Where Do North Carolina Ducks Come From?

The Prairie Pothole Region, Great Lakes Region and St. Lawrence Plain are critical to North Carolina waterfowl hunters.

A significant portion of North Carolina’s annual duck harvest migrates to us from the Prairie Pothole Region, also referred to as “the duck factory”. The majority of our Mallards originate in the Great Lakes Region and St. Lawrence Plain.


Click on Map to enlarge

Please note this map represents birds recovered in the same year they were banded to show a direct correlation between banding site and harvest. The Prairie Pothole Region is shaded and outlined in maroon.

The Prairie Pothole Region, Great Lakes Region, and St. Lawrence Plain are all DU conservation focus areas. In addition, North Carolina benefits from DU’s Southeastern Coastal Plain conservation work as the organization continues to conserve critical waterfowl habitat in the Tar Heel State.

There is no waterfowl conservation organization that represents the needs of North Carolina waterfowl hunters like Ducks Unlimited.

Our critical conservation work provides support to our migration both on the breeding grounds and here at home.

With your help, we will preserve our waterfowl hunting heritage through habitat conservation of these areas vital to the North Carolina migration and harvest.

Click here for more information on DU's conservation priority areas.