Sandhill cranes flying

Sandhill Crane Hunting

Has Youth Season

No

ND Resident Only

No

Lottery

No

Season Dates

Season Hunting Units Opens Closes Season Dates Status
Regular Unit 1 Finalized
Regular Unit 2 Finalized

License Requirements

Residents must possess the following licenses:

  • Harvest Information Program registration
  • Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate
  • Small Game License (Not required of residents under age 16) and General Game and Habitat License
    or
    Combination License (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses)
  • Sandhill Crane Permit

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

  • Harvest Information Program registration
  • Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate
  • General Game and Habitat License
  • Nonresident Small Game License (good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period) or Nonresident Waterfowl License 
  • Sandhill Crane Permit

Regulations

Species Specific Regulations - Unit 1
Daily Limit 3
Possession Limit 9
Open Area That portion of North Dakota west of U.S. Highway 281.
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to: 1 p.m. CDT September 15 through November 3; 2 p.m. CST November 4 through November 11.
Species Specific Regulations - Unit 2
Daily Limit 2
Possession Limit 6
Open Area That portion of North Dakota east of U.S. Highway 281.
Shooting Hours 30 minutes before sunrise to: 1 p.m. CDT September 15 through November 3; 2 p.m. CST November 4 through November 11.

A hunter may take up to 3 cranes in one day, provided all 3 birds are taken from Unit 1, or no more than 2 birds are taken from Unit 2. Nonresident sandhill crane hunters must possess either a small game license or a waterfowl license. Nonresident sandhill crane permits are valid for use within the dates and zones of nonresident waterfowl or small game licenses selected during purchase. Sandhill cranes may be taken from a floating craft, excluding a sink box, if such a craft is beached, or fastened within or tied immediately alongside any type of fixed hunting blind, or from such craft resting at anchor.

WARNING – Know your crane species BEFORE you hunt. Endangered whooping cranes occasionally fly with sandhill cranes. Adult whoopers are snow white and young whoopers are white with some rusty brown feathers; black wing tips show on both. If you see a whooping crane, contact a Game and Fish official or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.