Hunting - Other Species

Mountain Lion Hunting

Open to North Dakota residents only.

2011 season dates:

• Firearms, archery:
  • Opens: September 2, 2011
  • Closes: March 31, 2012
• Pursue with dogs:
  • Opens: November 21, 2011
  • Closes: March 31, 2012

View most current regulations.

Mountain lion may only be harvested by North Dakota residents. The limit is one mountain lion per hunter per season. Kittens (mountain lions with visible spots), or females accompanied by kittens may not be harvested. Any mountain lion harvested must be reported to the Department within 12 hours and the entire intact animal must be submitted for analysis. Legally taken mountain lions will be returned to the hunter, so that the pelt may be removed but the carcass shall remain the property of the Department. The state will be split into two management zones: Zone 1 and Zone 2. Zone 1 is bordered by Montana, South Dakota, and state and federal highways, the point where the boundary crosses Lake Sakakawea is a straight line from where ND Highway 1804 lies directly across from ND Highway 8. Zone 2 is the remainder of the state not described as Zone 1.

Zone 1 early-season - Opens: September 2 - Closes: November 20 Mountain lions may be harvested using firearms and archery equipment. There is a harvest quota of 10 mountain lions. Once the quota is reached, the season will close immediately. The Department will inform the public of this closure through the media. The quota will not include mountain lions taken by USDA Wildlife Services, the Department, private landowners in defense of livestock, for human safety issues, road killed mountain lions, mountain lions incidentally killed in traps or cable devices, and those harvested on Indian lands.

Zone 1 late-season - Opens: November 21 - Closes: March 31 Mountain lions may be harvested using firearms, archery equipment, or pursued with dogs. There is a harvest quota of 4 mountain lions. Once this quota is reached, the season will close immediately. The Department will inform the public of this closure through the media. The quota will not include mountain lions taken by USDA Wildlife Services, the Department, private landowners in defense of livestock, for human safety issues, road killed mountain lions, mountain lions incidentally killed in traps or cable devices, and those harvested on Indian lands.

Zone 2 - Opens: September 2 - Closes: March 31 Mountain lions may be harvested using fi rearms and archery equipment. Beginning November 21, mountain lions may also be harvested by pursuing with dogs. There is no harvest quota in Zone 2.

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate - $1
• Furbearer License - $7 (not required of residents under age 16), or a 
• Combination License - $32 (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses).
• Military - Upon presentation of valid leave papers and a valid North Dakota operator's license, a resident who is on leave and is an active duty as a member of the United States armed forces or the United States merchant marine may hunt small game, fish, or trap during the open season without a license.

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