Waterfowl

Ruddy Duck hunting regulations.

Huntable in 49 states · 49 with a general season.

Verify before hunting

Hunting regulations change. The information on this page reflects what we know about species presence and hunt availability based on state agency listings. For current season dates, bag limits, weapon restrictions, tag requirements, and reporting obligations, verify directly with your state wildlife agency. You are responsible for confirming current regulations before hunting.

State by state

Where ruddy duck is huntable.

Tap a state for ruddy duck-specific regulations and a link to the agency. Bield does not yet ship specific season dates or bag limits — verify with the agency before hunting.

About the species

Ruddy ducks are small (15-18 ounce) stiff-tailed diving ducks that breed across the Western prairies and winter on coastal bays and freshwater wetlands across most of the US. Drakes in breeding plumage display chestnut bodies and bright blue bills. They're an unusual duck — they walk poorly on land and dive readily, making them more like a small grebe in habits than other ducks.

Bag limits include ruddies in the aggregate duck bag. They're not a primary waterfowl target; they decoy poorly and often run on the water rather than fly when pressured.

Pattern ruddy duck on your land.

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