North Dakota Game and Fish Department
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.
View info on where to fish, regulations and equipment needed.
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:
Anglers and spearers should refer to the 2024-26 North Dakota Fishing Guide for more information.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will hold a public hearing to address proposed rules changes to Title 30 of the North Dakota Administrative Code. The hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 19 at the agency's main office in Bismarck.
The purpose and explanation of the proposed rule changes are listed below.
Chapter 30-03-06. Section 30-03-06-05. Water prohibited. An amendment to update the requirements for the transportation of water.
Chapter 30-04-03. Section 30-04-03-14. Initial application for guide and outfitter license. An amendment to update the requirements for hunting guide or outfitter license applications. (HB 1470)
Chapter 30-04-03. Section 30-04-03-17. Hunting guide and outfitter examination. An amendment to update the requirements for hunting guide or outfitter exams. (HB 1470)
Chapter 30-05-01. Section 30-05-01-02. Boat safety equipment. An amendment to update the requirements for personal flotation devices. (HB 1366)
The proposed rules may be reviewed at the Game and Fish Department’s office at 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095, or website gf.nd.gov. A copy of the proposed rules may be requested in writing from the above address, or by calling 701-328-6300, or emailing ndgf@nd.gov. Written or oral comments on the proposed rules sent to the above mailing or email address, or telephone number and received by Nov. 30, 2025, will be fully considered.
Anyone planning to attend the public hearing and needs special facilities or assistance relating to a disability should contact the Department at the above address or phone number at least seven days before the public hearing.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2025 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the northwestern portion of the state.
Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B and 4C. Outside of this area, hunters can still have their animal tested by taking it to a Game and Fish district office, deer head collection site or by using a self-sampling kit.
Hunters are encouraged to drop off heads of adult or yearling deer at collection locations listed on the department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Fawns and head-shot deer cannot be tested. Hunters wishing to keep the heads can bring them to a Game and Fish district office during business hours to have them sampled.
Self-sampling kits are available for hunters who wish to have their deer tested but are unable to drop the head at a collection site. The do-it-yourself kit allows hunters to remove the lymph nodes and ship them to the department’s wildlife health lab for testing.
Results can be expected within four weeks and will be sent to your Game and Fish My Account inbox.
More information on CWD is available at the Game and Fish website.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this fall at eight locations across the state.
These public meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel.
| District | Board Member | Date/Time | Host | Location | Contact Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Nathan Hovde | Monday, November 17, 7 p.m. CT | McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club | McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club (2306 121X Ave NW) | Nathan Hovde, 701-580-0314 |
| District 2 | Travis Leier | Wednesday, October 29, 7 p.m. CT | Goosefest | Kenmare Fire Hall (617 Central Ave N), Kenmare | Scott Ness, 701-240-3855 |
| District 3 | Edward Dosch | Wednesday, November 5, 7 p.m. CT | Lake Region Anglers | Lake Region State College (1801 College Dr, Chautauqua Rm), Devils Lake | Cory Everson, 701-351-0648 |
| District 4 | Karissa Daws | Wednesday, November 12, 7 p.m. CT | Dakota Prairie Wildlife Club | Fordville American Legion (208 Main St N), Fordville | Lynn Baier, 701-331-1074 |
| District 5 | Doug Madsen | Tuesday, October 28, 7 p.m. CT | Buffalo Wildlife Club | Buffalo Community Center (409 Main St), Buffalo | Dalen Grieger, 701-799-2141 |
| District 6 | Jordan Svenningsen | Wednesday, November 19, 7 p.m. CT | Stutsman County Wildlife Club | North Dakota Farmers Union (1415 12th Ave SE), Jamestown | Jordan Svenningsen, 701-840-2254 |
| District 7 | Jody Sommer | Monday, November 3, 7 p.m. CT | Turtle Lake Wildlife Club | Turtle Lake Wildlife Club (724 15th Ave NW), Turtle Lake | Jody Sommer 701-527-2295 |
| District 8 | Rob Brooks | Monday, November 24, 7 p.m. MT | Medora Grazing Association | AmericInn Hotel and Conference Center (75 E River Rd S) | Rob Brooks, 701-440-8952 |