2025-26 Pacific Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast
Posted 2025-09-25 by
From Alaska down through California’s Central Valley, West Coast waterfowlers can expect big things this season
Pintails are synonymous with many Pacific Flyway locales, and their 2025 breeding population numbers were up about 13% from 2024. Photo by Rob Palmer Photography.
North America’s westernmost flyway is rich in waterfowling tradition and provides opportunities you can find nowhere else. And from many accounts, the upcoming season could be memorable.
Dig into our state-by-state review of the Pacific Flyway, and see how Duck Hunting Nation ranks each state.
ALASKA
Forget moose and caribou. Alaska offers superb waterfowling with unique variety, including king eiders, harlequin ducks and many other species. Sure, it’s a long trip, but you only live once.
ARIZONA
This might be a flyover state for many duck hunters, and admittedly, Arizona doesn’t have a lot of waterfowl habitat. However, it offers some surprisingly good opportunities for hunters willing to find them.
CALIFORNIA
The Golden State is a historic duck hunting mecca, and it continues to produce great opportunities and mammoth harvest numbers. Public access can be an issue, but if you find the right situation, California might offer some hunts to remember.
Don’t Miss: 2025-2026 Central Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast
HAWAII
Hawaii is a great place to visit, but you can’t hunt waterfowl there. Next.
IDAHO
Acre upon acre of public land, abundant ducks and geese, and relatively low hunting pressure. What’s not to love about waterfowling in Idaho? Of course, it’s far more famous among big-game hunters, but that doesn’t diminish the quality of opportunities here.
MONTANA
Whether you hunt east or west of the Continental Divide — that is, in the Central or Pacific Flyway — you can find great duck hunting in Big Sky Country. And like many Western states, Montana has no shortage of public spots to explore.
Don’t Miss: Hot-Spotting and Duck Hunting Pressure
NEVADA
Are there ducks in Nevada? Yes, even though much of the state features a dry, arid landscape. In fact, some surprisingly good opportunities earn the Silver State a solid Duck Hunting Nation grade.
OREGON
It might be easy to overlook Oregon, as it’s sandwiched between two famous duck hunting destinations. But it’s no slouch. Ask anyone who’s ever gunned divers on the Columbia River or mallards on the Snake. Duck Hunting Nation nods in approval with an A grade.
UTAH
The Great Salt Lake and other productive areas make Utah a bucket-list destination. Hunting pressure can be heavy in some areas, but the overall experience and variety of ducks make a trip worthwhile.
Don’t Miss: How to Pull Off a Great Free-Lance Duck Hunt
WASHINGTON
The Evergreen State has everything duck hunters desire, including a tremendous variety of duck and goose hunting opportunities, and ample public land (at least in eastern Washington). It easily merits an A from Duck Hunting Nation.
