eider adventure on Island X? Sure. Fantastic gunning for mallards, pintails and other puddle ducks? You bet. Alaska has it all, and taking a duck hunting trip there will be worth the travel hassle.
ARIZONA
Some states don’t have loads of waterfowl habitat and are a bit off the main flyways. Still, Arizona has some surprisingly good pockets of duck hunting opportunity.
CALIFORNIA
This storied duck hunting state continues to produce colossal harvest numbers. Public access can be challenging, but if you get a chance, you need to visit the Golden State for a chance to witness clouds of pintails or twisting flocks of cinnamon teal.
HAWAII
You can hit this Pacific paradise for turkeys, pigs and other game, but the state does not allow waterfowl hunting. Next.
IDAHO
This big-game paradise is also a legitimate waterfowl hotspot. Ask anyone who’s hunted freeze-up mallards, goldeneyes or geese there. And you’ll find a ton of public land to explore.
MONTANA
OK, full disclosure: Western Montana is part of the Pacific Flyway, and much of the state is in the Central Flyway. But arbitrary boundaries aside, the state features great waterfowling opportunities throughout, plus ample public dirt.
NEVADA
Most tourists probably regard Nevada as a dry, arid landscape, but the state really features some good duck hunting, including some state-run wildlife management units. That explains its surprisingly high Duck Hunting Nation grade.
OREGON
The Beaver State’s northern and southern neighbors might get more attention from waterfowlers, but Oregon has tremendous duck hunting opportunities. In fact, it rates an A from Duck Hunting Nation.
UTAH
You’d expect the home of Great Salt Lake to be a duck hunting mecca, and you’re right. Hunters do well here on divers, teal and other puddle ducks, and there are plenty of public spots to roam.
WASHINGTON
Duck Hunting Nation loves to gush about Washington, as it offers tremendous duck hunting and perhaps unparalleled goose hunting variety. Spoiler: It gets an easy A.
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