Hunting FAQs - Deer Licensing Questions

• Season Opening Dates
• Applications - Special Permits
  • Military
  • Disabled
• Lotteries
• Apprentice Hunting License Information
• Youth (Resident Ages 14 and 15) Deer Licenses
• Antlerless White-Tailed Deer Season for Resident Youth Ages 12 and 13
• Resident Gratis & Nonresident Landowner Licenses

Season dates for 2009:

• Archery Season: (noon) September 4 - January 3, 2010.
• Youth (Ages 14 and 15) Deer Season: (noon) September 18 - September 27.
• Antlerless White-Tailed Deer (Ages 12 and 13) Season: (noon) September 18 - September 27.
• Special Herd Reduction - Northeast Season: (noon) September 25 - October 1.
• Special Herd Reduction - Southwest Season: (noon) October 2 - October 9.
• Regular deer gun season: (noon) November 6 - November 22.
• Muzzleloader season: (noon) November 27 - December 13.

Applications/Special Permits for Military and Disabled

When and where will the deer applications be available? Find out how to apply for deer on our licensing page.

I am disabled. How do I obtain a permit to shoot from a vehicle?

• Obtain a mobility-impaired permit from the North Dakota Department of Transportation;
• Obtain from the Game and Fish Department the following form: "Request for Permission to Shoot from a Stationary Motor Vehicle" (form number SFN 6096);
• Complete the shoot-from-a-vehicle form and send it to the Department for approval or disapproval by the director.

How do I obtain a disability permit to take any deer while gun hunting? You must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a physician or chiropractor certify that you are unable to step from a vehicle without aid of a wheelchair, crutch, brace, or other mechanical support or prosthetic device, or unable to walk any distance because of a permanent lung, heart, or other internal disease that requires you to use supplemental oxygen to assist breathing (North Dakota Century Code Section 20.1-03-11, subsection 6);
• Contact the Department for a copy of the form "Disability Permit to Take any Type of Deer While Gun Hunting" (form number SFN 6538).
• Have your doctor or chiropractor fill out the form. Return the form to the Game and Fish Department for approval or disapproval by the director.

What deer licensing provisions have been made for members of the North Dakota National Guard who have been serving on active duty? A number of North Dakota residents are on active duty in the National Guard or Reserve. If this call to active duty caused them to miss the 2008 deer hunting season or will interfere with their 2009 applications or hunting season, the Department has set the following rules:

• A. No activated ND Guard or Reserve personnel will lose bonus points because they missed the 2008 or 2009 deer lotteries. When they return, they can apply for the regular lottery licenses in May or June of 2009 or 2010. They should include a note stating that they were activated and out of state and could not participate in the 2008 or 2009 lottery and that they want to have their bonus points restored.   A copy of orders supporting this situation is also helpful. Bonus points will not be restored if the service member chooses to take option B listed below.
• B. For 2009 we are allowing ND Guard and Reserve personnel who were activated in 2008 and missed that season or who miss the 2009 lottery to purchase deer licenses without going through the lottery. They can purchase whitetail or any-deer licenses for any unit in the state. They can do this by completing a lottery application and submitting it along with the required fee and a copy of their military orders. This option does not apply to mule deer licenses. If this option is taken, bonus points will not be restored.

Lotteries

What limits does state law impose on nonresident deer licenses? The law restricts nonresidents to one percent of the licenses in a unit through the second drawing. After the second drawing, nonresidents are eligible to apply for remaining licenses.

How do bonus points accrue in the weighted lottery? An applicant unsuccessful in drawing his first choice permit in the first lottery this year receives a bonus point for next year's lottery. See the following table:   (Note that in years 2, 3, and 4, the points are doubled; and, for years 5 and beyond, they are cubed to increase the applicant's chances of drawing a permit.)

In the previous example, isn't the applicant guaranteed a permit in year four or five? No. There is no guarantee. The lottery is a random drawing. In most cases, a person who reaches this point is likely to draw a permit. However, for some tags, particularly antlered mule deer, where demand for tags vastly exceeds supply, many applicants have the same number of bonus points and it simply takes longer to draw a permit.

Can I miss a year in the weighted lottery and keep my bonus points?  Previously, an applicant had to apply every year to maintain bonus points.  Beginning in 2005 a one-year grace period was instituted that allows an applicant to miss a year without losing points; however, an applicant loses bonus points by failing to apply for two consecutive years. 

If I receive a permit for my second deer choice do I lose my bonus points? No, bonus points apply only to first deer choice in the first lottery.

If I have bonus points and apply with a party, how does this affect me? On party applications the person with fewest points sets the level for the entire application. Applicants with more bonus points than others in the party have a better chance applying separately.

Apprentice Hunting License Information

What is the apprentice hunting validation (license)?
An individual born after December 31, 1961, who is 16 years of age or older and who does not possess a hunter safety education course certificate of completion may be issued an apprentice hunter validation. An apprentice hunter validation is valid for only one license year in a lifetime. An individual in possession of an apprentice hunter validation may hunt small game and deer only when accompanied by an adult (at least 18 years of age) licensed to hunt in this state whose license was not obtained using an apprentice hunter validation. An apprentice hunter validation holder must obtain all required licenses and stamps. For purposes of this section, "accompanied" means to stay within a distance of another individual that permits uninterrupted visual contact in unaided verbal communication.

How do I purchase or apply for an apprentice license?
An apprentice hunter must purchase the small game license and apply for a deer license through the Game and Fish Department’s electronic licensing system. If the apprentice hunter wants to continue hunting beyond the initial trial year, the hunter must then complete a certified hunter education course.

To purchase an apprentice small game license. Access the online services page and click on “purchase and print an online license.” Follow the regular licensing procedure, and leave the “hunter safety number” field blank.

To apply for an apprentice deer license. Access the online services page and click on “apply online.” Follow the regular application procedure, and leave the “hunter safety number” field blank.

Youth (Resident Ages 14 and 15) Deer Licenses

I didn’t harvest a deer with my youth season license. Can I hunt the regular deer gun season with this license? Yes, but you are subject to the restrictions listed on the license.

I was unsuccessful in filling my mule deer buck license in a restricted unit during the youth season. Can I hunt the remainder of the state during the regular gun season? No. You are restricted to the same unit as during the youth season.

When is the earliest my son/daughter can apply for a youth season license?
The year when he/she is age 14 on opening day of the November deer gun season.

My son/daughter turns 14 after the youth season opens but before the November deer gun season. Is he/she eligible to apply for and hunt in the youth season?
Yes, this was a recent change by the state legislature.

What is the application deadline for 14- and 15-year-olds?
For the regular deer gun season lottery and for the youth “I” license that allows taking of a mule deer buck in several southwestern units (3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E or 4F), the license application deadline is June 3. For the youth “H” license, good statewide for any deer except mule deer bucks in 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E or 4F, the application deadline is September 1.

Can hunters ages 14 or 15 use additional concurrent season antlerless licenses within the youth deer season?
Yes, but only in conjunction with their youth season license. 15-year-olds who had a youth season license are not eligible to hunt during the youth deer season.

Antlerless White-Tailed Deer Season for Resident Youth Ages 12 and 13

During the 2009 session, North Dakota’s legislature lowered the minimum age for hunting deer with a firearm (centerfire rifle, handgun or muzzleloader) from 14 to age 12.
However, the bill, SB 2165, created restrictions on when and what 12- and 13-year-olds could hunt. Following are some questions and answers to help clarify the issue. Important note: nothing has changed for ages 14 or 15.

What license is available for a 12- or 13-year-old?
One antlerless whitetail license, valid statewide.

When can 12- and 13-year-olds hunt deer (antlerless whitetail) with a firearm?
Only during the youth deer season, September 18-27 in 2009.

What is the application deadline for 12- and 13-year-olds?
The license application deadline for 12- and 13-year-olds is September 1.

How do I apply?
Until approximately July 1, only paper applications are available through the Department and vendors. Additionally, you can print an application from our website. The online application feature will not be available for these licenses until after August 1 because of the need to make software programming changes.

Is the license my 12- or 13-year-old receives considered a youth season license?
No. A youth season license is defined as a deer gun license for 14- or 15-year-old first-time deer hunters that is valid statewide for any deer, with the exception of antlered mule deer (issued by lottery) in select southwest units.

If my 12- or 13-year-old receives an antlerless whitetail license, will he/she remain eligible for a youth season license at age 14?
Yes, 14- or 15-year-olds will still be eligible for a once-in-a-lifetime statewide any-deer license if they received an antlerless whitetail license when they were 12 and/or 13.

Can hunters age 12 or 13 purchase additional concurrent season antlerless licenses to use within the youth deer season?
No, 12- and 13-year-olds are limited to a single antlerless whitetail license valid only during the dates of the youth deer season. However, they can still purchase concurrent licenses for use with a bow in the archery season.

Resident Gratis & Nonresident Landowner Licenses

Gratis permits are available to resident landowners who farm or ranch a minimum of 160 acres. When applying, the landowner must list the land descriptions on the application. Nonresident Landowner Deer Licenses are available to nonresidents owning at least 160 acres. The license, which costs $220, allows the nonresident landowner to hunt the lands listed on the license.  Cost of the license includes a Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate, $2; General Game and Habitat License, $13; and a non-refundable $5 application fee.

If I transfer my gratis eligibility to a family member am I eligible to get another gratis permit on some other land? No. You may either receive a gratis permit or transfer it to an immediate family member. You may not do both.

Who is eligible for a gratis permit on rented land, the renter or landowner? The landowner has first claim. In no case is more than one gratis permit issued for the same land. This detail should be worked out between the landowner and lessee.

May I get a gratis permit and later buy a second, third, or fourth deer permit, if they are available? Yes. However, if it is a second, third, or fourth season license, you may take an antlerless deer only.

How many gratis permits may I receive for the year? State law limits a landowner to one gratis permit a year. You may use that license in any open season, providing you use the appropriate weapon and stay on your land within the unit listed on your tag.

May a husband and wife jointly owning two quarters (320 acres) of land each receive a gratis permit? Each is eligible, if they are both listed as record title owners of the land. The husband may receive a permit for one half of the land and the wife for the other half. If the quarters are in the same unit they may hunt each other's quarter. The key is that both applicants must be record title owners of the land.

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