The state has many opportunities throughout the year, allowing all skill levels to indulge in their pastimes. This page will provide you with an overview of the hunting seasons in North Dakota so that you can plan your outing accordingly. Read on to learn about the various game species available, the regulations for each species, and the best times to go outdoor in the state.
North Dakota Hunting Seasons
Here’s your organized, detailed hunting seasons guide for North Dakota with proper heading hierarchy and tables:
🦌 Big Game Seasons
🎯 Deer
| Season Type | Dates | Zone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 29, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Regular Firearm | Nov 7-23, 2025 | All Units | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28 – Dec 14, 2025 | Statewide | Whitetail only |
| Youth Season | Sep 19-28, 2025 | Statewide |
🐘 Elk
| Season Type | Dates | Units | Tag Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow | Sep 5-28, 2025 | E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7 | Mar 26, 2025 |
| Regular | Oct 3, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | E1E, E1W, E2, E7 | |
| Regular | Oct 3 – Nov 6, 2025 | E6 | |
| Regular | Nov 24, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | E6 |
🦬 Other Big Game
| Species | Season Type | Dates | Zones/Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moose | Bow | Sep 5-28, 2025 | M5-M11 |
| Moose | Regular | Oct 10 – Nov 2, 2025 | M5-M11 |
| Pronghorn | Archery | Aug 29 – Sep 21, 2025 | Select W Units |
| Pronghorn | Gun/Bow | Oct 3-19, 2025 | |
| Bighorn Sheep | Regular | Oct 31 – Dec 31, 2025 | B1-B5 |
| Mountain Lion | Zone 1 Early | Aug 29 – Nov 23, 2025 | |
| Mountain Lion | Zone 1 Late | Nov 24, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 | |
| Mountain Lion | Zone 2 | Aug 29, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 |
🦃 Turkey Seasons
| Season Type | Dates | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Regular | Apr 12 – May 18, 2025 | Open Units |
| Youth Spring | Apr 12 – May 18, 2025 | Open Units |
| Fall Regular | Oct 11, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | Open Units |
🦊 Furbearers & Trapping
🪤 Trapping Seasons
| Species | Method | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Badger | Day hunt/traps | Apr 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 |
| Badger | Cable devices | Nov 24, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 |
| Beaver | General | Apr 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 |
| Beaver | Cable on land | Nov 24, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 |
| Bobcat | Zone 1 | Nov 8, 2025 – Mar 15, 2026 |
| Coyote | Night hunting | Nov 24, 2025 – May 31, 2026 |
| Fisher | Traps/cable | Nov 24-30, 2025 |
🦆 Waterfowl Seasons
🦆 Ducks, Coots & Mergansers
| Season Type | Dates | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus Blue-winged Teal | Sep 27 – Oct 5, 2025 | All Units |
| Resident (High Plains) | Sep 27 – Dec 7, 2025 | |
| Nonresident (Low Plains) | Oct 4 – Dec 7, 2025 |
🦢 Geese
| Species | Season Type | Dates | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Geese | Early | Aug 15 – Sep 22, 2025 | Eastern Zone |
| Light Geese | Regular | Sep 27, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | Statewide |
| White-fronted | Resident | Sep 27 – Dec 7, 2025 | Statewide |
🐦 Upland Birds & Small Game
| Species | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Oct 11, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | Male only |
| Pheasant (Youth) | Oct 4-5, 2025 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Sep 13, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | Restricted areas |
| Tree Squirrel | Sep 13, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026 | |
| Doves | Sep 1 – Nov 29, 2025 |
🎯 Special Seasons
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl Weekend | Sep 20-21, 2025 |
| Veterans Waterfowl Weekend | Sep 20-21, 2025 |
| Spring Conservation Order (Geese) | Feb 15 – May 11, 2025 |
License Requirements
| License Types | Resident Cost | Nonresident Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | $1 | $2 |
| General Game and Habitat | $20 | $20 |
| Combination | $52 | - |
| Veteran Combined Hunting | $3 | - |
| Fishing | $18 | $48 |
| Married Couple Fishing | $24 | $63 |
| Senior Citizen Fishing | $5 | - |
| Totally or Permanently Disabled Fishing | $5 | - |
| Veteran with a 50 percent service-related disability | $5 | - |
| Paddlefish | $10 | $25.50 |
| Deer Gun (1st lottery) | $30 | $255 |
| Youth Deer Gun (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Deer Bow License (age 16 or older) | $30 | $250 |
| Youth Deer Bow (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Pronghorn Gun (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Pronghorn Gun (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Pronghorn Bow (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Pronghorn Bow (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Moose Gun (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Moose Gun (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Moose Bow (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Moose Bow (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Elk Gun (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Elk Gun (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Elk Bow (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Elk Bow (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Bighorn Sheep Gun (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Bighorn Sheep Gun (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Bighorn Sheep Bow (age 16 or older) | $30 | $30 |
| Youth Bighorn Sheep Bow (under age 16) | $10 | $10 |
| Nonrefundable Application Fee (moose, elk, and sheep) | $5 | - |
| Small Game License (age 16 or older) | $10 | $100 |
| Early Canada Goose | $5 | $50 |
| Wild Turkey, spring and fall (1st lottery) | $15 | $80 |
| Sandhill Crane | $10 | $30 |
| Swan | $10 | $30 |
| Furbearer | $15 | - |
| Federal Waterfowl Stamp (Duck Stamp) | $27 | $27 |
| Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration | Free | Free |
| Individual Season Fishing | - | $48 |
| Married Couple Season Fishing | - | $63 |
| 3 Day Fishing | - | $28 |
| 10 Day Fishing | - | $38 |
| Paddlefish Tag | - | $25.50 |
| Deer Gun (1st Lottery) | - | $255 |
| Deer Bow | - | $250 |
| Bighorn Sheep | - | $600 |
| Small Game | - | $100 |
| Spring Light Goose | - | $50 |
| Early Canada Goose | - | $50 |
| Fall Wild Turkey | - | $80 |
| Sandhill Crane | - | $30 |
| Swan | - | $30 |
| Nongame | - | $15 |
| Furbearer and Nongame | - | $40 |
| Nonresident Reciprocal Trapping License | - | $350 |
| Waterfowl License (Statewide) | - | $153 |
| Waterfowl License (Zone-restricted) | - | $103 |
General Regulation
- Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1961, must complete a state-approved hunter education course to purchase a deer license in North Dakota. Landowners who pursue on their property are exempt.
- Apprentice validations are accessible to anybody 12 or older without a hunter safety course. Validation has a once-per-year licensing restriction.
- Apprentice must accompany a licensed, 18-year-old adult while deer hunting in the state.
- Always keep eye contact and vocal communication with the trainee hunter.
- An adult must accompany under-12 hunters.
- Hunter education course has two variations. Anyone over 11 may take a 14-hour class—an at-home hybrid classroom/online course. Only individuals above 12 may pick this option.
When is the ND pheasant opener 2024 date?
In 2024, the date for the men’s Ring-necked Pheasant kickoff in North Dakota falls on Saturday, October 12th.
When is the North Dakota early goose season 2024?
The Early Goose Season of 2024 in North Dakota begins on August 15th across the Western and Missouri River Zones. Likewise, the Eastern Zone also kicks off its Early Goose Season on this same date, August 15th, 2024.
When is the North Dakota duck opener 2024?
The first day of the North Dakota Duck Hunt in 2024 is on Saturday, the 14th of September. It marks the outset of the Waterfowl Season reserved for Active Service Members and Veterans.
What animals can you hunt in North Dakota?
Big game species such as deer, pronghorn, moose, elk, big horn sheep, mountain lions, Bobcats, coyote, fox, etc., are accessible to hunters. Residents can also hunt grouse, drove, crane, pheasant, snipe, woodchuck, and squirrel. In this state, geese, ducks, coots, mergansers, and swans is authorized to pursue.
When can I go deer hunting in North Dakota?
Deer season starts in early September and ends in December, it includes youth, archery, firearm, and muzzleloader. Bow hunting is authorized from September to January. Gun season starts the first Friday in November and concludes the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
Muzzleloader begins after Thanksgiving and ends on the third Sunday in January. The youth game begins on the third Friday in September and ends the following Sunday.
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