2024 Hunting Season Outlook
Index
- Upland and Small Game
- Ring-necked Pheasants
- Wild Turkey
- Ruffed Grouse
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
- Hungarian Partridge
- Tree Squirrels
- Big Game
- White-tailed Deer
- Mule Deer
- Pronghorn
- Bighorn Sheep
- Moose
- Elk
Introduction
What a difference a year makes. Last winter was a welcome reprieve for all involved. People, livestock and wildlife were able to take a break from trying to survive winter’s mean streak and slide into spring with the best chance to make things happen.
Of course, as winter was coming to an end, we started to wonder if the one good thing snow brings us, moisture, was going to be in short supply. Turns out, timely spring and summer rains have the landscape at the time of this writing looking pretty good over much of North Dakota. However, that habitat is in short supply and will slow down the recovery of wildlife populations compared to what we may remember from the past. This shortage will also undoubtedly reduce the ceiling that those populations could reach in the future if we, as citizens of North Dakota, choose to not do anything about it.
I have developed a new sense of determination to keep getting the word out on the importance of habitat to hopefully reduce the classic effect of “we don’t know what we’ve got till it’s gone.” See, my wife and I welcomed a son in November and shortly after his birth I heard a song by Ian Munsick that struck a chord called “Indian Paintbrush.” I encourage you to take a listen. There is a line in the song that goes: “It breaks my heart to think that my son/might not ever get to see/the Indian paintbrush come in bloom again.”
Boom, it hit me.
Game and Fish Department staff, me included, need to ramp up even more messaging and work on the ground to make sure this doesn’t happen for future generations or sooner. However, the Department can’t do it alone and those who read this likely have a stake in it as well. So, let’s all step up and get to work and not let time go to waste.
Now, let’s take a look at what hunting opportunities this fall may hold.
In the world of big game hunting, there is an up and down message. Deer licenses were lower again this year even with the milder winter. Not a surprise because not many fawns were born in summer 2023 and recruited into the population. After a bad winter, it takes a few years.
Moose populations are down a little from past winter tick outbreaks and the Department was being liberal with licenses to try and reduce the population to meet overall suitable habitat in areas and public tolerance. That’s why in 2024 the Department reduced licenses to try to encourage a stabilization of the population.
Elk are doing well, and license numbers show that. Like moose, elk don’t succumb to winter as easily as smaller species, so they are able to handle difficult weather better. So, elk hunting opportunities in North Dakota are as high as they probably ever been since hunting seasons started.
Following the results of the Department’s aerial pronghorn survey, we’ve made available significantly more licenses than last year, which is good news for resident big game hunters. Southwestern North Dakota does have more intact habitat than many other parts of the state, which certainly helped the pronghorn rebound.
Upland game birds have an even better ability to bounce back, and our counts are showing that. Barring bad weather events this summer, especially hail, we should be poised to bring off a good hatch of upland birds of most species. So, hunting opportunities for most of these should be noticeably better than last year. We will be running brood routes into August, so pay attention to that information when it comes out.
Waterfowl don’t bounce back as easily. It takes multiple things to line up to give them a population boost, including grass on the landscape and specific types of wetlands. Without snow last winter and its resulting runoff, the state was short on some of the smallest temporary wetlands important to kick off the waterfowl reproduction lifecycle. Some of the spring rains helped but time will tell if it was in time for waterfowl to increase populations and to what level. Even so, there will still be good opportunities to get out and harvest waterfowl in North Dakota this fall.
All in all, fall looks to be best for upland game hunting opportunities with good waterfowl potential. For those who drew a big game lottery license, congratulations. The populations may be on the rebound but your competition for harvesting deer will be less than in past years, so enjoy your opportunity. Good luck and happy hunting.
CASEY ANDERSON is the Game and Fish Department’s wildlife division chief.
Upland and Small Game
--- Ring-necked Pheasants ---
Opens: Oct. 12
Closes: Jan. 5, 2025
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Pheasants, like a lot of wildlife, enjoyed what was considered a very mild North Dakota winter in 2023-24, with most of the state receiving little to no snow.
Results of the spring crowing count survey showed higher numbers of breeding roosters throughout the entire pheasant range. The number of roosters heard calling was up anywhere from 26-52% throughout the state’s good pheasant range, reinforcing the Department’s results from last summer’s roadside counts that showed improved production of all upland birds.
Cover for nesting hens was above average in spring due to excess precipitation from timely fall and spring rains. Habitat was lush and green for early nesting attempts to be successful. However, June was cold and wet and it is expected that conditions during peak hatch were not favorable for high chick survival.
As of this mid-August writing, Department personnel are conducting late summer roadside brood counts, and preliminary numbers indicate hunters will see a similar number of birds this fall compared to 2023. There will not be as many young of the year birds available to hunters, but adult numbers are higher compared to last fall.
As always, hunters need to be mobile and willing to move to different locations to find localized optimal hunting opportunities. It’s expected the northwestern and southwestern parts of the state will provide the best hunting opportunities this fall.
Rodney Gross, Upland Game Management Biologist, Bismarck
--- Youth Pheasant ---
(For legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger.)
Opens: Oct. 5
Closes: Oct. 6
Daily limit: 3
Possession limit: 6
Shooting hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
--- Wild Turkeys ---
Opens: Oct. 12
Closes: Jan. 5, 2025
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
The turkey population in many of North Dakota’s hunting units has been higher than normal the past few years due to increased production in the western half of the state.
Last year, conditions were favorable for a successful turkey hatch, and Department surveys showed that. Turkey production in spring was good. Coupled with a high breeding population of hens, fall numbers were higher in parts of the state. The eastern part of the state has seen decreasing numbers of birds the last few years in response to the loss of quality turkey habitat.
Early reports from brood surveys indicated a slight decrease in the number of turkey broods on the ground, but more adults in the west. Turkey production is expected to be similar to last year.
Game and Fish increased fall licenses for wild turkeys slightly this fall to give hunters more opportunities in areas where turkey populations are too high for management goals. It is suspected the central and west-central parts of the state along river corridors will provide some of the better fall turkey hunting opportunities in the state.
Rodney Gross
--- Ruffed Grouse ---
Opens: Sept. 14
Closes: Jan. 5, 2025
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
The Game and Fish Department’s spring ruffed grouse survey indicated a 45% increase from 2023 in the number of drums heard. This was the highest number of drums in the Turtle Mountains since 2009-10.
Ruffed grouse were not surveyed in the Pembina Hills in 2023, but observers were able to access routes in 2024 and numbers were up 52% from where they were in 2022. The Pembina Hills had a recent peak in 2020, and hunters still reported seeing fair numbers in 2022.
Ruffed grouse hunting should be above average in North Dakota this year.
Ruffed grouse are an uncommon in North Dakota because they live almost exclusively in aspen forests. They are only found in the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills. Although there was a small population in the J. Clark Salyer Wildlife Refuge in McHenry County, ruffed grouse have not been heard there since 2006.
Jesse Kolar, Upland Game Management Supervisor, Dickinson
The sharp-tailed grouse index (weighted average by area surveyed) for 2024 was up 51% statewide from 2023, particularly in southwestern North Dakota (up 75%). The mild winter facilitated the increases, coupled with the most broods per mile observed since 2015. Some of the increases may also be due to survey conditions as access to survey areas was difficult in 2023, with snow persisting into May, compared to ideal survey conditions in 2024.
The Department’s 2024 late summer roadside brood counts are showing lower rates of reproduction (brood size down 14.6%), fewer broods (down 8.3%) and lower densities (down 14.6%) compared to 2023. Conditions during roadside brood routes have been varied this year with a cool, dewy start (dew brings birds out of cover) followed by two weeks of hot, dry weather. Conditions might explain why biologists are seeing fewer grouse and broods despite the promising spring surveys; however, the average brood size and chick-to-adult ratios are more robust and aren’t as sensitive to survey conditions.
The hatch was likely impacted this year by a cool, wet June with several significant rain and/or hailstorms across the state. Fortunately, a high number of adults are being seen during the surveys.
Statewide, sharptail populations continue rebounding from drought-induced lows in 2017-18 and are back to the 10-year average across the state.
Sharptails nest almost exclusively in native prairie, pastures and planted grasses, so even though they move between nesting season and fall, the best places to find birds are in areas near grasslands resembling native prairies. In fall they can often be found in shrub patches on hillsides, alfalfa fields, sunflower fields, and near harvested canola fields.
One change in the sharp-tailed hunting regulations this year is the removal of the closed portion of the hunting unit in Grand Forks County. This area was closed to prevent incidental take of greater prairie chickens after they were reintroduced to the area. However, sharptails have taken over the area, and prairie chickens have all but disappeared, so the area will be re-opened. The season will remain closed for prairie chickens, so hunters in Grand Forks county are encouraged to see identification pages on the Department’s website (gf.nd.gov), and they should be prepared to pass up anything they are not able to identify as a sharp-tailed grouse with certainty.
Hunters can request prepaid wing envelopes here.
Jesse Kolar
--- Gray Partridge ---
Opens: Sept. 14
Closes: Jan. 5, 2025
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Although the Department does not have a spring index for gray partridge, commonly referred to as Hungarian partridge, biologists continue to hear reports across the state of how many partridge people are seeing. However, this is the first year since 2019 that reproduction surveys for partridge are trending down.
So far, biologists are seeing declines in brood size (down 33.5%), number of broods (down 36.4%) and densities (partridge per mile, down 46%). Partridge reproduction had been excellent for the previous five years, so despite declines, the population still looks healthy with higher-than-average numbers across the state.
Hunters rarely go “partridge hunting,” but like last year, upland hunters could expect to put up a covey of partridge every one to two days (or more in some areas). One downside with lower reproduction is that the coveys will be smaller. Instead of seeing coveys of 12-15 birds, it’s likely hunters will notice many more coveys with fewer than 10.
Partridge overlap with pheasants and sharptails in North Dakota, but their preferred habitat is weedy edges, so focus on rock pile islands in the middle of harvested fields, lone trees or shrub patches in ditches, field edges, fence lines, and so on.
Jesse Kolar
--- Tree Squirrels ---
Opens: Sept. 14
Closes: Feb. 28, 2025
Daily Limit: 4
Possession Limit: 12
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Tree squirrels may be taken statewide with firearms loaded with shot, rimfire rifles, or with bows and arrows legal for taking upland game.
Big Game
--- White-tailed Deer ---
Archery Opens: Aug. 30
Archery Closes: Jan. 5, 2025
Youth Gun Season Opens: Sept. 13
Youth Gun Season Closes: Sept. 22
Regular Gun Season Opens: Nov. 8
Regular Gun Season Closes: Nov. 24
Muzzleloader Opens: Nov. 29
Muzzleloader Closes: Dec. 15
The Game and Fish Department made available 50,100 licenses for the 2024 deer gun season, a decrease of 3,300 from 2023. Statewide hunter success for the 2023 regular gun season was slightly higher than 2022 at 55%, and below the goal of 70%.
Hunter observation and harvest indices indicate deer populations are stable to decreasing with populations below objectives in most units. Big game biologists were unable to conduct winter aerial surveys last winter due to lack of conditions required to effectively survey for white-tailed deer. Fortunately, last winter’s mild conditions, along with an early green-up in spring, boded well for deer. These conditions generally equate to increased overwinter survival, healthier deer coming out of winter, and improved fawn production.
Loss of quality habitat continues to be a challenge for deer. These losses limit the potential for population growth and ultimately lower carrying capacity. Effects of this are most apparent in the eastern third of the state where CRP losses have been the greatest.
A total of 11 deer tested positive for CWD in 2023, nine of those were harvested by hunters during the regular gun season. All deer testing positive for CWD came from units where the disease was previously detected. Units include 3A1 (three mule deer), 3A2 (one white-tailed deer), 3E1 (one mule deer and one white-tailed deer), 3E2 (two mule deer), and 3F2 (two mule deer and one white-tailed deer).
CWD surveillance for the 2024 season will primarily focus on units in the northeastern portion of the state. Hunters wishing to have their deer tested regardless of hunting unit may request a sampling kit online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov, visit a Game and Fish district office, or drop the head off at one of the Department’s drop-off sites. Baiting restrictions will remain in place for hunting units 1, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F.
Landowners interested in having more antlerless deer harvested are encouraged to call the Game and Fish at 701-328-6300, and Department personnel will direct the number of doe hunters that landowners are comfortable hosting.
A summary of deer licenses for 2024:
- Any antlered licenses decreased by 1,000.
- Any antlerless licenses decreased by 2,000.
- Antlered white-tailed deer licenses remained the same.
- Antlerless white-tailed deer licenses decreased by 300.
- 956 muzzleloader licenses were made available – 478 antlered white-tailed deer licenses and 478 antlerless white-tailed deer licenses. This is a decrease of 66 muzzleloader licenses from 2023.
- 160 “I” licenses were made available for the youth deer hunting season. “I” licenses are limited in number for units 3B1, 3B2 and 4A-4F, and are valid for any deer. There are unlimited “H” youth deer hunting licenses valid for any deer statewide except antlered mule deer in the above restricted units.
- 337 nonresident any deer archery licenses were made available, down 525 from 2023. The number of nonresident any deer archery licenses will remain at 337 in 2025.
- Residents ages 11, 12 and 13 who hold a statewide antlerless white-tailed deer license are no longer restricted to the youth deer season. This license is now valid during the regular deer gun season.
Benjamin Matykiewicz, Big Game Management Biologist, Bismarck
--- Mule Deer ---
Archery Opens: Aug. 30
Archery Closes: Jan. 5, 2025
Regular Gun Season Opens: Nov. 8
Regular Gun Season Closes: Nov. 24
Mule deer densities remained the same in 2024 compared to 2023 following record low fawn production in 2023, reduced harvest and a very mild winter in 2023-24. The 2024 spring index for mule deer in the badlands was 1% higher than 2023, but 4% below the long-term average.
Licenses remained the same as last year with 1,600 antlered licenses and 650 antlerless licenses available for the 2024 season. A mule deer buck license remains one of the most difficult licenses to draw but for those lucky few, it should result in a very high-quality hunt. Hunter success for mule deer bucks was 80% in 2023.
There remain many challenges facing the future population recovery of mule deer in the badlands. Encroachment of juniper in mule deer habitat, direct and indirect habitat loss due to oil development, predators and weather, including extreme winters, are all challenges facing long-term population recovery of mule deer in the badlands.
Bruce Stillings, Big Game Management Supervisor, Dickinson
--- Pronghorn ---
Archery Only Opens: Aug. 30
Archery Only Closes: Sept. 22
Gun/Archery Season Opens: Oct. 4
Gun/Archery Season Closes: Oct. 20
North Dakota hunters will have considerably more pronghorn hunting opportunities this year thanks to a population increase following reduced harvest last year and a mild winter in 2023-24.
Biologists conducted aerial surveys of 13,340 square miles in early July and found that the number of pronghorn in the state increased by 31% from last year. Fawn production was 50 fawns per 100 does, which was higher than last year, but below long-term average of 59 fawns per 100 does. Pronghorn increased in all management regions except Western Bowman where numbers decreased by 12% from last year. Fawn production has been below average since 2020 in this region.
Hunting units 1A, 1D, 6A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, and 13A will open in 2024 after being closed in 2023.
The Department made available 1,265 licenses in 2024, 845 more than 2023. Lottery licenses can be used during the archery season (Aug. 30 (noon) – Sept. 22) with archery equipment or during the rifle season (Oct. 4 – Oct. 20) using legal firearm or archery equipment for those who do not hunt or harvest during the archery season.
The 2023 season saw 353 hunters harvesting 226 pronghorns for a success rate of 64
Bruce Stillings
--- Bighorn Sheep ---
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2023 bighorn sheep survey, completed by recounting lambs in March, revealed a record 364 bighorn sheep in the grasslands of western North Dakota, up 5% from 2022 and 16% above the five-year average. The count surpassed the previous record of 347 bighorns in 2022.
Altogether, biologists counted 106 rams, 202 ewes and 56 lambs. Not included are approximately 40 bighorn sheep in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and bighorns introduced to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 2020.
Big Game biologists were pleased to see an increase in the survey for the sixth consecutive year.
The northern badlands population increased 5% from 2022 and was the highest count on record. The southern badlands population dropped to its lowest level since bighorns were reintroduced there in 1966.
Biologists were encouraged to see a record count of adult rams, and adult ewes and lambs were near record numbers. Unlike the population declines observed in most other big game species following the severe winter of 2022-23, the increase in the bighorn population was attributable to two factors: higher than expected survival of adults and lambs during the extreme winter conditions of 2022, and better than anticipated lamb production and survival during 2023. Basically, bighorn sheep are incredibly hardy animals that can thrive during North Dakota’s most frigid winters.
Department biologists count and classify all bighorn sheep in late summer, and then recount lambs the following March as they approach one year of age to determine recruitment.
Currently, about 490 bighorns make up the populations managed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, National Park Service and the Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Division, just shy of the benchmark of 500 bighorns in the state.
A bighorn sheep hunting season is open in 2024.
Brett Wiedmann, Big Game Management Biologist, Dickinson
--- Moose ---
The number of once-in-a-lifetime licenses for moose were reduced slightly in 2024 for this popular big game species. The reduction in licenses was due to an observed decrease in the population based on previous winter aerial surveys, a slight decrease in hunter success and a previous winter tick outbreak that impacted the population.
The reductions are in the northwestern region of the state for moose management units M9, M10 and M11 and are primarily for antlerless licenses. The number of moose licenses will be unchanged for moose units M5, M6 and M8 based on a stable population and good hunter success.
Numbers of moose continue to remain lower in historical hunting units in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills and along the Red River corridor. Moose unit M1C, located in the Pembina Hills region of the state, has been closed since 2006 and will remain closed again this year. Moose unit M4, which encompasses the Turtle Mountains, was closed in 2013 and will also remain closed this fall.
The Department made available 242 licenses for North Dakota’s 2024 fall moose season. Expectations for the season are high as success for moose historically runs above 90%.
Jason Smith, Big Game Management Biologist, Jamestown
--- Elk ---
North Dakota’s 2024 elk season features an increase in licenses from 2023. The primary increase in licenses were for elk units E1W, E1E and E3. This was in response to an increasing elk population in those areas and landowner tolerance concerns.
Licenses in elk units E2, E4 and E6 will remain the same as 2023. Elk numbers in these units appear stable based on aerial surveys of core habitat and minimum counts of winter herds.
The Department made available 833 licenses for North Dakota’s 2024 elk season.
Elk hunting in North Dakota can be challenging, both mentally and physically. Although high when compared to other western states, success rates for North Dakota elk hunters averaged just over 60% in the last five years. Cow licenses are easier to draw but are the most difficult to fill. Hunters with cow licenses should be prepared for a challenge, with many days spent in the field.
The season outlook for elk in 2024 is expected to be good, with success similar to pervious years. As always, making landowner contacts and preseason scouting are recommended as essential components to a successful elk or moose hunt.
Jason Smith
Migratory Birds
--- Ducks and Geese ---
North Dakota wetland habitats had an interesting spring and early summer coming out of a dry fall and winter, then receiving double or more the usual rainfall from late April through June. Wetland conditions dried considerably during late summer and fall of last year and were not good at all coming out of March. Settling conditions for breeding pairs of ducks looked very poor as migration began, but widespread rainfall started to change the story. By the time Department biologists ran the May breeding waterfowl survey, wetland conditions had improved substantially, but were still mostly “fair.”
The 77th annual breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of 2.9 million ducks in the state. Wetland conditions across the state during the May survey varied from poor to good, logging the 32nd highest wetland index in the history of the survey. Overall, this year’s breeding duck index was the 30th highest in the 77 years of the survey, down 15% from last year, but still 17% above the long-term average.
Indices for individual species, except for scaup (plus 23.2%), were similar to, or below those from 2023. Mallards were down 18.7% from 2023 and represented the 30th highest count on record. The wigeon index decreased 42.2%, shovelers and pintails decreased 38.1% and 28.7%, respectively; other decreases were 20.1% for canvasbacks, 12.9% for blue-winged teal, and 7.1% for redheads. Gadwall, green-winged teal, and ruddy ducks all had similar indices as last year.
Compared to average indices from 1994-2016, when water and abundant upland nesting conditions persisted on the North Dakota landscape, the total duck index for 2024 was down 28%. The mallard index for this year was well below (minus 42.2%) their average during 1994-2016, and other indices that were below the average from this comparative period, ranged from minus 48.6% (wigeon) to minus 24.2% (shovelers). Indices for this year that were above the 1994-2016 average ranged from plus 3.7% (canvasbacks) to plus 18.7% (redheads).
Wetland conditions began declining last summer and were quite poor when migration began this spring. As a result of habitat conditions that weren’t all that good, along with declining continental populations of ducks, fewer breeding ducks settled in North Dakota this year. Abundant, widespread rainfall that began in late April and continued through June reinvigorated production opportunities for ducks. Despite improved conditions that came on late, the number of broods observed during the Department’s July brood survey was down substantially (59%) from last year’s count, 24% below the 1965-2023 average, and 51% below the 1994-2016 average. The average brood size was 6.2 ducklings, down 5% from last year’s estimate.
Following the 32nd highest wetland index on the May survey, North Dakota’s landscape got wetter and wetter through May and June across most of the state. July wetland counts were up 109% from last year, and 57% above the long-term average. Some of the extreme wetness was drying down as we came out of summer, but excellent wetland conditions should have persisted long enough for a continued nesting effort by ducks. These late nesting efforts could help shore-up a lackluster July brood index.
Overall, the fall flight forecast (based on the May breeding index and July brood index) of ducks from North Dakota is down 36% from last year and is the 31st highest fall flight from the state on record.
Numbers of temperate-breeding Canada geese, Western Prairie Canada geese and arctic nesting Tallgrass Prairie Canada geese, snow geese and Ross’s geese all remain high, despite declines in abundance of central arctic light geese in recent years. Production of Canada geese in the state was strong this year, and large-type Canada geese in the state continue to be abundant. Early observations from the arctic indicate good conditions for breeding geese. More will be known about these populations after monitoring efforts during late summer and early fall.
Hunters should expect favorable conditions for waterfowl hunting in North Dakota this year. Canada goose hunting should be good, but timing of crop harvests is always a wildcard for early season hunting. Canada geese probably won’t start grouping up and moving around much until September due to late reproduction efforts and later crop harvests. An overly strong duck migration isn’t expected due to relatively dry conditions in Prairie Canada. Hunters should take advantage of early migrants like blue-winged teal during the first two weeks of the season as teal production appears to be good. North Dakota waterfowl hunting seasons are always affected by fall weather, and weather patterns from early to late seasons usually are not consistent from year to year.
The Department’s fall wetland survey will give one last look at wetland conditions in September.
Mike Szymanski, Migratory Game Bird Management Supervisor, Bismarck
--- Youth Waterfowl Season ---
(For legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger.)
Opens: Sept. 14
Closes: Sept. 15
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Daily Limit: Ducks and geese – same as regular season.
--- Special Veteran and Active Military Waterfowl Season ---
(For legally licensed veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty, other than for training.)
Opens: Sept. 14
Closes: Sept. 15
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Daily Limit: Ducks and geese – same as regular season (does not include bonus blue-winged teal).
--- Early Canada Goose Hunting ---
Opens: Aug. 15 (statewide)
Closes: Sept. 7 (Missouri River Canada Goose Zone), Sept. 15 (Western Canada Goose Zone), Sept. 20 (Eastern Canada Goose Zone)
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Daily Limit: 15
Possession Limit: 45
--- Canada Geese Regular Season ---
Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. 28 (nonresidents)
Closes: Dec. 27 (Missouri River Canada Goose Zone), Dec. 21 (Western Canada Goose Zone), Dec. 16 (Eastern Canada Goose Zone)
Daily Limit: 5 (Missouri River zone), 8 (all other zones)
Possession Limit: 15 (Missouri River zone), 24 (all other zones)
--- White-fronted Geese (Statewide) ---
Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. 28 (nonresidents)
Closes: Dec. 1
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 9
--- Light (Snow) Geese (Statewide) ---
Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. 28 (nonresidents)
Closes: Dec. 27
Daily Limit: 50, no possession limit
Shooting Hours for all Geese: Half-hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Exception: Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset on all Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of each season. Starting Dec. 1, all-day hunting is also allowed on Sundays through the end of each season.
--- Regular Duck Season ---
Low Plains Unit
Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. 28 (nonresidents)
Closes: Dec. 1
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
High Plains Unit
Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. 28 (nonresidents)
Closes: Dec. 1
Opens: Dec. 7
Closes: Dec. 29
Shooting-hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Daily Limit: Six ducks (including mergansers), which may include no more than five mallards (two of which may be hens), one pintail, two redheads, two canvasbacks, one scaup and three wood ducks. In addition to the daily bag limit of ducks, an additional two blue-winged teal may be taken from Sept. 21 through Oct. 6.
Possession Limit: Three times the daily limit.
--- Sandhill Cranes ---
Opens: Zone 1 and 2: Sept. 14
Closes: Zone 1 and 2: Nov. 10
Daily Limit Zone 1: 3
Daily Limit Zone 2: 2
Possession Limit Zone 1: 9
Possession Limit Zone 2: 6
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Exception: Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset on all Saturdays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 21 through the end of each season.
The mid-continent population of sandhill cranes has been in good shape over the past few years. The Northern Great Plains experienced a warm March, which spread out, and in some cases, sped up the northern migration of many bird species. As a result, it is more likely that some sandhill cranes had already flown past the survey area in the central Platte River valley of Nebraska when the annual spring survey was conducted. Survey numbers are not finalized for 2024, but last year’s count was a record high.
In addition, the three-year population index used for guiding hunting season regulations has been increasing for several years now and is well above thresholds that would concern managers. Wetland conditions throughout much of North Dakota are also in good shape, which will provide plenty of options for roosting sandhill cranes during the fall migration.
The two zone – Zone 1 west of U.S. Highway 281 and Zone 2 east of U.S. Highway 281 – structure for sandhill cranes continues. The two zones have the same season lengths (58 days) and dates but will continue to have different bag limits. Zone 1 has a daily bag limit of three cranes; in Zone 2 the daily bag limit is two. The possession limit in Zone 1 is nine cranes, and six in Zone 2. This year, shooting hours for cranes were changed to align with those for geese.
Nonresident sandhill crane hunters can pursue sandhill cranes with either a valid nonresident small game or waterfowl license, in addition to a crane permit. Nonresident sandhill crane permits are valid for use within the dates and zones of nonresident waterfowl or small game licenses selected during purchase.
Hunters are also reminded to be sure of their target before shooting, as federally endangered whooping cranes may be present throughout North Dakota during fall. Report all whooping crane sightings to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck at 701-328-6300.
Mike Szymanski
--- Doves ---
Opens: Sept. 1
Closes: Nov. 29
Daily Limit: 15
Possession Limit: 45
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
North Dakota has an abundant breeding population of mourning doves and based on observations throughout the state, production was fair to good this year. Cool rainy weather in May and June may have impacted the early portion of the dove nesting season, but weather since has been more favorable for dove nesting. The Game and Fish Department also tallies mourning doves during late summer roadside counts, but that survey is still ongoing. Although survey numbers are not currently available, age ratios of juvenile to adult birds captured at banding stations in the state were indicative of fair production this year.
Dove hunters should find good opportunities in early September before cooler weather sets in throughout the state and pushes doves south. Hunters are encouraged to scout before the season to find the right mix of conditions conducive to concentrating birds. Hunters should look for areas with abundant harvested small grain or oil-seed fields that are near shelterbelts or other diverse stands of trees. Doves also need to be within a few miles of water. Despite late planting, harvest of small grains and oilseed crops are projected to be near average, so hunters should have plenty of places to choose from in September for field hunting.
Eurasian collared doves continue to expand throughout the state and are found in almost every city and small town. However, these birds are not often found very far outside of municipalities and are rarely harvested by hunters. Nonetheless, Eurasian collared doves can be pursued during the dove season and are included with mourning doves in the daily bag and possession limits if harvested.
Some dove hunters may be contacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to participate in a wing survey, which involves clipping one wing from each dove shot early in the season to send in for analysis. Hunters are also reminded to look for banded mourning doves in their bag and report bands directly to the Bird Banding Laboratory website at reportband.gov.
Mike Szymanski
--- Crows ---
Fall Season Opens: Aug. 17
Closes: Nov. 4
Spring Season Opens: March 8, 2025
Closes: April 20, 2025
Daily Limit: No limit on crows.
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
In addition to the crow season, crows may be taken when committing or about to commit depredations as specified in federal law.
--- Snipe ---
Opens: Sept. 14
Closes: Dec. 1
Daily Limit: 8
Possession Limit: 24
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
--- Woodcock ---
Opens: Sept. 21
Closes: Nov. 4
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 9
Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Furbearers
Furbearer hunting and trapping opportunities will be plentiful again this season. Populations of most furbearer species are abundant and as such, furbearer harvest limits and timing of seasons are the same as the previous year. The only change to the furbearer regulations included a slight expansion to the open fisher trapping zone. Trappers are allowed to take fishers nearly statewide during the one-week season in late November, except for the Turtle Mountains Region, which remains closed to protect American marten.
The rural mail carrier survey continues to be one of our earliest indicators of furbearer population trends each year. This survey is voluntarily conducted by rural letter carriers during early April. They survey around 25,000 road miles looking for 10 of our most common furbearer species. We are grateful to those letter carriers who have assisted with this survey, which has been an asset in wildlife management in North Dakota for over 50 years.
Overall, population trends based on the rural mail carrier furbearer survey were a mix of increases and decreases compared to the previous year, illustrating the typical fluctuations expected in wildlife. This year’s data indicated coyotes remain the bright spot in North Dakota with numbers similar or slightly higher than last year. Foxes continue to be outcompeted by coyotes in most places, although they are holding steady in the Prairie Pothole Region. Muskrats continue to struggle to reach higher numbers with only the eastern half of the state showing much promise, where their numbers are similar or slightly down from last year. And beavers appear to be below long-term averages but are up in the eastern half of the state compared to last year, particularly the Red River Valley.
Last year, hunters and trappers took 59 bobcats (50 in Zone 1 and nine in Zone 2), 43 fishers, 25 river otters and 14 mountain lions in Zone 1 (six in the early season and eight in the late season). Population trends for these species are estimated using data collected from the carcasses of animals taken during the hunting and trapping seasons. Trends indicate bobcat and fisher numbers are slightly up compared to the previous year and similar to their long-term averages. Otter and mountain lion trends are fairly stable.
As a reminder, successful fur harvesters of bobcats, fishers, river otters and mountain lions can now report their harvest online by logging into their Game and Fish account and clicking “New Registration.” Online reporting is provided as another option, in addition to reporting by calling in or visiting a Department office.
Because many furbearer species are difficult to survey due to their secretive nature and naturally low densities, we continue to encourage anyone to report their sighting(s) of black bears, bobcats, fishers, martens, mountain lions, river otters and swift foxes. Information about sightings can be submitted online at gf.nd.gov/hunting/furbearers/furbearer-observation.
Directions for releasing dogs from traps.
Stephanie Tucker, Game Management Section Leader, Bismarck
--- Mountain Lion Hunting ---
Zone 1 (early)
Opens: Aug. 30
Closes: Nov. 24
Zone 1 (late)
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 31, 2025
Zone 2
Opens: Aug. 30
Closes: March 31, 2025
The overall harvest limit on mountain lions in Zone 1 is once again 15, with an early season limit of eight, and a late-season limit of seven (or three females, whichever comes first). If the early season ends before eight mountain lions are taken, a conditional season could reopen after the late season, if the late season limit is reached prior to March 25.
There is no mountain lion harvest limit in Zone 2.
Mountain lions may be hunted statewide by residents using legal firearms or archery equipment during regular hunting hours. Beginning Nov. 25, mountain lions may also be hunted by pursuing with dogs. Cable devices and traps are not allowed. The limit is one lion per hunter. Kittens (lions with visible spots), or females accompanied by kittens, may not be taken.
Hunters must either contact the local game warden or Department field office or register their harvest online via their account and make arrangements to have their lion inspected and tagged.
--- River Otter Trapping or Cable Devices ---
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
Limit of one per person. Total harvest limit of 25 statewide.
Trappers must either contact the local game warden or Department field office or register their harvest online via their account to report their harvest within 12 hours and make arrangements to have their river otter tagged. For more information, see the North Dakota 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Guide.
--- Fisher Trapping or Cable Devices ---
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: Dec. 1
Open statewide except for the Turtle Mountains region, defined as the area bordered on the west by ND Highway 14, on the north by the Canadian border, on the east by ND Highway 30, and on the south by ND Highway 5. Limit one per person. Trappers must contact the local game warden or Department field office or register their harvest online via their account to report their harvest within 12 hours and make arrangements to have their fisher tagged. For more information, see the North Dakota 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Guide.
--- Beaver and Raccoon Hunting, Trapping or Underwater Cable Devices ---
Open: Year-round.
For more information, see the North Dakota 2024-25 hunting and trapping guide.
--- Beaver and Raccoon Cable Devices on Land ---
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
From March 16, 2025, through May 10, 2025, cable devices must be within 50 feet of water; must be no more than 4 inches off the ground and must have a stop restricting loop size to 12 inches or less in diameter. Beaver dams may be dismantled when their presence causes property damage.
--- Weasel Trapping, Hunting or Cable Devices ---
Trapping
Opens: Oct. 26
Hunting and Cable Devices
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
Weasels may be hunted statewide with rimfire or pre-charged pneumatic air guns of .22 caliber or smaller and archery equipment.
--- Muskrat and Mink Trapping, Hunting or Cable Devices ---
Trapping Opens: Oct. 26
Hunting and Cable Devices
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: May 10, 2025
Muskrat huts may be opened for insertion of traps or cable devices; however, the huts must be restored to their approximate original condition to prevent freeze-up.
Beginning March 16, 2025, non-floating colony traps must be under at least 2 inches of water, and trapping or using cable devices on the outside of any muskrat house or structure of any size is prohibited; traps may be placed completely inside a muskrat house or structure of any size; foothold traps must be submerged under water at all times or must have a protective covering (except when used on float sets); body-gripping traps used in water can have no more than 2 inches of the trap above the water or must have a protective covering.
Beginning May 1, 2025, float sets must have a protective covering.
Mink and muskrat may be hunted statewide with rimfire cartridges or pre-charged pneumatic air guns of .22 caliber or smaller and archery equipment.
--- Bobcat Trapping, Hunting or Cable Devices ---
Zone 1
Hunting and Trapping Opens: Nov. 9
Cable Devices Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
Beginning Nov. 25, bobcats may also be trapped using cable devices and hunted by pursing with dogs.
The pelt and carcass of each bobcat taken in Zone 1 must be presented to Department personnel for inspection and tagging prior to sale or transfer of possession, but no later than 14 days after the close of the season.
Zone 2
Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
Limit is one bobcat per person in Zone 2 and total harvest limit is eight.
In Zone 2, anyone who harvests a bobcat must either contact the local game warden or Department field office or register their harvest online via their account to report their harvest within 12 hours and make arrangements to have their bobcat tagged.
For more information, see the 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping guide.
--- Red Fox, Gray Fox, Coyote Trapping, Hunting or Cable Devices ---
Day hunting and trapping opens: Year-round
Night hunting and cable devices opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
Red fox, gray fox and coyote may be hunted at any hour from Nov. 25 through March 15, 2025. Any hunter who engages in the hunting of red fox, gray fox or coyote during the time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, must hunt exclusively on foot.
Hunters can use night vision, artificial light, thermal vision, and infrared light equipment during the night hunting season. Hunters are prohibited from using archery equipment (including crossbows) for night hunting until after the close of the archery deer season.
--- Badger Trapping, Hunting or Cable Devices ---
Hunting and trapping opens: Year-round
Cable Devices Opens: Nov. 25
Closes: March 15, 2025
North Dakota’s 2024 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, and most season structures are similar to last year.
Small Game, Waterfowl, Furbearer Regulations
Noteworthy items include:
- Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 21. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Sept. 28.
- The prairie chicken and sage grouse seasons remain closed due to low populations.
- An area in Grand Forks County is open to sharp-tailed grouse hunting that was previously closed.
- Fisher trapping opportunities were expanded by reducing the boundary of the closed area to the Turtle Mountains.
- Shooting hours for sandhill cranes were extended on Saturdays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 21 through the end of the season.
- The federal e-stamp is valid through the entire waterfowl hunting season.
Hunters and trappers can find the North Dakota 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Guide, which includes upland game, migratory game bird and furbearer/trapping regulations, on the Game and Fish website. For a complete listing of opening and closing dates, and daily and possession limits, refer to the table on pages 4-5 of the guide.