Fall Turkey Hunting Guide

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Restrictions

Restricted to fall season dates and unit described on license.

Hunting Hours

30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Eligibility

Who May Apply - Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply in the first lottery. If licenses remain after the first lottery, state law allows nonresidents to apply.

Hunter Education Requirement - Persons born after December 31, 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course in order to purchase a North Dakota hunting license. Exceptions: Persons who hunt only on land they own or operate, and persons under age 12 (those under age 12 may hunt if they have an appropriate license and are under direct supervision of a parent or guardian). In addition, individuals who are 12 years of age and older, who have not taken the hunter education course, may be issued an apprentice hunter validation that enables them to hunt small game for one license year.

Minimum Age - There is no minimum age for hunting turkeys, but all hunters under age 15 afield with firearms must be under direct supervision of a parent, guardian or adult authorized by their parent or guardian.

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Licenses

General - Licenses are issued by weighted lottery after the number of gratis licenses is deducted from the total available.

Gratis - Gratis licenses are available to North Dakota residents owning, or leasing for agricultural purposes and actively farming or ranching, at least 150 acres of land located in an open hunting unit, and are valid only upon land described on the application and subsequently the license.

Other Licenses Required - Hunters, regardless of age, must also possess a general game and habitat license. In addition, resident hunters age 16 and older must possess a small game license or a combination license before hunting wild turkeys. (Gratis license holders exempt.)

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Hunting Over Bait

Placing of bait for any purpose is prohibited on Department wildlife management areas. Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of bait(s) for attracting wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Baits include but are not limited to grains, seeds, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay, or any other natural or manufactured foods.

Hunting over bait is also not allowed on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas; U.S. Forest Service national grasslands; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands; and all North Dakota state trust, state park and state forest service lands.

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Bag Limit

Each license holder may take and possess one wild turkey of any sex or age per license, not to exceed five licenses per person. Party hunting is not allowed.

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Tagging Requirements

Immediately after a turkey is taken, the hunter must indicate the date of kill by cutting out the appropriate month and day from the tag provided with the license, and attach it around the leg of the turkey to prevent its removal. It is not legal to possess or transport a turkey unless it is properly tagged. The meat tag must remain with the edible flesh during any transportation and until it is processed and packaged as food. No person may reuse or attempt to reuse any tag issued.

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Transportation

License holders must accompany their own wild turkey during transportation, except that it may be shipped by licensed public carrier in receipt of proper bill of lading.

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Firearms and Archery Equipment

Shotguns - Only shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and capable of holding not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber are legal. Minimum barrel length is 18 inches. Fully automatic firearms are illegal.

Rifles - Only muzzleloading long guns are legal. Muzzleloading rifles must have all components loaded through the muzzle. Centerfire rifles and rimfire rifles are not legal for hunting wild turkeys.

Bows and Arrows - A bow must be pulled, held and released by hand. Any release aid may be used providing it is hand operated, the shooter supports the draw weight of the bow, and the release is not attached to any part of the bow other than at the bowstring. A compound bow used for hunting turkeys must have at least 35 pounds of draw at 28 inches or less draw length. Recurve and long bows used for hunting turkeys must have at least 35 pounds of draw at 28 inches. Arrows must be at least 24 inches long, tipped with a metal broadhead, with at least two sharp cutting edges, and have a cutting diameter of at least 3/4 inch (i.e., not able to pass through a 3/4 inch ring). It is illegal to hunt turkeys with barbed arrows. Broadheads with mechanical or retractable blades are legal. Telescopic sights, range finding devices, or other electronic devices attached to the bow, or the arrow, are not permitted (exception: battery powered or electronically lighted sights that do not project light, lighted nocks and recording devices which do not aid in range finding, sighting or shooting the bow). Handheld range-finding devices are legal. Arrows capable of causing damage or injury in excess of that inflicted by the cutting edges of the broadhead are prohibited (e.g., explosive arrow points, arrows tipped with drugs or chemicals, and pneumatic or hydraulic shafts are illegal).

Handguns - Handguns of .35 caliber and larger with 4 inch or greater barrel length are legal.

Other Firearms/Archery Restrictions

• Crossbows are not legal, except with a permit from the Game and Fish director. Contact the Department for additional information on crossbow regulations.
• It is illegal to go afield with a firearm or bow and arrow while intoxicated.
• It is illegal to hunt upon the premises of another within 440 yards of any occupied building without the consent of the person occupying such building. Exception: Hunting is not prohibited on land owned by neighbors (private or public) even if the land is located less than 440 yards from the occupied building.
• Trail cameras may not be installed on private property without written permission from the landowner, or an individual authorized by the owner, and the camera must have an equipment registration number, or the individuals name, address and telephone number.

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Aircraft and Motor-Driven Vehicles

• Aircraft, manned or unmanned, may not be used to drive, concentrate, rally, raise, stir up or disturb game.
• Motor-driven vehicles may not be used to pursue game.
• It is illegal to shoot with bow and arrow or firearm while in or on a motor-driven vehicle.
• Unless otherwise authorized under N.D.C.C., no person may carry a firearm with a cartridge in the chamber in or on a motor-driven vehicle while hunting turkeys. The entire cylinder of a revolver is considered the chamber, requiring the revolver to be completely unloaded. Handguns with removable magazines or clips must have the magazine or clip removed from the firearm if the magazine or clip contains any loaded shells. It is illegal to carry any muzzleloader in or on a motor-driven vehicle with a percussion cap or primer on the nipple or powder in the flash pan.
• Motor-driven vehicles may only be used on established roads or trails. Except for persons having a special disability permit, no person may use a motor-driven vehicle while in the process of hunting turkeys or aid another in the process of hunting turkeys, including travel to and from the hunting location unless the motor-driven vehicle is on an established road or trail. Exception: a landowner or a lessee who actively farms or ranches the land, or a person having written permission from the landowner or lessee, may use a motor-driven vehicle off of an established road or trail to hunt turkeys except during the deer gun season.
• Motor-driven vehicles may not be used off established roads and trails on state wildlife management areas, federal waterfowl production areas, and any other areas where motor-driven vehicles are restricted.
• Established roads or trails do not include temporary trails made for agricultural purposes.
• No person may use motor-driven vehicles on North Dakota Game and Fish Department Conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) property without permission from the landowner. These areas have been entrusted to the public for walking access through written agreements with private landowners. The boundaries of these properties are identified by large yellow triangular signs.

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Areas Closed to Hunting

In accordance with N.D.C.C. 20.1-08-04.9, nonresidents shall be prohibited from hunting from October 12-18 on Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas or Private Land Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) areas. Exception: Nonresident hunters on PLOTS land they own.

Federal or state properties such as refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks and historic sites posted no trespassing or hunting are closed to hunting wild turkeys.

When hunting near the boundaries of closed refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks or historic sites, make sure you are familiar with any retrieval restrictions that may apply.

School trust lands are open to nonvehicular public access, including hunting, unless posted with ND Department of Trust Lands signs. The only established trails on Department of Trust Lands available for public use are those that are signed with Game and Fish Department trail markers. See the ND Department of Trust Lands website for additional information.

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Posting and Trespass

• Only the owner or tenant, or an individual authorized by the owner, may post land either electronically or by placing physical signs giving notice that no hunting is permitted on the land. The name of the person posting the land must appear on each physical sign in legible characters. Physical signs must be readable from the outside of the land and must be placed conspicuously not more than 880 yards apart. As to land entirely enclosed by a fence or other enclosure, posting of signs at or on all gates through the fence or enclosure constitutes a posting of all the enclosed land.
• Hunting on posted lands without permission from the owner or tenant is illegal and punishable by suspension of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for a period of at least one year.
• Hunting on posted land without permission can be prosecuted even if the land is not posted to the letter of the law.
• Any person may enter upon legally posted land (without a firearm or bow) to recover game shot or killed on land where he/she had a lawful right to hunt.
• It is illegal to hunt in unharvested cereal and oilseed crops, including sprouted winter wheat, alfalfa, clover and other grasses grown for seed, without the landowner’s consent, regardless of whether the land is posted or not.
• It is illegal to deface, take down or destroy posting signs.
• Failure to close gates upon exit or entry is a criminal violation punishable by forfeiture of hunting licenses.

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Road Rights of Way

Do not hunt on road rights-of-way unless you are certain they are open to public use. Most road rights-of-way are under control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunting when the adjacent land is posted closed to hunting.

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Wanton Waste

No person shall kill, cripple, waste, destroy, spoil or abandon the edible flesh (breast meat) of any wild turkey without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird, and retain it in his/her actual custody, at the place where taken and between that place and either (a) his/her personal permanent residence, (b) a taxidermist, or (c) a common carrier.

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Licenses Available by Unit

Available Licenses

Unit	Available	Unit	Available
02	50	37	350
03	50	40	50
04	200	44	75
06	20	45	125
13	800	47	50
17	200	50	250
19	200	51	225
21	Closed	53	100
25	550	98	300
27	400	99	100
30	400	Total	4,545
31	50

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Special Flock Reduction Turkey Bow Seasons

A limited number of special flock reduction turkey bow season licenses will be available for these areas and hunters may receive up to three. The bag limit shall be one wild turkey of any sex or age per turkey bow license. The season opens October 12, and closes on January 31, 2025. Hunters must comply with all other applicable archery rules and regulations issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Bismarck/Mandan

A special flock reduction turkey bow season is proclaimed for the City of Bismarck and specific surrounding areas. Hunters must first obtain a trespass/access permit from the Bismarck Chief of Police (701-223- 1212) before hunting on land within the city of Bismarck or specific surrounding areas.

A special flock reduction turkey bow season is proclaimed for private land south and east of the City of Bismarck in Burleigh County and is described as follows: starting where the southwest boundary of the city limits of Bismarck joins the east bank of the Missouri River, then following the city limits of Bismarck east to the point where it meets the west bank of Apple Creek in the northeast one-quarter of Section 26, Township 138 North, Range 80 West, then following the west bank of Apple Creek in a general southwest direction to its junction with the north boundary of Apple Creek Wildlife Management Area and then west and south along the WMA boundary to the Missouri River, then following the east bank of the Missouri River to the point of origin (this does not include the NDDOCR property). No access permit is required but hunters must obtain landowner permission before hunting. After obtaining permission, hunters must purchase special flock reduction licenses online at the Game and Fish Department’s website.

A special flock reduction turkey bow season is proclaimed for the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Lab in Mandan. Hunters must first obtain an access permit from the Northern Great Plains Research Lab. Other details, including areas open to hunting, will be determined by the USDA-ARS.

A special flock reduction turkey bow season will be held on the ND Department of Correction and Rehabilitation land south of Bismarck. Hunters must first obtain an access permit from the NDDOCR before hunting. Other details, including areas open to hunting, will be determined by the NDDOCR.

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Hunting by Nontribal Members on North Dakota Indian Reservations

If an individual hunts exclusively on Indian lands within an Indian reservation, a tribal license is required and a state hunting license is not required. Hunting on nontribal lands within an Indian reservation requires a state hunting license. Game taken legally with a tribal license within an Indian reservation may be possessed and transported anywhere in North Dakota.

Portions of some units are located on Indian reservations. Contact reservation tribal offices for more information.

• Fort Berthold – Game and Fish Department, 404 Frontage Road, New Town, ND 58763, 701-627-4760.
• Standing Rock – Game and Fish Department, Box 549, Fort Yates, ND 58538, 701-854-7236.
• Turtle Mountain – Department of Natural Resources, Box 570, Belcourt, ND 58316, 701-477-2604.
• Spirit Lake – Fish and Wildlife Department, Box 359, Fort Totten, ND 58335, 701-766-1243.

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Be Safe - Wear Orange Clothing

While hunting in an area where any big game gun hunting season is in progress, the Game and Fish Department recommends that turkey hunters wear a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline of solid daylight fluorescent orange totaling at least 400 square inches.

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Map of Open Hunting Units

Description of Open Hunting Units