Licensing Quick Reference

Index

Fishing

Note: See specific fishing regulations.

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate
• Combination License, (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses) or
• Fishing License (not required if under 16)
• Military - North Dakota residents who are on leave from active duty with the United States military can fish without a license.

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Nonresident Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate
• Nonresident Fishing

Paddlefish

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate
• Combination License, (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses) or
• Fishing License (not required if under 16)
• Paddlefish Snagging Tag

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Nonresident Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate
• Nonresident Fishing
• Paddlefish Snagging Tag

Furbearers

Note: See specific hunting/trapping requirements for each species.

Furbearers General

Species include: Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox (Red and Gray) Fisher, Mink, Mountain Lion, Muskrat, Raccoon, Weasel, River Otter

General Requirements

Except for residents under 16 years of age, a furbearer license is required to hunt or trap furbearers.

Nonresidents may not take furbearers, except they may hunt fox and coyote if they possess a furbearer and nongame license. Exceptions: Residents of a state that allows North Dakota residents to trap within that state, may purchase a nonresident reciprocal trapping license to trap in this state. Nonresidents having this license may not take bobcats, mountain lions, river otters or fishers.

Hunters and trappers are required to purchase licenses, except any resident, or member of his or her family permanently residing with him or her, may hunt small game, trap or use cable devices during the open season without a license upon land owned or leased by him or her, but otherwise is governed by seasons, limits and all other regulations.

Residents do not need a license to take unprotected species of wildlife (prairie dogs, rabbits, skunks, ground squirrels). Nonresidents hunting only unprotected species of wildlife need only a nongame license.

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate
• Furbearer License (not required of residents under age 16), or
• Combination License (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses)
• Military - Upon presentation of valid leave papers and a valid North Dakota operator's license, a resident who is on leave and is an active duty as a member of the United States armed forces or the United States merchant marine may hunt small game, fish, or trap during the open season without a license.

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Fishers, River Otter - May not be taken by nonresidents.
• Badger, Beaver, Mink, Muskrat, Raccoon, Weasel - May only be taken with traps or cable devices by nonresidents whose home state has a reciprocal trapping agreement with North Dakota.
  • Required licenses:
    • Nonresident Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate
    • Nonresident Reciprocal Trapping License
• Coyote, Fox (Red and Gray)
  • Required licenses:
    • Nonresident Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate
    • Nonresident Furbearer and Nongame License (to hunt) or Nonresident Reciprocal Trapping License (to take with traps or cable devices)

Upland Game and Small Game

Note: See specific regulations for each species.

Upland General

Species include: Hungarian Partridge, Pheasants, Sharp-tailed and Ruffed Grouse, Tree Squirrels.

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• 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)

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate
• General Game and Habitat License
• Nonresident Small Game License (good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period)

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• Nonresident Youth Hunting Licenses - A nonresident under age 16 need only purchase a North Dakota resident fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a North Dakota resident general game and habitat license to hunt small game and waterfowl, except swans and wild turkeys; provided that the nonresident's state of residence, or province or territory of Canada, provides a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents who are also under age 16. (Currently states of AL, AR, CO, CT, GA, ID, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NJ, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, WA and WI qualify.) To be eligible, a nonresident youth must not turn 16 before September 1 of the year for which the license is issued, and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian who is licensed to hunt small game or waterfowl in this state and is subject to the same regulations as that youth's adult family member or legal guardian. Youth from states that do not qualify for reciprocity must obtain required adult nonresident licenses.

Wild Turkey - Spring

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, 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)
• Spring Wild Turkey License

Nonresidents: Open only to North Dakota residents.

Wild Turkey - Fall

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, 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)
• Fall Wild Turkey License

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate
• General Game and Habitat License
• Nonresident Fall Wild Turkey License

Migratory Birds

Note: See specific regulations for each species.

Note: See Upland Game for licensing information on Crow, Wild Turkey, Doves, Hungarian Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Snipe, Woodcock, and Pheasants.

Fall Waterfowl Seasons

Species include: Snow geese, Blue geese, Ross's geese, White-fronted Geese, Canada Geese, Mergansers, Ducks, Coots.

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)
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - required of all hunters 16 years of age and older.

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Harvest Information Program registration
• Nonresident Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate
• General Game and Habitat License
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - required of all hunters 16 years of age and older.
• Nonresident waterfowl license - two types are available:
  • A statewide license, good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period, or
  • A zone-restricted license that requires the nonresident to select hunting zones (see **Nonresident Waterfowl Hunting Zones (pdf) below) according to the following restrictions:
    1. A nonresident must select Zone 1 or Zone 2 for one seven-day period and Zone 3 for the other seven-day period, or
    2. Zone 3 for the full 14 days or two seven-day periods, or
    3. Zones 1 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period or zones 2 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period. This option effectively reduces the license to seven days only, as the two 7-day periods are run at the same time.

• ---

• Nonresident Youth Hunting Licenses - A nonresident under age 16 need only purchase a North Dakota resident fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a North Dakota resident general game and habitat license to hunt small game and waterfowl, except swans and wild turkeys; provided that the nonresident's state of residence, or province or territory of Canada, provides a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents who are also under age 16. (Currently states of AL, AR, CO, CT, ID, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NJ, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, WA and WI qualify.) To be eligible, a nonresident youth must not turn 16 before September 1 of the year for which the license is issued, and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian who is licensed to hunt small game or waterfowl in this state and is subject to the same regulations as that youth's adult family member or legal guardian. Youth from states that do not qualify for reciprocity must obtain required adult nonresident licenses.

Early Canada Goose

Species include: Canada Geese

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Early Canada Goose
• 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)
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - required of all hunters 16 years of age and older, is needed starting Sept. 1.

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Nonresident Early Canada Goose - Nonresidents under age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee if their state has youth reciprocity licensing with North Dakota.
• This is a special, separate license for the early season.
• Early Canada goose season days do not count against the 14-day regular season nonresident license.
• Harvest Information Program registration
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - required of all hunters 16 years of age and older, is needed starting Sept. 1.

Spring Light Goose Season (Conservation Order)

Species include:Spring Light Geese - Snow, blue and Ross's geese only

NOTE: A federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) is not required for spring season.

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)
• Note: Resident spring goose hunters must have a current year license beginning April 1. The past year's license expires March 31.

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Nonresident Statewide Spring Light Goose License
  • Harvest Information Program registration
  • Nonresidents under age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee if their state has youth reciprocity licensing with North Dakota.
  • This is a separate, special license for the spring season.
  • Spring season days do not count against the fall nonresident time restriction.

Tundra Swan

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)
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - required of all hunters 16 years of age and older.
• Tundra Swan permit

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Harvest Information Program registration
• Nonresident Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate
• General Game and Habitat License
• Federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp) - required of all hunters 16 years of age and older.
• Nonresident waterfowl license - two types are available:
  • A statewide license, good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period, or
  • A zone-restricted license that requires the nonresident to select hunting zones (see **Nonresident Waterfowl Hunting Zones (pdf) below) according to the following restrictions:
    1. A nonresident must select Zone 1 or Zone 2 for one seven-day period and Zone 3 for the other seven-day period,  or
    2. Zone 3 for the full 14 days or two seven-day periods,  or
    3. Zones 1 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period or zones 2 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period. This option effectively reduces the license to seven days only, as the two 7-day periods are run at the same time.
• Tundra Swan permit

Other Migratory Game Birds

Note: See specific regulations for each species.

Species include: Doves, Snipe, Woodcock, Crows.

Residents must possess the following licenses:

• Harvest Information Program registration (exception: not required to hunt crows)
• 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)

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Harvest Information Program registration (exception: not required to hunt crows)
• Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate
• General Game and Habitat License
• Nonresident Small Game License (good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period)

Sandhill crane

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

Other

Note: See specific regulations for each species.

Species include: Prairie Dog, Skunk, Porcupine, Rabbits, Ground Squirrels.

Residents:

• Residents do not need a license.

Nonresidents must possess the following licenses:

• Nonresident Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate
• Nonresident nongame license or
• Nonresident furbearer and nongame license