Skip to main content
nd.gov - The Official Portal for North Dakota State Government

Deer Hunters Should be Aware of Early Ice

North Dakota’s deer gun season opens Nov. 10 at noon, and the state Game and Fish Department cautions deer hunters to be wary of ice conditions.

In some parts of the state, there are already small and mid-sized waters that show the appearance of safe ice. Even though deer might be able to make it across, it doesn’t mean hunters can.

Ice can form overnight, causing 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.

Hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers.

In addition, hunters should be aware of snow-covered ice. Snow insulates ice, inhibiting solid ice formation, and makes it difficult to check thickness. Snow also hides cracked, weak and open water areas.