Skip to main content
nd.gov - The Official Portal for North Dakota State Government
Muddy bull elk bugling

Guide to Hunting Lotteries

North Dakota Hunting Lotteries

(Note: Scroll left|right for all 6 columns (Desktop Users: click anywhere in the table then use the arrow keys ← → to scroll)

Species Residency Status License Availability Past Lottery Statistics Season Information and Regulations
Spring Turkey Resident Only Applications for the 2025 season will be available in late January, 2025.

Availability

Statistics

Season

Moose Resident Only View 2024 Lottery Results

Availability

Statistics

Season

Elk Resident Only View 2024 Lottery Results

Availability

Statistics

Season

Bighorn Sheep Resident and Nonresident The 2024 application period has passed. The lottery will be held in September after summer population surveys are completed and total licenses are determined.

Availability

Statistics

Season

Deer Resident and Nonresident View 2024 Lottery Results

Availability

Statistics

Season

Pronghorn Resident Only Applications will be available mid-July.

Availability

Statistics

Season

Swan Resident and Nonresident Applications will be available mid-July.

Availability

Statistics

Season

Fall Turkey Resident Only (FCFS license may be purchased by both residents and nonresidents when available) Applications will be available mid-August.

Availability

Statistics

Season

Special Allocation Big Game Nonprofit organizations eligible to receive big game hunting licenses may apply online between October 1 and January 1.

Availability

Statistics

See species regulations

Note: If licenses remain after lotteries have been run, they will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application Process Steps and Strategies

01

REQUIREMENTS
BEFORE APPLYING

Hunter Education Requirements

If you were born after 1961, to hunt in North Dakota you must have a:

(Exceptions)


Residency Requirements

Moose, elk, pronghorn, spring turkey, and the first fall turkey lottery are all open only to North Dakota residents.

Residency rules can be found here.

02

STRATEGY
UNIT SELECTION

Unit Selection

1) Review the appropriate license availability page for the number of licenses available in each unit.

2) Review last year’s lottery success statistics to assess the difficulty of getting your first choice in a particular unit.

Bonus Points

First lotteries for deer gun, muzzleloader deer, pronghorn, swan, and wild turkey are “weighted” lotteries. You accrue bonus points each time you apply are not drawn for your first choice. These points give you a better chance of getting drawn the next year.

More information on bonus points can be found here.

03

PROCESS
APPLYING

When to Apply: Approximate dates for lotteries can be found here.

How to Apply: You can apply for lotteries online. For help using the online licensing and lottery system please see our TUTORIALS here.

Application Fees and License Prices: North Dakota Resident | Nonresident

Deadlines: Applications must be in by midnight on the day of the deadline. Deadlines can be found on the species hunting pages.

04

COMMUNICATION
LOTTERY RESULTS

Lotteries are run and results available anywhere from about 2 weeks to a month after the application deadline depending on the lottery.

After a lottery has been run, applicants will be notified that results are available. This will be done via:

  • Email (if the applicant provided an email when applying)
  • GovDelivery – text and/or email service that you can sign up for here
  • Facebook
  • Department website

05

THE HUNT
HUNTING INFORMATION

Where to Hunt

The Department has several resources for finding a place to hunt:

Tagging: You must tag a harvested animal immediately. Tag it BEFORE you take photos with it. Instructions for properly affixing tags are printed on the back of each tag. (How to Tag a Deer - video)

Regulations: can be found here.

More Tips

Understanding the Deer Gun Lottery (I)

Understanding the Deer Gun Lottery (II)

Links

North Dakota Residency Eligibility

Resident Pricing

Nonreisdent Pricing


Lottery FAQ

Lottery Schedule


Online Application Help

NDGF Mobile App