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
General Deer
Youth Season | 15-Sep - 24-Sep |
Regular | 10-Nov - 26-Nov |
Muzzleloader | 1-Dec - 17-Dec |
Bow | 1-Sep - 7-Jan |
Both residents and non-residents can engage in various seasons for Mule and White-tailed deer. The Bow game extends from September to January, while the Youth period kicks off in September. Muzzleloader begins in December, and the Regular season starts in November. Participants can take only one buck and two antlerless deer, and in the Muzzleloader , only one buck is allowed. Prior to engaging, participants must acquire specific tags.
ND deer lottery
ND Lottery Type | Application Period | Eligibility Requirements | Donation Requirement |
---|---|---|---|
Gun Seasons | Early May | Open to all hunters | N/A |
Nonresident Any Deer Archery | March 15 - April 15 | Open to nonresident hunters | N/A |
Special Allocation (Eligible Orgs) | October 1 - January 1 | Eligible organizations must be exempt from federal income taxation | 10% of net proceeds to conservation-related projects |
Nonprofit Organizations (Big Game) | October 1 - January 1 | Nonprofit organizations eligible for big game hunting licenses | N/A |
Note: You can check the results of the Special Allocation Lottery-2023 by visiting the NDGFD website.
Archery Deer
Deer, Mule and White-tailed, Bow | 1-Sep - 7-Jan |
Deer, Mule and White-tailed, Youth Season | 15-Sep - 24-Sep |
Antelope
Archery | 1-Sep - 5-Oct | Units 1-A, 1-D, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-C, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A, 10-A, 11-A, 13-A |
Gun or Bow | 6-Oct - 25-Nov |
Elk
E1E, E1W, E2, E6 | Bow | 1-Sep - 24-Sep |
E5 | Regular | 1-Sep - 7-Jan |
E3, E4 | 1-Sep - 7-Jan | |
E6 | 6-Oct - 9-Nov | |
E1E, E2, E1W | 6-Oct - 7-Jan | |
E6 | 27-Nov - 7-Jan |
Moose
Archery | 1-Sep - 24-Sep | Units M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11. |
Regular | 13-Oct - 5-Nov |
Pronghorn
Bow | Units 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-C, 5-A, 7-A | 1-Sep - 24-Sep |
Gun or Bow | 6-Oct - 22-Oct |
Bighorn Sheep
Regular (B1, B3, B4, B5) | 3-Nov - 31-Dec |
Furbearers
Bobcat
Firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment (including crossbows), traps | Zone 1 | 11-Nov - 15-Mar |
Firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment (including crossbows), traps, cable devices (snares), pursuing with dogs | Zone 2 | 27-Nov - 15-Mar |
Coyote
Day Hunting and Traps | 1-Apr - 31-Mar | All year long, throughout the state. There is no limits. |
Cable devices | 20-Nov - 15-Mar | Statewide. |
Firearms Night Hunting | 20-Nov - 15-Mar |
Badger
Regular (Statewide) Traps (year-round) | 1-Apr - 31-Mar | Day hunting: firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment including crossbows and pursued with dogs. |
Regular (Statewide) | 27-Nov - 15-Mar | Cable Devices |
Beaver
Regular-Firearms, traps, underwater cable devices, archery equipment | 1-Apr - 31-Mar | Statewide |
Regular-Cable devices on land | 20-Nov - 15-Mar | |
Regular-Cable devices on land within 50 feet of water | 15-Mar - 10-May |
Fisher
Traps, cable devices | Open Area Trapping only | 27-Nov - 3-Dec |
Fox
Day hunting & Traps | 1-Apr - 31-Mar | Throughout the year statewide. There is no limit. |
Night hunting | 20-Nov - 15-Mar | Statewide. |
Cable devices | 20-Nov - 15-Mar |
Mink
Regular - Traps | 28-Oct - 10-May |
Cable Devices, Firearms, Archery Equipment | 27-Nov - 10-May |
Mountain Lion
Zone 1 | Early | 27-Nov |
Late | 2-Dec | |
Conditional | - |
Muskrat
Traps | 28-Oct - 10-May |
Cable Devices, Firearms, Archery Equipment | 27-Nov - 10-May |
Raccoon
Cable devices on land within 50 ft. of water | 16-Mar - 10-May |
Firearms, traps, underwater cable devices, archery equipment, pursue with dogs | 1-Apr - 31-Mar |
Cable devices on land | 27-Nov - 15-Mar |
River Otter
Traps, cable devices | 27-Nov - 8-Dec |
Weasel
Traps | 28-Oct - 15-Mar |
Firearms, Cable Devices, Archery Equipment | 27-Nov - 15-Mar |
Tree Squirrel
9-Sep - 29-Feb |
Upland Birds
Pheasant
Youth | 30-Sep - 1-Oct | Statewide |
Regular -Roosters only | 7-Oct - 7-Jan |
Both residents and non-residents are allowed in North Dakota during the pheasant season. There are 11 pheasant management units in the state, each with its own distinct dates and bag limitations. A pheasant stamp must be obtained before going pheasant hunting, and the usual bag limit for the normal pheasant permits hunters to take three roosters per person.
ND pheasant management units
Unit | Location | Pheasant Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Northeastern | Good |
2 | Central | |
3 | Southwestern | |
4 | Western | |
5 | Northwest | |
6 | Central | Fair |
7 | Southwest | |
8 | Western | |
9 | Northwestern | |
10 | Central | Limited |
11 | Southwestern |
Grouse
Regular Ruffed Grouse (Restricted) | 9-Sep - 7-Jan |
Regular Sharp-Tailed ( Statewide) | |
Sage Grouse | No Season |
Hungarian Partridge
Statewide- Regular | 9-Sep - 7-Jan |
Greater Prairie Chicken
No Season |
Turkey
Fall | All open units | 14-Oct - 7-Jan |
Youth Spring | 8-Apr - 14-May | |
Spring |
Migratory Game Birds
Dove
1-Sep - 29-Nov |
Crow
Fall | 19-Aug - 6-Nov |
Spring | 9-Mar - 21-Apr |
Snipe
Statewide | 9-Sep - 3-Dec |
Waterfowl
Ducks & Coots
Species | Hunting Units | ||
---|---|---|---|
Regular - Resident | Ducks and Coots | 23-Sep-23 | Low Plains |
High Plains | |||
Regular - Nonresident | 30-Sep-23 | Low Plains | |
High Plains | |||
Regular - Resident/Nonresident | 9-Dec-23 | ||
Bonus Blue-winged Teal | 23-Sep-23 | All | |
Veteran/Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Season | 16-Sep-23 | Statewide | |
Youth Waterfowl | Ducks (Youth Waterfowl Season) |
Goose
Canada Geese | Regular - Resident | Eastern Zone | 23-Sep - 16-Dec |
Western Zone | 23-Sep - 21-Dec | ||
Missouri River Zone | 23-Sep - 29-Dec | ||
Regular - Nonresident | Eastern Zone | 30-Sep - 16-Dec | |
Western Zone | 30-Sep - 21-Dec | ||
Missouri River Zone | 30-Sep - 29-Dec | ||
August Management Take/Early September Season | 15-Aug - 7-Sep | ||
Western Zone | 15-Aug - 15-Sep | ||
Eastern Zone | 15-Aug - 22-Sep | ||
Light Geese | Regular - Resident | Statewide | 23-Sep - 29-Dec |
Regular - Nonresident | 30-Sep - 29-Dec | ||
Spring Conservation Order | 18-Feb - 14-May | ||
White-fronted Geese | Regular - Resident | 23-Sep - 3-Dec | |
Regular - Nonresident | 30-Sep - 3-Dec |
Mergansers
Resident | Low Plains | 23-Sep - 3-Dec |
Nonresident | Low Plains | 30-Sep - 3-Dec |
Nonresident | High Plains | |
Resident | High Plains | 23-Sep - 3-Dec |
Resident/Nonresident | High Plains | 9-Dec - 31-Dec |
Tundra Swan
Regular (Statewide) | 30-Sep - 31-Dec |
Sandhill Crane
Unit 1 | 16-Sep - 12-Nov |
Unit 2 |
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 2023 date?
The pheasant opener in North Dakota for 2023 is scheduled for October 7th, marking the beginning of the regular pheasant time, which extends until January 1st, 2024. On September 30th, 2023, a separate young pheasant season begins.
When is the North Dakota early goose season 2023?
Early geese is slated to run from August 15 to September 2. A bag limit of two Canada geese is authorized for each hunter during this season. Both residents and non-residents may hunt during the early goose, although only in a few designated units. Hunting is permitted in the following Eastern Zone units: 1-10, 12-13, 15, 17, 19-20, 22-24, and 26-27. For the Western Zone’s units 28–30, 32–35, 37–38, 40–41, and 43–44 are open. Units 45–47 are open to the Missouri River Zone.
When is the North Dakota duck opener 2023?
The duck opener is scheduled for Saturday, September 30. September 30 to December 9, is the regular duck season. Permitted a bag limit of six ducks, with limits on the number of mallards, pintails, and canvasbacks. Before going duck hunting, sportsmen are needed to get a duck stamp.
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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