North Dakota Hunting Seasons
2021 Tentative Season Dates
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons.
Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2021 include:
| Season | Tentative Open Date |
|---|---|
| Spring Turkey | April 10 |
| Dove | September 1 |
| Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Mountain Lion | September 3 |
| Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse, Squirrel | September 11 |
| Youth Deer | September 17 |
| Youth Waterfowl | September 18 |
| Early Resident Waterfowl | September 25 |
| Pronghorn Gun | October 1 |
| Regular Waterfowl, Youth Pheasant | October 2 |
| Pheasant, Fall Turkey | October 9 |
| Mink, Muskrat, Weasel Trapping | October 23 |
| Deer Gun | November 5 |
2020 Season Dates
The following is a listing of North Dakota Hunting Seasons (alphabetical by species). Note: Species that have youth seasons or split spring/fall seasons will be listed multiple times in the species selection box.
Note: Dates listed as TENTATIVE are subject to change until their proclamation has been signed.
Be sure to select the correct date range as many seasons cross the calendar year.
For example:
- The 2017-2018 pheasant season was from 10/07/2017 – 01/07/2018.
- The 2018-2019 pheasant season dates are 10/06/2018-01/06/2019.
Mountain Lion
Late Season
Regular Season
Early season
Deer, Mule and White-tailed
Muzzleloader
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Deer, Mule and White-tailedRegular
All Units
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Deer, Mule and White-tailedBow
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Deer, Mule and White-tailedMuskrat
Regular - Traps
Regular - Cable Devices, Firearms, Archery Equipment
Pronghorn
Gun or Bow
Units 1-A, 1-D, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-C, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A, 10-A, 11-A, 13-A
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - PronghornBow only
Units 1-A, 1-D, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-C, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A, 10-A, 11-A, 13-A
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - PronghornRaccoon
Regular - Firearms, traps, underwater cable devices, archery equipment, pursue with dogs
Statewide
Open Year-round Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - RaccoonRegular - Cable devices on land within 50 ft. of water
Regular - Cable devices on land
Ring-necked Pheasants
Regular (Male Pheasants Only)
Ruffed Grouse
Regular
Sandhill Crane
Regular
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Regular
Statewide (see exception)
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Sharp-tailed GrouseTree Squirrel
Regular
Tundra Swan
Regular
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Tundra SwanTurkey
Fall - Regular
All Open Units
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - TurkeyWeasel
Regular - Traps
Firearms, Cable Devices, Archery Equipment
White-fronted Geese
Regular - Resident
Regular - Nonresident
Wilson's Snipe
Regular
Woodcock
Regular
Ring-necked Pheasants (Youth Season)
Youth
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ring-necked Pheasants (Youth Season)Deer, Mule and White-tailed (Youth Season)
Youth Season
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Deer, Mule and White-tailed (Youth Season)Turkey (Youth Spring Season)
Spring - Youth
All open units
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Turkey (Youth Spring Season)Ducks (Youth Waterfowl Season)
Youth Waterfowl
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks (Youth Waterfowl Season)Light Geese (Spring Conservation Order)
Spring Conservation Order
Statewide
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Light Geese (Spring Conservation Order)Turkey (Spring Season)
Spring Regular
All open units
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Turkey (Spring Season)Canada Geese (Early Season)
August Management Take/Early September Season
Western Zone
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese (Early Season)Eastern Zone
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese (Early Season)Missouri River Zone
Opens: Closes: Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese (Early Season)