When does a person need hunter education in North Dakota?
Persons born after 1961 must complete a certified hunter education course and show proof of certification when buying or applying for hunting licenses (official courses offered by other states and Canadian provinces meet these requirements). Exceptions: Persons under age 12 who hunt only with their parent or legal guardian; persons who hunt exclusively on land of which they are the record title owner or operator; and those who obtain an Apprentice Hunting License.
Do persons born in 1961 who do not need hunter education to hunt in North Dakota need it for other states?
Most states have hunter education requirements, some more stringent than ours. Contact that state for more information.
I am taking hunter education and finish it after the deer application deadline. May I submit my application and send in the hunter education number later?
No. State law requires that you submit the number when applying.
When are hunter education courses available?
Generally, hunter education classes are taught from winter through summer. See our Online Services page for Hunter Education Online Course Enrollment and course availability.
Who is eligible for a North Dakota resident license?
A person who has actually lived in the state of North Dakota or maintained his legal residence therein for the past six months. Exceptions:
- Waiver of Residency A person who will be living in North Dakota for a minimum of one year or who intends to become a resident may be eligible to purchase non-lottery licenses such as fishing, small game, and furbearer at resident prices. Contact our licensing section at 701-328-6335 to obtain a waiver of residency form or download a copy.
- Military Exception. Military personnel in the state on duty or leave are eligible for a similar waiver to the one listed above. Also, a North Dakota resident, in the armed forces stationed outside the state, upon showing proof of residency, may receive a deer gun license without being subject to the license lottery. To apply you must meet these requirements: Maintain North Dakota as your state of residence, you must be stationed outside of North Dakota, fill out and send in a deer application with the following items: A check or money order for $20, a copy of your orders showing where you are stationed, a copy of your current driver's license or pay stub showing the state where you pay taxes. Contact our licensing section at 701-328-6335 for more information.
- Nonresident youth hunting licenses. A nonresident under age 16 need only purchase a North Dakota resident fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a North Dakota resident general game and habitat license to hunt small game and waterfowl except swans and wild turkeys; provided, that the nonresident's state, or province or territory of Canada, of residence provides a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents who are also under age 16. (Currently states of Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin qualify.) To be eligible, a nonresident youth may not have turned sixteen before September 1 of the year for which the license is issued and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian who is licensed to hunt small game or waterfowl in this state and is subject to the same regulations as the adult family member or legal guardian.
- Nonresident full-time state or tribal college students living in North Dakota and attending a North Dakota institution of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the Board of Higher Education, a private institution, or a tribal college may qualify to purchase non-lottery resident licenses. Details and license sales are available only through On-Line Services.
Why is a social security number needed when I purchase or apply for fishing and hunting licenses?
North Dakota is required by state and federal laws related to collection of child support, to record social security numbers from persons obtaining hunting, fishing, or other recreational licenses. The social security number serves as your principal identification number to determine license eligibility and preference in North Dakota. This information is kept confidential; however, it may be provided to law enforcement agencies and the State Disbursement Unit to enforce child support obligations. The citations for these laws are North Dakota Century Code 20.1-03-35 and 42 US Code 666 (a)(13) and (16).
What is meant by "it will be kept confidential?"
It will not be released for unauthorized use. It will not be released under the state open records law. The law makes any willful unauthorized disclosure by authorized personnel of confidential SSN and related records a felony. This means that those involved in collection of the numbers or handling these documents and numbers may face felony charges if they willfully disclose SSN for unauthorized use. An example would be a store clerk who provides SSN information to someone not authorized to have it.
How should license agents protect the SSN information they collect for licenses?
As of January 1, 2008, only the last four digits of an applicant's social security number have to be printed on paper applications.