2011 Bighorn Sheep, Elk & Moose Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep

Units B1, B3, B4

• Regular Season: October 21 - November 3.
• Bow Only Season: October 14 - November 3.
• Restrictions: Male bighorn sheep only.
  

Moose

Units M4, M8, M9, M10, M11

• Regular Season: October 7-30.

Units M5, M6

• Regular Season: November 18 - December 11.

Units M4, M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11

• Bow Only Season: September 2-25.
• Restrictions:All moose license holders are able to hunt during the regular season (any legal firearm or bow) and the bow season (bows only) but are restricted to unit and type of moose as designated on license.

Elk

Units E1, E2

• Bow Only Season: September 2-25.
• Restrictions: Restricted to unit and type of elk as designated on license. E1 and E2 license holders are allowed to hunt during the regular season and the bow season. Hunting during the bow season is restricted to legal archery equipment. Orange clothing required when hunting during regular seasons.

Unit E1

• Regular Season: October 7-31; November 25 - December 11.
• Restrictions: Restricted to unit and type of elk as designated on license. Unit E1 license holders are allowed to hunt during the regular season and the bow season. Hunting during the bow season is restricted to legal archery equipment. Antlerless elk only during November 25 - December 11 season.

Unit E2

• Regular Season: October 7 - December 31.
• Restrictions: Restricted to unit and type of elk as designated on license.Unit E2 license holders are allowed to hunt during the regular season and the bow season. Hunting during the bow season is restricted to legal archery equipment.

Units E3, E4

• Any Elk September Season: September 2-30.
• Restrictions: E3 and E4 lottery license holders may hunt in either unit from September 5-30. Landowner preference license holders may hunt only in their unit.
  
  
• Any Elk October Season: October 7-31.
  Restrictions: E3 and E4 lottery license holders may hunt in either unit from October 10-31. Landowner preference license holders may hunt only in their unit.
  
  
  
• Any Elk Extended Season: November 4 - December 31.
  Restrictions: Open to both E3 and E4 September and October season any elk license holders. Lottery license holders may hunt in either unit. Landowner preference license holders may hunt only in their unit.

Unit E5

• Regular Season: September 2 - December 31.
• Restrictions: Open to all lottery license holders from all units. Hunters may take only the type of elk described on their license.

• Hours of hunting for all species are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• All successful applicants should attend an instructional meeting prior to hunting. The Game and Fish Department will notify licensees of meeting times and places.
• Be prepared to hunt the entire season. Good physical conditioning is desirable because of weather variables and difficult terrain.
• Bighorn sheep, elk and moose are found on both private and public lands. Permission is required before entering posted private land. The Game and Fish Department strongly encourages hunters to make arrangements ahead of time.

Who May Apply - North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for bighorn sheep, elk and moose licenses. Nonresidents can apply for only a bighorn sheep license. No one may apply for a species for which they received a lottery license in previous years. (Exception: certain preferential landowner licensees.)

Hunter Education Requirement - Hunters born after December 31, 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course and present the certification card to a license vendor to purchase a North Dakota hunting license. Persons who hunt only on land they own or operate are exempt from this requirement.  The apprentice license is not valid for moose, elk or bighorn sheep.

Minimum Age - The minimum age for hunting bighorn sheep, elk, or moose is 14 on opening day of the season. Anyone under age 15 afield with firearms must be under direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult authorized by a parent or guardian.

General - Licenses are nontransferable. No person may give away, barter or sell an issued license.

Bow Only - When applying, an applicant may declare a "bow only" option for bighorn sheep. Declaring the "bow only" option for bighorn sheep allows for a week extension of the season. The bow season for moose or elk is a separate hunting season.

Other Licenses Required - In addition to the bighorn sheep, elk or moose license, hunters must also possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate ($1) and a general game and habitat license ($13) or combination license ($32). All stamps must be affixed to the back of a licensee’s fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Stamps and licenses must be signed in ink.

BIGHORN SHEEP
Unit B1 - 1 license (also valid in Unit B2)
Unit B3 - 2 licenses
Unit B4 - 2 licenses
(All licenses are for male bighorn sheep only)

One additional bighorn sheep license has been auctioned under bid guidelines set forth by the Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. This license is valid for any open unit.

ELK
Unit E1 Regular Season - 70 licenses (15 any, 55 antlerless)
Unit E2 Regular Season - 130 licenses (40 any, 90 antlerless)
Unit E3 September Season - 100 any elk licenses
Unit E3 October Season - 100 any elk licenses
Unit E4 September Season - 50 any elk licenses
Unit E4 October Season - 50 any elk licenses

One additional elk license is authorized to be raffled by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Game Warden Museum. This license is valid for any open unit and any elk regardless of age or sex.

MOOSE
Unit M4 - 7 licenses (4 antlered, 3 antlerless)
Unit M5 - 5 licenses - (any moose)
Unit M6 - 15 licenses - (any moose)
Unit M8 - 25 licenses - (15 any, 10 antlerless)
Unit M9 - 30 licenses - (15 any, 15 antlerless)
Unit M10 - 70 licenses - (40 any, 30 antlerless)
Unit M11 - 10 licenses - (7 any, 3 antlerless)

One additional moose license is authorized to be raffled by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Game Warden Museum. This license is valid for any open unit and any moose regardless of age or sex.

Bighorn Sheep - One male bighorn sheep.
Elk - One elk of the type designated on license. Type of elk includes "antlerless" or "any" elk.
Moose - One moose of the type designated on license. Type of moose includes "antlered," "antlerless," or "any" moose.

All elk or moose with at least one visible antler are considered "antlered."

Hunting big game over bait on Department wildlife management areas is prohibited. Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of bait(s) for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Baits include but are not limited to grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay or any other natural or manufactured foods. The designation does not apply to the use of scents and lures, water, food plots, standing crops, or livestock feeds being used in standard practices.

Hunting over bait is also not allowed on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas; U.S. Forest Service national grasslands; and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.

Immediately after an animal has been killed, the hunter must indicate the date of kill by cutting out the appropriate month and day from the tag provided with the license, and securely attach it to the antler on an antlered animal, or in a slit in the ear on an antlerless animal. The tag shall remain in place with the antlers or head until March 31, 2012. After the antlers, head or hide have been removed from the carcass, the carcass tag shall remain with the carcass until the processed meat is consumed, or until March 31, 2012, whichever comes first.

In no case is it legal to possess or transport a bighorn sheep, elk, or moose unless it is properly tagged. No person may reuse or attempt to reuse any tag issued. Tags are nontransferable. When any part of an animal is mounted, if the tag is removed from the antlers or ear, the tag must be securely fastened to the back or bottom of the mount and remain there.

Anyone who harvests a bighorn sheep in North Dakota, or possesses any North American wild sheep horns, skulls or heads which were not plugged in their state or province of origin, must have them plugged by Department personnel.

Mandatory Elk Harvest Reporting - Elk lottery license holders in Units E3 and E4are required to provide hunter harvest information no later than February 15, 2012. Failure to do so will result in loss of eligibility for all lottery licenses in 2012.

License holders must accompany their game animal, or parts thereof (excluding hide), during transportation, unless a permit for the transportation of game is issued by the Department upon request. Game may be shipped by common carrier (shipping companies, commercial meat processors and taxidermists) in receipt of proper bill of lading. A bighorn sheep, elk or moose carcass must be accompanied by the head to the final place of storage. No resident of the state may ship big game or parts thereof (other than hides) out of state without a permit from the Department. It is illegal to possess or transport another’s game animal, or parts thereof (excluding hide), without the license holder accompanying or as otherwise permitted. Processed and packaged meat (cut/ground and wrapped) of legally taken game may be gifted to another. Unprocessed, unpackaged game meat may be gifted as follows: 1) Prior to reaching the licensee’s personal residence a transportation permit must be obtained and accompany the game meat; 2) After reaching the licensee’s personal residence if accompanied by the name and address of the licensee.

Commercial processors and common carriers may possess any person’s legally taken possession limit of game.  

Legal Firearms - Centerfire rifles of .25 caliber or larger are legal for elk and moose, while .243/6 mm caliber is the minimum allowed for bighorn sheep. Centerfire rifles of .50 caliber or larger using smokeless powder are prohibited. Muzzleloading rifles or single shot muzzleloader pistols of .50 caliber or larger are legal for all three species. Rifles must have a minimum barrel length of 16 inches. Rifled slugs of 20 gauge or larger are legal for shotguns. Minimum barrel length for shotguns is 18 inches. Handgun (pistol, revolver or single shot) cartridge cases under .40 caliber must be at least 1.285 inches in length and bullets must be at least .257 inches in diameter. Handgun cartridge cases of .40 caliber or larger must be at least .992 inches in length. In addition, any handgun designed to fire a legal rifle cartridge is legal. Fully automatic firearms, full metal jacketed bullets which are nonexpanding, and altered projectiles are prohibited.

Legal Archery Equipment - A bow must be pulled, held and released by hand. Any release aid may be used providing it is hand operated, the shooter supports the draw weight of the bow, and the release is not attached to any part of the bow other than the bowstring. Bows used for hunting bighorn sheep, elk and moose must have at least 50 pounds of draw at 28 inches or less draw length. Arrows must be at least 24 inches long, tipped with a metal broadhead, with at least two sharp cutting edges, and have a cutting diameter of at least 3/4 inch (i.e., not able to pass through a 3/4 inch ring). Broadheads used for hunting bighorn sheep, elk and moose must be unbarbed and have fixed blades(i.e., broadheads with mechanical or retractable blades manufactured to stay open are illegal). Telescopic sights, range finding devices, battery-powered or electronically lighted sights or other electronic devices attached to the bow, or the arrow, are not permitted.

Handheld range-finding devices are legal. Arrows capable of causing damage or injury to the animal in excess of that inflicted by the cutting edges of the broadhead are prohibited while hunting big game with a bow (e.g. explosive arrow points, arrows tipped with drugs or chemicals, and pneumatic or hydraulic shafts are illegal). Crossbows are not legal, except with a permit from the Game and Fish director. Hunters may possess handguns while hunting big game with a bow license. However, handguns may not be used to assist in the harvest of the big game animal.

Nonlicensees - No bighorn sheep, elk or moose licensee hunting in the field during the bighorn sheep, elk or moose season may be accompanied by a nonlicensee carrying the same firearm or bow as the licensee. For the purpose of this section "type of firearm or bow" means one of the following: a) centerfire rifles; b)handguns; c) muzzleloading firearms; d) archery equipment; or e)shotguns. A nonlicensee is a person not having a bighorn sheep,elk or moose license for the same season and unit as the person with the license.

All big game hunters are required to wear a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline of solid daylight fluorescent orange color, totaling at least 400 square inches. This requirement doesn't apply during the extended "bow only" portion of the bighorn sheep season (before the regular season opens), or during the elk and moose bow seasons.

• It is illegal to go afield with a firearm or bow while intoxicated.
• Firearms must be unloaded and encased within the boundaries of any national park.
• It is illegal to hunt upon the premises of another within 440 yards of any occupied building without the consent of the person occupying the building. This does not prohibit hunting on land owned by neighbors (private or public) even if the land is less than 440 yards from the occupied building.

It is illegal to use any animal except horses or mules as an aid in the hunting or taking of big game.

• It is illegal to use an aircraft for spotting game 72 hours prior to the hunting season. During hunting season a licensee cannot hunt the same day they are airborne over their hunting unit, with the exception of a scheduled passenger airline flight. It is illegal to drive, concentrate, rally, raise, stir up, spot or disturb game with aircraft.
• Motor-driven vehicles may not be used to pursue game.
• It is illegal to shoot with a bow or firearm while in or on a motor-driven vehicle.
• It is illegal to carry a firearm with a cartridge in the chamber in or on a motor-driven vehicle. The entire cylinder of a revolver is considered the chamber, requiring a revolver to be completely unloaded. It is illegal to carry any muzzleloading firearm in or on a motor-driven vehicle with a percussion cap or primer on the nipple or powder in the flash pan.
• Motor-driven vehicles may only be used on established roads or trails. (Exception: After an animal has been killed and properly tagged, a motor-driven vehicle may be used to retrieve the animal by leaving the established road or trail and proceeding to the carcass by the shortest accessible route and returning to the road or trail immediately by the same route.)
•  Motor-driven vehicles may not be used off established roads and trails for retrieval on state wildlife management areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, Bureau of Land Management lands, federal waterfowl production areas, federal refuges, state school lands, and any other areas where motor-driven vehicles are restricted. (Exception: Motor-driven vehicles are allowed in the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills WMAs for retrieval of moose or elk during the following hours ONLY: 9:30-10:30 a.m.; 1:30-2:30 p.m.; and 1/2 hour after sunset, for one hour. During these specific times, a motor-driven vehicle may be used to make the retrieve by leaving the established road or trail and proceeding to the carcass by the shortest accessible route and returning to the road or trail by the same route.) Except for hunters having a special disability permit, no person may use a motor-driven vehicle while in the process of hunting big game, or aid another in the process of hunting big game, including travel to and from the hunting location unless the motor-driven vehicle is on an established road or trail.
• Established roads or trails do not include temporary trails made for agricultural purposes.
• No person may use motor-driven vehicles on North Dakota Game and Fish Department Conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) property without permission from the landowner. These areas have been entrusted to the public for walking access through written agreements with private landowners. The boundaries of these properties are identified by large yellow triangular signs.
• It is illegal to use any artificial light for the purpose of locating or observing big game between sunset of one day and sunrise of the next. State law prohibits any harassment of big game animals.
• The use of night vision equipment or electronically enhanced light-gathering optics for locating or hunting game is prohibited.

Federal or state properties such as refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks and historic sites posted to trespassing or hunting are closed to hunting.

State school land is open to public access including hunting unless posted with State Land Department signs. Contact the State Land Department for additional information regarding state school lands.

When hunting near the boundaries of closed refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks or historic sites - make sure you are familiar with any retrieval restrictions that may apply.

• Only the owner or tenant, or an individual authorized by the owner, may post land by placing signs giving notice that no hunting is permitted on the land. The name of the person posting the land must appear on each sign in legible characters. The signs must be readable from the outside of the land and must be placed conspicuously not more than 880 yards apart. As to land entirely enclosed by a fence or other enclosure, posting of signs at or on all gates through the fence or enclosure constitutes a posting of all the enclosed land.
• Hunting on posted lands without permission from the owner or tenant is illegal and punishable by suspension of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for a period of at least one year.
• Any person may enter upon legally posted land (without a firearm or bow) to recover game shot or killed on land where he/she had a lawful right to hunt.
• It is illegal to hunt in unharvested cereal and oilseed crops, including sprouted winter wheat, alfalfa, clover and other grasses grown for seed, without the owner’s consent.
• It is illegal to deface, take down or destroy posting signs.
• Failure to close gates upon exit or entry is a criminal violation punishable by forfeiture of hunting licenses.

Do not hunt on road rights-of-way unless you are certain that they are open to public use. Most road rights-of-way are under control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunting when the adjacent land is posted closed to hunting.

No person shall kill, cripple, waste, destroy, spoil or abandon the edible flesh (both front quarters, both hind quarters, and back straps but does not include meat ruined by bullet or natural causes) of any big game animal without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and retain the big game animal in his/her actual custody, at the place where taken and between that place and either (a) his/her personal residence; (b) a taxidermist; (c) a common carrier; or (d) a commercial processor.

Anyone who owns, or leases for agricultural purposes and actively farms or ranches, a minimum of 160 acres of land in the following units is eligible to apply for landowner preference moose licenses. For 2011, one license is available in M4; zero in M5; two in M6; three in M8; four in M9; 10 in M10; and one in M11. Landowner preference licenses are valid for any moose. Landowner moose license holders may hunt only upon land owned or leased by them and described on their application.

(Exception: In unit M4, landowners with qualifying land located within a designated area may receive a license to hunt the entire unit M4. Individuals who receive a license under this provision must pay the appropriate big game license fee. A successful applicant from this restricted area may not return an unused license to retain eligibility for a license to hunt moose in future years.)

Qualifying Areas For M4

• Bottineau County Townships
  • Dalen North - All except Sec. 30, 31
  • Dalen South - All except Sec. 6, 7, 16-21, 28-36
  • Roland - All
  • Homen - All
  • Whitteron - Only Sec. 1-6
  • Cordelia - All except Sec. 31-36
• Rolette County Townships
  • Willow Lake - All
  • Holmes - All except S. Sec. 33-36
  • Hutchinson - All except S. Sec. 13-36
  • Baxter - Sec. 4-9, Only N. Sec. 28-33
  • Gilbert - Sec. 3-10, 15-22, 27-30

If a landowner moose license holder is unsuccessful in harvesting a moose, that person may return the unused license to the Department and apply for a license to hunt moose in future years. (Exception: licensees on certain qualifying lands in unit M4). Anyone who receives an additional license is not eligible to participate in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Game Warden Museum raffle.

Anyone who owns, or leases for agricultural purposes and actively farms or ranches, a minimum of 160 acres of land in designated areas is eligible to apply for a landowner preference elk license. For 2011, allocation of these licenses is as follows: unit E1, 10 licenses; unit E2, 19 licenses; unit E3, 30 licenses; unit E4, licenses issued in accordance with exemptions provided under N.D.C.C. 20.1-03-11.7. Individuals who receive a landowner preference license must pay the appropriate big game license fee.

Landowner Preference Elk License Eligibility Areas

• E1
  • Pembina County
    • T. 162 N. R. 56 W. All except Sec.1-9,17-20, 30,31
    • T. 162 N. R. 55 W. Sec. 30, 31
    • T. 161 N. R. 56 W. Sec. 1-4, 9-11
  • Cavalier County
    • T. 163 N. R. 58 W. Sec. 9, 15, 16, 21-23, 25-28, and South and West of the Pembina River in Sec. 4, 10, 14, 24
    • T. 163 N. R. 57 W. Sec. 31, 32, 33, and South and West of the Pembina River in Sec. 30
    • T. 162 N. R. 57 W. Sec. 3-10, 15-18, East 1/2 of 19, 20-22, 26-29, East 1/2 of 30, 33-35
    • T. 161 N. R. 57 W. Sec. 2-4, 9-16, 22-27, 34-36
    • T. 160 N. R. 57 W. Sec. 1-4, 10-12
• E2
• • Dunn County
    • T. 148 N. R. 96 W.
    • T. 148 N. R. 97 W.
    • T. 147 N. R. 96 W.
    • T. 147 N. R. 97 W.
    • T. 147 N. R. 95 W. North & West of ND Highway 22
    • T. 146 N. R. 96 W.
    • T. 146 N. R. 97 W.
    • T. 145 N. R. 97 W. Sec. 1-24
  • McKenzie County
    • T. 149 N. R. 95 W.
    • T. 149 N. R. 96 W.
    • T. 149 N. R. 97 W. East 1/2 of T. 149 N. R. 98 W. plus Sec. 28, 29, 32, 33
    • T. 148 N. R. 98 W.
    • T. 147 N. R. 98 W. Sec. 31 NW ¼
    • T. 146 N. R. 99 W. Sec. 3 NW¼
    • T. 146 N. R. 98 W.
    • T. 150 N. R. 95 W. South ½
    • T. 150 N. R. 96 W. South ½
    • T. 150 N. R. 97 W. South ½
• E3
• • Billings County
    • T. 137 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 7, 8 SE ¼, 20 SW ¼, 28 SE ¼
    • T. 137 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 26, 30 NW ¼, 32 NE¼
    • T. 137 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 4
    • T. 138 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 8 SE ¼, 34
    • T. 138 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 3 SE ¼, 19,29 NW ¼
    • T. 139 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 1, 19 NW ¼
    • T. 139 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 3 NE ¼
    • T. 139 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 15 W ½, 31 NW ¼
    • T. 140 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 1-17, 28 N ½
    • T. 140 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 33 S ½
    • T. 141 N. R. 99 W. Sec. 21 SE ¼, 30 W ½, 31 N ½, 32 NE ¼
    • T. 141 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 1-18, 20-29, 32-36
    • T. 142 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 1-18
    • T. 142 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 1-24
    • T. 142 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 3-10, 15-22, 27-34
    • T. 143 N. R. 99 W. Sec. 7 W ½, 19
    • T. 143 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 4, 10 NW ¼, 14 N ½, 17 E ½, 31-34
    • T. 143 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 8 SE ¼, 21 NW ¼, 33 W ½
    • T. 143 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 7 NE ¼,16, 36 NE¼
    • T. 144 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 13 SE ¼, 17 SW ¼, 35 NW ¼
    • T. 144 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 31 NE ¼
    • T. 144 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 5, 8, 17, 29
  • Golden Valley County
    • T. 136 N. R. 105 W. Sec. 25 SE ¼
    • T. 137 N. R. 103 W. Sec. 2 SW ¼
    • T. 141 N. R. 104 W. Sec. 11 SE ¼
    • T. 142 N. R. 103 W.
    • T. 142 N. R. 104 W. Sec. 4 NW ¼
    • T. 143 N. R. 104 W.
    • T. 143 N. R. 105 W. Sec. 1 NW ¼
    • T. 144 N. R. 103 W.
    • T. 144 N. R. 104 W.
  • Slope County
    • T. 133 N. R. 104 W. Sec. 1 NE ¼
    • T. 136 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 4 NW ¼
    • T. 136 N. R. 103 W. Sec. 9 NW ¼, 15 NW ¼, 17 NW ¼, 18 SW ¼ , 19 NW ¼, 30 NW ¼
• E4
• • Billings County
    • T. 141 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 2, 3, 6, 20, 24
    • T. 142 N. R. 101 W. Sec. 31
    • T. 140 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 6
    • T. 141 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 17, 32
    • T. 142 N. R. 102 W. Sec. 19, 23, 25
    • T. 141 N. R. 100 W. Sec. 30
  • Golden Valley County
    • T. 140 N. R. 103 W. Sec. 2, 4
    • T. 141 N. R. 103 W. Sec. 26

Preferential licenses for units E1 and E2 may be used until filled, in both bow and gun seasons subject to the rules of the season.

Landowner preference licenses are valid for any elk, except that in unit E1 only antlerless elk may be taken November 25 - December 11. Landowner elk license holders may hunt anywhere in the unit where their qualifying land is located. Landowner preference licenses for units E3 and E4 are valid for the September, October and extended seasons.