The state Game and Fish Department’s annual spring aerial mule deer survey is set to begin in early April in western North Dakota. Weather permitting, the survey takes about two weeks to complete.
During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of the badlands.
Game and Fish biologists have completed aerial surveys of the same 24 badlands study areas since the 1950s. The purpose of the survey is to determine a population index to assess mule deer abundance in the badlands.
The new system simplifies land selection by allowing users to click on property descriptions rather than manually entering lengthy details.
During the first year, applicants need to search and select their lands. In subsequent years, a convenient renewal button will speed up future applications. An additional link is available to reference previous years records.
These changes help validate eligible records more efficiently, ultimately reducing the time required to process the deer lottery. By improving accuracy and preventing errors, the system ensures a smoother experience for applicants and a timely lottery for those eager to receive their results.
Step-by-step guidance is available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website by visiting gf.nd.gov/buy-apply/help/gratis-application.
General deer and muzzleloader lottery applications will be online in early May. The deadline to apply is June 4.
2024 Deer Season Summarized
A total of 42,416 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 23,300 deer during the 2024 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department.
Game and Fish made available 50,100 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 55%, with each hunter spending an average of 4.7 days in the field.
Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 49% and 44% for antlerless whitetails.
Mule deer buck success was 80% and 78% for antlerless mule deer.
Hunters with any antlered or any antlerless licenses generally harvest white-tailed deer, as these licenses are predominantly in units with mostly whitetails. Buck hunters had a success rate of 61%, while doe hunters had a success rate of 56%.
Game and Fish issued 11,920 gratis licenses in 2024, and 9,484 hunters harvested 4,199 deer for a success rate of 44%.
A total of 956 muzzleloader licenses were issued, and 790 hunters harvested 232 white-tailed deer (116 antlered, 116 antlerless). Hunter success was 29%.
A total of 27,102 archery licenses (23,993 resident, 3,109 nonresident) were issued in 2024. In total, 22,449 bowhunters harvested 5,794 deer (4,884 whitetails, 910 mule deer) for a success rate of 26%.
The department is in the process of determining recommendations for licenses in 2025. In addition to harvest rates and winter aerial surveys, Game and Fish staff monitor other population indices to determine license numbers, including depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings, and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.
Bighorn Sheep Population Stable
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2024 bighorn sheep survey, completed by recounting lambs in March, revealed a minimum of 350 bighorn sheep in the grasslands of western North Dakota, down 4% from 2023 and 6% above the five-year average. Despite a slight decrease from the record count in 2023, the 2024 survey was still the second highest count on record.
Altogether, biologists counted 105 rams, 199 ewes and 46 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 biologist Brett Wiedmann was pleased to see the population remain near record levels for the seventh consecutive year.
The northern badlands population declined by 4% from 2023 but was the second highest count on record. The southern badlands population increased slightly but remained near its lowest level since bighorns were reintroduced there in 1966.
“We were encouraged to see adult rams and adult ewes near record numbers,” Wiedmann said. “The streak of four consecutive record counts was broken due to below-average lamb recruitment in 2024, as lambs recruited into the population declined 21% compared to 2023.”
Weidmann said the decline in lamb recruitment was likely not related to disease, but a combination of drought, predation and ewes recovering after several years of high lamb recruitment.
“Our state’s females have invested a lot of energy in rearing lambs the last four years, so sometimes they just need to take a break and concentrate on improving body condition,” he said.
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 480 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 tentatively scheduled for 2025. The status of the season will be determined Sept. 1, following the summer population survey.
Game and Fish issued seven licenses in 2024 and all hunters were successful in harvesting a ram.
Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep Apps Due
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications must be submitted online before midnight, March 26.
Applicants can apply by visiting My Account at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery in the past are not eligible to apply for that species again.
Open Fires Banned on Oahe WMA, Surrounding Areas
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is prohibiting open burning on public property it manages south of Bismarck and Mandan, to reduce the potential for wildfires in a heavily wooded recreation area along the Missouri River.
All open burning, including campfires, is banned until further notice on the Oahe Wildlife Management Area on both sides of the Missouri River. While the use of portable grills is allowed, extreme caution is advised due to the heavily vegetated area.
These woodlands are prone to wildfires prior to spring green-up. Mild temperatures and a high fuel load in the river bottoms are a cause for concern, in addition to being a high-use area for anglers, campers and other outdoor recreationists.
In addition to Oahe WMA, surrounding areas included in the open burn ban include Kimball and Maclean Bottoms managed by Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, Desert Off Road Vehicle Area managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Graner Park managed by Morton County Parks.
Oahe WMA covers more than 16,000 acres along Lake Oahe south of Bismarck-Mandan, in portions of Burleigh, Emmons and Morton counties. Burning restriction signs are posted at all entrances to the WMA.
2025-26 Licenses Needed April 1
North Dakota anglers, hunters and trappers should note that new licenses are required beginning April 1.
Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download the license to a smart phone or mobile device, which is helpful when asked to show proof while hunting or fishing in rural areas that lack cellular service.
Licenses can also be purchased at more than 80 vendor locations throughout the state. The 2025-26 small game, fishing and furbearer licenses are effective April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep Applications Online
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. The application deadline is March 26.
A total of 960 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 127 from last year.
Unit E7 was created after discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, landowners and hunters to manage a growing elk herd in and surrounding the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge. Nontoxic ammunition is required while hunting on the refuge. General lottery license holders from E7 will be able to hunt in unit E1W beginning Nov. 24.
Licenses in units E2 and E3 increased due to a stable to increasing elk population. Licenses in elk units E1W, E4 and E6 remain the same. Licenses in unit E1E will have the same number of any licenses but fewer antlerless licenses than 2024.
A total of 296 moose licenses are available, an increase of 54 from last year.
Licenses in units M10 and M11 increased slightly to align with the observed population in these units. Licenses in units M6, M8 and M9 remain the same as the moose population appears to be stable with good hunter success in these units. Licenses in M5 were reduced slightly. Moose units M4 and M1C will remain closed due to a low moose population in these units.
A bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled for 2025, depending on the sheep population. The status of the bighorn sheep season will be determined Sept. 1, after summer population surveys.
Unit B2 was created, adjusting the boundaries of units B3, B4 and B5. This was done to encourage the harvest of select sheep populations.
Bighorn sheep applicants must apply for a license at the same time as moose and elk, but not for a specific unit. Once total licenses are determined for each unit in late summer, the bighorn lottery will be held and successful applicants will be contacted to select a hunting unit.
Because the bighorn sheep application fee is not refundable as per state law, if a bighorn season is not held, applicants would not receive a refund.
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery are not eligible to apply for that species again.
Grant Application to Assist R3 Efforts
Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters.
The program supports projects and events that provide a positive environment to develop the skills and confidence needed to create lifelong, conservation-minded hunting and shooting sports participants.
Application deadline is May 1.
The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organization events and projects each year, with an average grant of $1,550.
Funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets; and eye and ear protection.
Past funding has enabled groups to conduct learn-to-hunt events, or sponsor trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting. Game and Fish has separate grant programs that support National Archery in the Schools Program and high school trapshooting teams.
Clubs or organizations interested in applying should note the grant process, application, and records requirements. For more information, including a grant application, visit the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or contact Cayla Bendel, department R3 coordinator, at 701-220-3461.
Drain Plugs Must Remain Out During Transport
As open water fishing on the Missouri River picks up during the spring bite, anglers should note that the drain plug must always remain out of the boat during transport, whether going to or away from the river.
In addition, to keep waters clean of aquatic nuisance species, all water users should clean, drain and dry all equipment after every use.
Clean and remove all plants and animals from watercraft or equipment prior to leaving any recreational area.
Drain all water from watercraft and equipment before leaving designated access points. Not draining water can be extremely hazardous and may cause negligent transportation of aquatic nuisance species to other locations.
Dry all equipment completely before using again.
Deadline to Remove Fish Houses
Unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters beginning March 15.
Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.
In addition, anglers are encouraged to look around and clean up the site if any trash is found left behind.
Anglers are advised to use caution while accessing area lakes. Ice conditions can vary from region to region, between lakes in the same region, and even on the same lake.
Game Wardens Association Offers Scholarships
The North Dakota Game Wardens Association is sponsoring scholarships for the fall semester for higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department