The state Game and Fish Department’s annual spring aerial mule deer survey is set to begin April 2 in western North Dakota. Weather permitting, the survey takes about two weeks to complete.
During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of the badlands.
Game and Fish biologists have completed aerial surveys of the same 24 badlands study areas since the 1950s. The purpose of the survey is to determine a population index to assess mule deer abundance in the badlands.
Mountain Lion Late Season Closes in Zone 1
Mountain lion hunting during the late season in Zone 1 is closed after the harvest limit of seven cats was reached.
A conditional season in Zone 1 will open March 28 for hunters to pursue the additional two mountain lions not taken during the early season.
The conditional season will close March 31 or earlier once the second cat is taken. Early season regulations apply, which means hunters are not allowed to use dogs. In addition, hunters who harvested a lion during the early or late season are not eligible to participate.
The mountain lion season in Zone 2, which is the rest of the state outside Zone 1, has no harvest limit and is open through March 31.
2024-26 Fishing Regulations Set
North Dakota’s 2024-26 fishing proclamation is set, with regulations effective April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2026. New fishing licenses are required April 1.
Anglers can find the North Dakota 2024-26 Fishing Guide online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or at Game and Fish Department offices and license vendors throughout the state.
Noteworthy regulation changes include:
Allows the use of bows for northern pike and nongame fish while darkhouse spearfishing.
Establishes a channel catfish limit west of N.D. Highway 1.
For bow and spearfishing – allows the taking of channel catfish in the Missouri River System up to the first tributary bridge.
North Dakota anglers, trappers and hunters are reminded that new licenses are required beginning April 1.
Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download the license to a smart phone or mobile device, which is helpful when asked to show proof while hunting or fishing in rural areas that lack cellular service.
Licenses can also be purchased at more than 80 vendor locations throughout the state. The 2024-25 small game, fishing and furbearer licenses are effective April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
2023 Deer Season Summarized
A total of 45,927 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 25,146 deer during the 2023 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department.
Game and Fish made available 53,400 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 55%, with each hunter spending an average of 4.7 days in the field.
Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 54%, and 51% for antlerless whitetails.
Mule deer buck success was 80%, and 78% for antlerless mule deer.
Hunters with any-antlered or any-antlerless licenses generally harvest white-tailed deer, as these licenses are predominantly in units with mostly whitetails. Buck hunters had a success rate of 60%, while doe hunters had a success rate of 55%.
Game and Fish issued 12,188 gratis licenses in 2023, and 9,664 hunters harvested 4,216 deer for a success rate of 44%.
A total of 1,020 muzzleloader licenses were issued, and 890 hunters harvested 280 white-tailed deer (140 antlered, 140 antlerless). Hunter success was 32%.
A total of 27,607 archery licenses (24,237 resident, 3,370 nonresident) were issued in 2023. In total, 22,608 bowhunters harvested 6,436 deer (5,411 whitetails, 1,025 mule deer) for a success rate of 29%.
The department is in the process of determining recommendations for licenses in 2024. In addition to harvest rates and winter aerial surveys, Game and Fish staff monitor other population indices to determine license numbers, including depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings, and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.
Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep Applications Online
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is March 27.
A total of 833 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 230 from last year.
Licenses in units E1E, E1W and E3 increased due to a stable to increasing elk population. Licenses in elk units E2, E4 and E6 remain the same as in 2023.
A total of 242 moose licenses are available, a decrease of 15 from last year.
Licenses in units M5, M6, M8 and M10 remain the same as the moose population appears to be stable with good hunter success in these units. Licenses in M9 and M11 are reduced slightly to align with the observed population in these units. Moose units M4 and M1C will remain closed due to a low moose population in these units.
A bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled for 2024, depending on the sheep population. The status of the bighorn sheep season will be determined Sept. 1, after summer population surveys are completed.
Bighorn sheep applicants must apply for a license at the same time as moose and elk, but not for a specific unit. Once total licenses are determined for each unit in late summer, the bighorn lottery will be held and successful applicants contacted to select a hunting unit.
Because the bighorn sheep application fee is not refundable as per state law, if a bighorn season is not held, applicants would not receive a refund.
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery in the past are not eligible to apply for that species again.
Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Applications After April 15
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 337 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2024.
Applicants can apply online after April 15 on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline to apply is May 15.
Up to five hunters can apply together as a party. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. A total of 2,124 people applied in 2023.
The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15% of the previous year’s mule deer gun license allocation.
Grant Supports High School Trap League
Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to support a high school trap shooting team must have the application in before April 1. Existing teams that have received a grant in the past are not eligible.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department offers a grant of up to $1,000, with funds designed to purchase gear such as eye and hearing protection, vests, shell bags and magnetic barrel rests.
Pollinators in the Classroom will be held June 10-11 at North Central Extension Station in Minot. The workshop will explore pollinators, what they are, where they live, life cycles, importance, and how you can make a difference. Students will receive a copy of the Urban Pollinator Program Curriculum, and should be prepared for walking field trips in the area. All materials are included.
Habitats of North Dakota: A New Generation of Lessons will be offered June 18-19 at Dickinson State University, Dickinson. The North Dakota Habitats curriculum and new Habitats Lesson Plans will be used as textbooks. The workshop will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, discussion of classroom and curriculum integration, and walking field trips, weather permitting. All supplies are provided.
For more information contact curriculum specialist Sherry Niesar at 701-527-3714. Register by clicking on the link.
Grant Application to Assist R3 Efforts
Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters.
The program supports projects and events that provide a positive environment to develop the skills and confidence needed to create lifelong, conservation-minded hunting and shooting sports participants.
Application deadline is May 1.
The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organization events and projects each year, with an average grant of $1,550.
Funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets; and eye and ear protection.
Past funding has enabled groups to conduct learn-to-hunt events, or sponsor trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting. Game and Fish has separate grant programs that support National Archery in the Schools Program and high school trapshooting teams.
Clubs or organizations interested in applying should note the grant process, application, and records requirements. For more information, including a grant application, visit the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or contact Cayla Bendel, department R3 coordinator, at 701-220-3461.
2023 Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Elk Harvests
Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2023 season for bighorn sheep was 100%, 89% for moose and 71% for elk.
The department issued five bighorn sheep licenses and auctioned one. All six hunters harvested a bighorn ram.
The department issued 253 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 246 hunters harvested 219 animals – 132 bulls and 87 cows/calves.
Harvest for each unit follows:
Unit
Hunters
Bulls
Cow/Calf
Success Rate
M5
8
6
1
88
M6
10
6
1
70
M8
15
15
0
100
M9
84
33
43
90
M10
77
45
27
94
M11
52
27
15
81
The department issued 649 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 589 hunters harvested 418 elk – 190 bulls and 228 cows/calves.
Harvest for each unit follows:
Unit
Hunters
Bulls
Cow/Calf
Success Rate
E1E
128
36
54
70
E1W
104
21
45
63
E2
130
38
43
62
E3
194
73
81
79
E4
21
18
0
86
E6
12
4
5
75
Game and Fish Offers Wildlife Food Plot Seed
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering free seed for the 2024 growing season to landowners interested in planting wildlife food plots for pheasants.
Rather than a traditional corn or sunflower food plot, this seed mix increases plant diversity, including flowering plants from spring through fall, which will attract insects, the major diet component of pheasant chicks. Additionally, the mix will provide needed cover during spring and summer, as well as a winter food source. Other wildlife species will also benefit from this mix.
Most Game and Fish food plots are part of the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, but this food plot campaign does not require a PLOTS contract, but the department is asking participating landowners to allow reasonable public access, which could simply mean providing access to hunters from time to time, putting up “Ask Before You Enter” signs around the area, or not posting the surrounding land. Additionally, landowners participating in this promotion cannot charge a fee for hunting.
Game and Fish will provide enough seed for a maximum 5-acre planting at no cost.
Landowners interested in receiving the food plot seed must sign up online by April 5. Seed will be available in April at Game and Fish offices in Bismarck, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Harvey, Dickinson, Williston and Riverdale.
Game and Fish private land biologists can provide technical assistance on food plot location and site preparation.
Landowners interested in additional financial incentives may be considered for the PLOTS program as well. More information is available by contacting a private land biologist at any Game and Fish office in the state, or email ndgf@nd.gov.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department