The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons.
Hunters should note the opening date for the regular waterfowl season is still under discussion.
Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2026 include:
Season
Tentative Date
Spring Turkey
April 11
Dove
Sept. 1
Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Mountain Lion
Sept. 4
Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse, Squirrel
Sept. 12
Youth Deer
Sept. 18
Youth Waterfowl
Sept. 19
Early Resident Waterfowl
Sept. 26
Pronghorn Gun
Oct. 2
Youth Pheasant
Oct. 3
Regular Waterfowl
TBD
Pheasant, Fall Turkey
Oct. 10
Mink, Muskrat, Weasel Trapping
Oct. 24
Deer Gun
Nov. 6
Deer Muzzleloader
Nov. 27
Agency Employees Recognized
Holen Named Agency Employee of the Year Ben Holen, aquatic nuisance species coordinator, Jamestown, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence at the department’s annual staff meeting in December.
Since stepping into the role of ANS coordinator, Holen has demonstrated exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to protecting North Dakota’s aquatic resources, said Jeb Williams, Game and Fish Department director.
“What truly sets Ben apart is his leadership style. In a program that is often thankless and rarely acknowledged, he maintains an unwaveringly positive attitude,” Williams said. “This positivity is reflected in his team and in the army of temporary staff who feel supported, informed, and valued under his guidance. Ben has become the department’s go-to source for all things ANS, providing clarity, insight, and stability in a volatile and high-stakes program.”
Johnson Earns Two Awards Drew Johnson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden in Finley, is the state’s 2025 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Johnson was honored by Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes wildlife officers in each state.
Scott Winkelman, department chief warden, said Johnson started at the newly created post in Finley in 2019 and his patrol district includes Griggs, Steele and Traill counties.
“Drew spends a great deal of his time patrolling in and around his patrol district by vehicle, boat, snowmobile and ATV. His value to the enforcement division is felt year-round as he patrols his district with enthusiasm for game law enforcement,” Winkelman said. “Warden Johnson’s work ethic and can-do attitude are exemplified in his commitment to becoming more skilled and efficient with each passing year and is a very deserving recipient of this award.”
Johnson was also named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year for 2025. “Drew’s prior work experience on Devils Lake seasoned him into a more successful boat and water safety officer as he had worked extensively on Devils Lake, one of North Dakota’s busiest natural lakes,” Winkelman said. Warden Johnson is dedicated to boat safety enforcement of both recreational boaters and anglers alike.”
Department Awards Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department director, recently honored employees with performance-based awards. The following special recognition awards were presented during the department’s staff meeting in December.
Blake Riewer, enforcement division investigator, Grand Forks, was recognized for consistently providing assistance on complex investigations and handling a significant amount of the behind-the-scenes technical work that is essential in today’s digital investigative environment.
Brian Frohlich, fisheries biological technician, Riverdale, was recognized for stepping in when the Riverdale office was understaffed to oversee all fall sampling for the fisheries district. Frohlich not only met but exceeded expectations by ensuring that sampling was conducted on every district lake that required survey work.
Shane Wegner, data scientist, Colin Penner, private land biologist/GIS specialist, and Kevin Kading, private land section leader, all Bismarck, were recognized for reducing the extensive amount of administrative work required in delivering private land programs in North Dakota. The private land technical teams worked together to optimize workflows by, for example, integrating electronic signatures for contracts and management plans.
Amanda Anstrom, assistant licensing manager, Bismarck, was recognized for her exceptional leadership, dedication and service by skillfully leading the licensing staff, overseeing complex front-end operations including licensing, lotteries and registrations. Jeff Long, education coordinator, Brian Schaffer, hunter education coordinator, and Amber Schroeter, administrative assistant, all Bismarck, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the department’s education section by consistently executing large, complex events essential to the agency, such as NASP tournaments, volunteer banquet and volunteer training.
Sperling Earns Warden Award Shawn Sperling, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district warden in Minot, was named the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wildlife Officer of the Year for 2025.
“Warden Sperling’s district contains portions of Ward, Renville and McHenry counties. This area of the state historically boasts a strong population of wild turkeys. Shawn has a passion for turkeys both professionally and personally, as he is an avid turkey hunter himself. Shawn diligently patrols for turkey hunting activity and addresses violations accordingly,” Turkey Federation officials said. “He is also a skilled investigator and has used his talents to make strong cases involving illegally taken turkeys. Warden Sperling’s dedication to the wildlife resources in his district, as well as his district’s constituents, make him a great fit for this award.”
The price to register motorboats under 16 feet in length in North Dakota, and all canoes, is $30; motorboats from 16 feet to less than 20 feet in length is $45; and motorboats at least 20 feet in length is $60. Fees are prorated.
In addition, a $15 aquatic nuisance species fee will be required with each watercraft registration.
New watercraft owners can attach the required documentation, such as the bill of sale or proof of taxes paid, with the online purchase, or send in the required documentation via standard mail. A 10-day temporary permit will be issued to allow for processing and delivery of registration and decals. For timely processing, Game and Fish encourages watercraft owners to submit attachments online.
Fish House Regulations
Any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that allow it to float. In addition, fish houses do not require a license.
Other fish house regulations include:
Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration number issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either an address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 inches high.
Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
Beginning March 15, unoccupied fish houses must be off the ice by midnight each day.
Free Ice Fishing Weekend
North Dakota’s free ice fishing weekend is Dec. 27-28. Resident anglers may fish those two days without a license. Residents 15 and younger do not need a fishing license at any time of year. All other winter fishing regulations apply.
The weekend provides a great opportunity to try fishing for the first time or take someone new.
Individuals required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to darkhouse spearfish must first register online.
Darkhouse spearing is allowed for all anglers with a valid fishing license and for youth under age 16.
Northern pike and nongame fish are the only legal species statewide, while walleye can be speared at Stump Lake and the Devils Lake complex south of U.S. Highway 2 and the Missouri River System (including lakes Oahe and Sakakawea and the Missouri River) up to the first tributary bridge.
Spearers and anglers are reminded that materials used to mark holes must be in possession as soon as a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is made in the ice.
All waters open to hook and line fishing are open to darkhouse spearing except:
East Park Lake, West Park Lake, Lake Audubon – McLean County
The next guide and outfitter written examination is Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than Jan. 2 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604.
In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations; certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid; and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.
Hunting outfitter eligibility requirements not only includes the guide qualifications, but the individual is also required to have held a hunting guide license for two years and have proof of liability insurance.
The test is given periodically to anyone interested in becoming a guide or outfitter in the state.
2025 River Otter Trapping Season Closed
North Dakota’s river otter trapping season is closed. The statewide season’s predetermined harvest limit of 30 has been reached.
Only North Dakota residents were eligible to participate, with a season limit of one otter per trapper.
HuntLink
HuntLink is a new, voluntary program designed to help North Dakota landowners easily connect with hunters and trappers. The program offers a simple way to allow managed access for antlerless deer, coyotes, turkeys, and other species. For landowners experiencing wildlife depredation or looking for additional management tools, HuntLink can help.
Landowners can enroll through their North Dakota Game and Fish My Account page and may remove their listing at any time once they’ve connected with enough participants.
Hunters can view landowner requests across the state through the HuntLink Map, but must contact landowners directly to obtain permission before hunting or trapping.
Special Allocation Lottery Application Deadline
Nonprofit organizations eligible to receive big game hunting licenses in 2026 must have the application submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department no later than Jan. 1.
North Dakota state law provides direction for the Game and Fish director to allocate big game hunting licenses to eligible organizations. Under this directive, up to two elk, moose and pronghorn licenses, and 10 white-tailed deer licenses, can be issued to organizations for fundraising.
Eligible organizations must be exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) or, new this year, 501(c)(19), and must provide proof from the Internal Revenue Service to that effect. In addition, organizations must be active and in good standing with the office of the North Dakota Secretary of State.
Successful lottery applicants must agree to donate at least 20% of the net proceeds of any license fundraiser to a conservation-related project, such as hunting access, conservation education, habitat development or shooting range management.
Officials Monitor Bird Flu During Fall Migration
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is monitoring sick and dead birds across the state in response to increasing reports from the public.
Dr. Logan Weyand, Department wildlife veterinarian, said Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is likely the cause and has been confirmed through testing this fall.
Understandably, most of the reports of sick and dead birds in the last two weeks have been snow geese and other waterfowl as HPAI is documented to coincide with seasonal migrations of these species and is expected this time of year.
Weyand said disease risk to humans and pets is low but can occur. While limited contact with dead birds is recommended, if carcasses must be removed, the public is encouraged to wear disposable gloves, and to wash their hands and clothes after placing carcasses in a garbage bag and disposing of them via a waste management provider.
Hunters Should Be Aware of Early Ice
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department warns hunters to be wary of ice conditions.
In some parts of the state, there are smaller waters that show the appearance of safe ice. Hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers.
Ice can form overnight, resulting in unstable conditions. Ice thickness is not consistent, as it can vary significantly within a few inches. Hunters walking the edge of a cattail slough will not find the same ice thickness in the middle, as the edges firm up faster than farther out from shore.
A few reminders:
Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, and hides cracks, weak and open water areas.
Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department