North Dakota’s diverse landscapes and plenty of games make it a fantastic hunting destination. The state has many hunting seasons throughout the year, allowing hunters of all skill levels to indulge in their pastimes.
This article 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 for hunting, the regulations for each species, and the best times to hunt in the state.
North Dakota Hunting Season
Content Highlights
North Dakota Hunting Seasons
Big game includes deer, pronghorn, moose, elk, big horn sheep, mountain lions, rabbits, raccoons, coyotes, and foxes. North Dakota hunters target grouse, drove, crane, pheasant, snipe, woodchuck and squirrel. Let’s dive into the detailed list:
Deer Seasons
North Dakota Deer Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Note
Deer (Archery)
Friday, September 01, 2023
1-Jan-24 (Tentative)
White-tailed and mule deer across the States.
Deer (Youth Any Deer)
Friday, September 15, 2023
25-Sep-23 (Tentative)
Anyone who will become 14 before the end of the year, and anyone who will turn 15 - (deer of any kind - with exceptions).
Deer (Youth Antlered Deer)
Friday, September 15, 2023
25-Sep-23 (Tentative)
Anyone who will become 14 before the end of the year, and anyone who will turn 15 - (antlered mule deer - unit restrictions).
Deer (Youth Antlerless)
Friday, September 15, 2023
25-Sep-23 (Tentative)
Anyone who will become 11 before the end of the year, and anyone who will turn 13 - (statewide antlerless white-tailed deer only).
Bobcat (Zone-1) Archery gear (crossbows included), traps, and various firearms including pre-charged pneumatic air weapons.
5-Nov-23 (Tentative)
15-Mar-24 (Tentative)
Bobcat (Zone-2) Firearms, pneumatic air cannons, crossbows and other forms of archery equipment, traps, cable devices (snares), and canine hounds all figure into this category.
21-Nov-23 (Tentative)
15-Mar-24 (Tentative)
Coyote Seasons
North Dakota Coyote Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Note
Day Hunting and Traps
1-Apr-23 (Tentative)
31-Mar-24 (Tentative)
All year long, throughout the state. There is no limits.
All Open units. Closing date is subject to change per ND Game and Fish; check rules for the latest info. (https://gf.nd.gov/hunting/season-dates.)
Upland Birds
North Dakota Upland Bird Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Bag Limit
Possession Limit
Hungarian Partridge
Saturday, September 09, 2023
TBD
Daily Bag limit 3
possession of 12.
Woodcock
Saturday, September 23, 2023
TBD
Daily bag limit 3
possession of 9.
Woodcock & Otter Seasons
North Dakota Woodcock & Otter Seasons
Start Date
End Date
Unit
Woodcock (Regular)
Saturday, September 23, 2023
TBD
Statewide
River Otter (Regular - Traps, cable devices)
November 21, 2023 (Tentative)
TBD
Statewide
Dove Seasons
North Dakota Dove Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Note
Dove
1-Sep-23
29-Nov-24 (Tentative)
Statewide.
Duck Seasons
North Dakota Duck Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Veteran/Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Season (Statewide)
16-Sep-23
TBD
Bonus Blue-winged Teal (All Units)
23-Sep-23
TBD
Regular - Resident (High Plains Unit)
23-Sep-23
TBD
Regular - Resident (Low Plains Unit)
23-Sep-23
TBD
Regular - Nonresident (High Plains Unit)
30-Sep-23
TBD
Regular - Nonresident (Low Plains Unit)
30-Sep-23
TBD
Regular - Resident/Nonresident (High Plains Unit)
9-Dec-23
TBD
North Dakota Goose Seasons
North Dakota Goose Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Canada Geese (August Management Take/Early September Season)
15-Aug (Tentative)
7-Sep (Tentative)
Canada Geese (August Management Take/Early September Season)
15-Aug (Tentative)
15-Sep (Tentative)
Canada Geese (August Management Take/Early September Season)
15-Aug (Tentative)
22-Sep (Tentative)
White-fronted (Resident)
24-Sep (Tentative)
4-Dec (Tentative)
Canada Geese (Eastern Zone-Resident)
24-Sep (Tentative)
17-Dec (Tentative)
Light Goose (Resident)
24-Sep (Tentative)
30-Dec (Tentative)
Canada Geese (Western Zone-Resident)
24-Sep (Tentative)
22-Dec (Tentative)
Canada Geese (Missouri River Zone-Resident)
24-Sep (Tentative)
30-Dec (Tentative)
White-fronted (Nonresident)
1-Oct (Tentative)
4-Dec (Tentative)
Canada Geese (Eastern Zone-Nonresident)
1-Oct (Tentative)
17-Dec (Tentative)
Canada Geese (Missouri River Zone-Nonresident)
1-Oct (Tentative)
30-Dec (Tentative)
Canada Geese (Western Zone-Nonresident)
1-Oct (Tentative)
22-Dec (Tentative)
Light Goose (Nonresident)
1-Oct (Tentative)
31-Dec (Tentative)
Spring Conservation Order
19-Feb (Tentative)
15-May (Tentative)
Grouse Season
North Dakota Grouse Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Note
Ruffed Grouse
9-Sep-23
January 1, 2024 (Tentative)
Restricted Hunting unit, see regulations to find more
Sharp-tailed Grouse
9-Sep-23
January 1, 2024 (Tentative)
Statewide.
North Dakota Pheasants Season
North Dakota Pheasant Seasons
Hunting Season-Start Date
Hunting Season-End Date
Note
Pheasant (Youth)
Saturday, September 30, 2023
TBD
Statewide.
Pheasant (Regular)
Saturday, October 07, 2023
TBD
Statewide. Roosters only.
Sandhill Crane, Swan & Wilson’s Snipe Seasons
North Dakota Sandhill Crane, Swan & Wilson's Snipe Seasons
Start Date
End Date
Unit
Sandhill Crane (Regular)
Saturday, September 16, 2023
TBD
Unit 2
Sandhill Crane (Regular)
Saturday, September 16, 2023
TBD
Unit 1
Tundra Swan (Regular)
Saturday, September 30, 2023
TBD
Statewide
Wilson's Snipe (Regular)
Saturday, September 09, 2023
TBD
Statewide
License Requirements for North Dakota Hunting
A combination license costs $32 for people who live in North Dakota and want to hunt there. You can get a crane permit, a pronghorn bow license, a juvenile bow license, and a deer bow license. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department track what species are hunted.
During the open season, permanent residents or household members can hunt small game, trap, or use cable devices on land they own or lease as long as they follow the seasons, limits, and other rules.
Residents can take wildlife that is not protected without a permit (rabbits, ground squirrels etc.). Non-residents need a nongame license if they want to hunt species that are not protected.
A person who lives in the U.S. and is in the military doesn’t need a license to hunt or trap small game when it’s in season.
General Regulation
Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1961, must complete a state-approved hunter education course to purchase a deer hunting license in North Dakota. Landowners who hunt on their property are exempt.
Apprentice hunter validations are accessible to anybody 12 or older without a hunter safety course. Validation has a once-per-year licensing restriction.
Apprentice hunters 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.
North Dakota’s hunter education course has two variations. Anyone over 11 may take a 14-hour class—an at-home hybrid classroom/online course. During hunting season, only individuals above 12 may pick this option.
When can I go deer hunting in North Dakota?
North Dakota’s deer hunting season starts in early September and ends in December. North Dakota’s deer hunting seasons include 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 season begins after Thanksgiving and ends on the third Sunday in January. The youth season begins on the third Friday in September and ends the following Sunday.
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. North Dakotans also hunt grouse, drove, crane, pheasant, snipe, woodchuck, and squirrel. In this state, hunting geese, ducks, coots, mergansers, and swans is authorized.
