North Dakota state law requires youth ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft by themselves with at least a 10-horsepower motor must pass the state’s boating basics course.
While the home-study course is free, there is a fee to take it online. The online provider charges for the course, not the Game and Fish Department. The fee remains with the online provider.
The course covers legal requirements, navigation rules, getting underway, accidents and special topics such as weather, rules of the road, laws, life saving and first aid.
Free Fishing Weekend
North Dakota residents who want to give fishing a try can fish for free June 7-8.
That is the state’s free fishing weekend, when all residents 16 and older can fish any North Dakota water without a license. Residents 15 and younger do not need a fishing license at any time of year.
The weekend provides a great opportunity to try fishing for the first time or take someone new.
Those who didn’t apply last year will lose accrued points by not applying or purchasing a point this year.
Gratis applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline will qualify for an any-legal-deer license. As per state law, gratis applications received after the deadline will be processed based on licenses remaining after the lottery.
The SWAP is North Dakota's guiding document for the conservation and restoration of at-risk species and their habitats, with a focus on preventing species from becoming endangered. It identifies species of greatest conservation need, including fish, wildlife and invertebrates.
The plan is revised every 10 years and represents a unified effort involving various stakeholders aimed at creating and implementing conservation strategies to ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife.
North Dakota’s SWAP is a collaborative effort by Game and Fish staff, species experts, partner conservation groups, and state, federal and local agencies.
A draft of the plan is available on the Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, and public comments are accepted through June 30, 2025.
County Restrictions Remain on Oahe WMA
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department removed the open fire ban on Oahe Wildlife Management Area. However, this area still falls under county burn restrictions.
Oahe WMA covers more than 16,000 acres along the Missouri River south of Bismarck and Mandan within Burleigh, Emmons and Morton counties.
Leave Baby Animals Alone, Watch for Deer
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department offers a simple message to the well-intentioned who want to rescue what appear to be orphaned baby animals this time of year: don’t touch them. Whether it is a young fawn, duckling, cottontail rabbit or a songbird, it is better to leave them alone.
Often, young animals are not abandoned or deserted, and the mother is probably nearby. Young wildlife are purposely secluded by adults to protect them from predators.
Anytime a young wild animal has human contact, its chances of survival decreases significantly. It’s illegal to take wild animals home, and captive animals later returned to the wild will struggle to survive without possessing learned survival skills.
The only time a baby animal should be picked up is if it is in an unnatural situation, such as a young songbird found on a doorstep. In that case, the young bird can be moved to the closest suitable habitat.
Citizens should also steer clear of adult wildlife, such as deer or moose that might wander into urban areas. Crowding stresses animals and can lead to a potentially dangerous situation.
In addition, motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways. During the next several weeks young animals are dispersing from home ranges, and with deer more active during this time, the potential for car‑deer collisions increases.
A boat should have enough U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jackets on board for all passengers. North Dakota law requires all children ages 10 and younger to wear a personal flotation device while in boats less than 27 feet in length. The law also requires all personal watercraft users to wear a life jacket, as well as anyone towed on skis, tubes, boards or other similar devices.
However, state law allows an individual engaged in barefoot skiing or surfing to wear a wet suit (a life preserver must be on board the towing vessel), and a person who is at least 16 years of age can windsurf or boardsail without wearing a PFD.
Water users should make sure to wear life jackets of the appropriate size and in good condition. Failure to wear a personal flotation device is the main reason people lose their lives in water recreation accidents.
Water skiers and tubers should wear a life jacket with four nylon straps rather than one with a zipper, because straps are stronger than zippers upon impact with water. Anglers and people paddling a canoe, kayak or paddleboard should opt for a PFD that is comfortable enough to wear for an entire outing.
It is also important that children wear a PFD while swimming. Swimmers should know the water’s depth, as serious injuries can occur from diving. Large objects hidden below the water’s surface can lead to significant injury.
North Dakota boaters are also reminded that Class A and Class 1 vessels are required to have one hand, mouth or power-operated whistle audible for at least one-half mile. This regulation also applies to kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and jet skis.
In addition, marine VHF radios are an important part of boat safety that should not be improperly used by operators. These radios are intended for boat operators in distress and facing an emergency.
Paddlefish Snagging Season to Close to Additional Harvest
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced today that the state's 2025 paddlefish snagging season will close May 9 at 7 p.m. Central time to any additional harvest to provide long-term protection of the paddlefish population.
An additional snag-and-release extended season will begin May 10 and run through May 16. Paddlefish snaggers with unused tags can continue snagging during the additional snag-and-release season but must release all fish immediately. If a snagger has already used their tag on a harvested paddlefish, they are not allowed to participate in the additional snag-and-release period.
Snag-and-release will be open in that area of the Missouri River starting on the north shore from the Confluence boat ramp, then east (downstream) to the pipeline crossing (river mile 1577), and on the south shore from the confluence with the Yellowstone River, then east (downstream) to the pipeline crossing (river mile 1577).
Paddlefish snagging during the extended season is allowed from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT. The use or possession of a gaff on snag-and-release days is illegal.
Deer Season Set, Apply Online
North Dakota’s 2025 deer season is set, with 42,300 licenses available to hunters, down 7,800 from last year.
In addition, muzzleloader licenses decreased by 150 and restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses remained the same.
Casey Anderson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief, said population, harvest and survey data indicate the state’s deer population is stable to decreasing throughout the state.
“The state’s deer population continues to recover from the 2021 EHD outbreak and the severe winter of 2022-23, which limited population growth despite reduced gun licenses during 2023 and 2024 hunting seasons,” Anderson said. “Modest license allocations are intended to maintain hunting opportunities while encouraging population growth in the state.”
High-quality deer habitat is not abundant, which has limited the potential for population recovery. If CRP contracts continue to expire, Anderson said 85% of the once 3.4 million acres present in 2007 will be lost by 2026.
The spring mule deer survey showed western North Dakota’s population is 14% lower than last year despite a reduced harvest and consecutive mild winters.
North Dakota’s 2025 deer gun season opens Nov. 7 at noon and continues through Nov. 23.
Those who didn’t apply last year will lose accrued points by not applying or purchasing a point this year.
State law allows residents age 11, 12 and 13 to obtain any antlerless licenses, except in units 3B1, 3B2 and 4A through 4F where mule deer doe licenses are restricted.
Total deer licenses are determined by harvest rates, aerial surveys, depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings, and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.
ANS Awareness Week
May 4-10 is Aquatic Nuisance Species Awareness Week in North Dakota in an effort to raise public understanding of the preventative steps recreationists need to follow to stop the introduction and spread of ANS in the state’s waterways.
ANS are nonnative plants, animals or pathogens that can affect the ecology of our lakes and rivers and the economic and recreational value of those waterways.
Ben Holen, state Game and Fish Department ANS coordinator, said ANS awareness week is comprised of state and federal agencies highlighting the ongoing efforts taking place in North Dakota.
“The pathways of ANS introductions are vast, so it is important to relay ANS awareness across diverse platforms to reach many unique water users,” he said. “Raising awareness is a collaborative approach among partners and conscientious citizens.”
North Dakota currently has low numbers of aquatic nuisance species. Other than zebra mussels, just a few invasive plants and animals – curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, and grass, bighead, silver and common carp – are found in some state waters.
To fight the introduction and spread of unwanted invasives, Holen said some of the shared burden falls on water users. The Game and Fish Department encourages anglers, pleasure boaters and others to clean, drain and dry all equipment after every use. Clean and remove all plants or animals from watercraft or equipment prior to leaving any recreational area. Drain and remove water from all equipment prior to exiting designated access points. Not draining water can be extremely hazardous and may cause negligent transportation of ANS to various locations. Afterwards, verify that all equipment is completely dry before using again.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tracked 20 outdoors-related bills during the 2025 legislative session, 14 passed both chambers and signed into law.
The following bills take effect Aug. 1. A complete list of bills is on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
HB 1017 – Appropriates $114,864,690 to the Game and Fish Department for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.
HB 1082 – Defines farmed elk as mammals of the North American elk genus and species (cervus canadensis) confined in a manmade enclosure designed to prevent escape.
HB 1094 – Nonprofit organizations eligible to apply for special allocation big game hunting licenses for fundraising must be exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19), and must contribute at least 20% of the net proceeds of any raffle of a license to a conservation-related project.
HB 1147 – A resident disabled veteran who has at least a 50% service-connected disability qualifies for the $3 combined general game, habitat, small game and furbearer license.
HB 1174 – The Department may establish educational and community outreach programs to promote public understanding of fisheries and wildlife management and promote interest in pursuing careers in fields employed by the Department, including by job shadowing of field activities.
HB 1260 – Fifteen percent of the total mule deer gun licenses made available in the current year must be made available as nonresident any-deer bow licenses.
HB 1412 – The director shall provide that each application for a deer lottery license contains the option for an unsuccessful applicant to donate the license fee to the Private Land Open To Sportsmen program.
HB 1470 – Increases the fees of some hunting and fishing licenses, and changes hunting guide and outfitter requirements.
HB 1598 – An individual, while hunting big game or small game, other than waterfowl or cranes, may not use a motor-driven vehicle on any land other than an established road or trail without the written permission of the landowner, unless that individual has reduced a big game animal to possession.
SB 2137 – The Department may not adopt a rule or implement a policy prohibiting or restricting the use of supplemental feed on private property for hunting a big game animal. Has a sunset clause of July 31, 2029.
SB 2155 – The number of pronghorn gratis licenses issued may not exceed one-half of any pronghorn licenses available. In addition, if the individual is unsuccessful in the landowner lottery, that application may be included in a lottery for remaining licenses.
SB 2216 – A waterfowl habitat restoration electronic stamp is required for every resident and nonresident to hunt waterfowl at a fee of $5. In addition, creates a waterfowl habitat improvement fund for improving and restoring waterfowl habitat and supporting youth hunting programs.
SB 2245 – Allows the hunting of waterfowl from a floating craft without a motor propelled exclusively by paddle, oars or pole; or with a motor if the craft is at rest and the motor has been turned off.
SB 2309 – Allows the statewide antlerless white-tailed youth deer license to be issued as an antlerless license through governor's proclamation.
2024 Upland Game Seasons Summarized
North Dakota’s 2024 pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse harvests were up, while gray partridge was similar to 2023, according to the state Game and Fish Department.
Upland game biologist RJ Gross said the overall harvest was likely a result of more hunters, more trips and more birds in the population.
“The winter of 2023-24 was mild, and no die-offs were reported. In 2024, we observed an increase in pheasant crows heard during our spring crowing counts and sharptails during spring lek surveys,” Gross said. “Although chick production was decreased by the wet and cold nesting season, the increase in adult density added more broods to the population.”
Last year, 55,401 pheasant hunters (up 3%) harvested 357,018 roosters (up 12%), compared to 53,819 hunters and 319,287 roosters in 2023.
Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken were Hettinger, Divide, Burleigh, Williams and McLean.
A total of 21,660 grouse hunters (up 1%) harvested 73,010 sharp-tailed grouse (up 8%), compared to 21,512 hunters and 67,710 sharptails in 2023.
Counties with the highest percentage of sharptails taken were Divide, Hettinger, Williams, Morton and Bowman.
Last year, 21,887 hunters (up 8%) harvested 67,465 gray partridge. In 2023, 20,313 hunters harvested 67,481 partridge.
Counties with the highest percentage of gray partridge taken were Stark, McLean, Hettinger, Williams and Divide.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department