Spring Turkey Hunting Guide

Hunting Hours

30 minutes before sunrise to sunset daily.

Eligibility

Hunter Education Requirement – Persons born after December 31, 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course and provide a hunter education number to the license vendor 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 appropriate license and are under direct supervision of 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. Contact the Game and Fish Department for details.

Minimum Age – There is no minimum age requirement for spring turkey hunters. However, hunters under age 15 afield with firearms must be under direct supervision of parent, guardian or adult authorized by their parent or guardian.

Licenses

Valid in paper or electronic format and must immediately be shown to a game warden or other law enforcement officer upon request.

Youth - First-time spring turkey hunters ages 15 or younger may receive one spring license valid for any open unit.

Regular - Regular licenses are issued by weighted lottery after the number of gratis licenses to be issued is deducted from the total available.

Gratis - Gratis licenses are available to North Dakota residents who own, or lease for agricultural purposes and actively farm or ranch, at least 150 acres of land located in an open hunting unit. Gratis licenses are valid only upon land described on the application.

Other Licenses Required - Hunters, regardless of age, must also possess a 2024-25 fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate ($1) and a general game and habitat license ($20). In addition, hunters age 16 and older must possess a 2024-25 small game license ($10) or a combination license ($50) before hunting wild turkeys (gratis license holders exempt).

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.

Bag Limit

Each license holder may take and possess one bearded or male wild turkey per license.

Party hunting is not allowed.

Only bearded or male wild turkeys are legal. (Some hen turkeys grow beards, and these by definition may legally be taken.)

Wild Turkey Identification

Only bearded or male wild turkeys are legal. (Some hen turkeys grow beards, and these by definition may legally be taken.)

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 in an exact manner as illustrated on the license to prevent its removal. It is not legal to possess or transport a turkey unless it is properly tagged. The tag shall remain with the carcass until it is packaged as food. No person may reuse or attempt to reuse any tag issued. The meat tag must remain with the edible flesh during any transportation and until it is processed and packaged as food.

Firearms and Archery Equipment

Firearms — Only shotguns, including muzzleloading 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.

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, battery powered or electronic lighted sights or other electronic devices attached to the bow, or the arrow, are not permitted, except a lighted nock is permitted. 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).

Other Restrictions

• Centerfire, rimfire and muzzleloading rifles, and handguns are not legal for hunting wild turkeys.
• 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.
• Firearms must be unloaded and encased within the boundaries of any national park.
• 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.

Posting and Trespass

• Only the owner or tenant, or an individual authorized by the owner, may post land 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 outside the land and must be placed conspicuously and not more than 880 yards apart. On 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.
• 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.

Areas Closed to Hunting

Unless specifically authorized, federal or state properties such as refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks or historic sites posted no trespassing or no hunting are closed to hunting wild turkeys.

Exception: Certain National Wildlife Refuges may be open to turkey hunting during the spring season. Contact refuge headquarters for details. 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. 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.

Transportation

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

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 game to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Baits include but are not limited to grains, 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.

Licenses Available by Unit

Three additional spring turkey licenses are authorized to be raffled or auctioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation. These licenses are valid for any open unit. Proceeds are used for wild turkey conservation in North Dakota.

Four additional spring turkey licenses are available to the Outdoor Adventure Foundation for youth who have cancer or a life-threatening illness.

Aircraft and Motor-Driven Vehicles

• Aircraft may not be used to drive, concentrate, rally, raise, stir up, spot 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., it is illegal to carry a firearm in or on a motor-driven vehicle with a shell in the chamber. The entire cylinder of a revolver is considered the chamber, requiring the revolver to be completely unloaded. 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 only through written agreements with private landowners. The boundaries of these properties are identified by large yellow triangular signs.

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 the control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunting when the adjacent land is posted closed to hunting.

Indian Reservations

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.

Map of Open Hunting Units

Description of Open Hunting Units

• Unit 02 – Barnes County, Cass County, Griggs County, Steele County and Traill County.
• Unit 03 – Benson County, Pierce County east of ND Highway 3 and south of ND Highway 17, and Ramsey County. NOTE: In addition to a Unit 03 spring wild turkey license, a special permit is required to hunt in Graham’s Island State Park. Special restrictions are required when hunting in the park. Contact the park office for additional information and for obtaining these free permits (701) 766-4015.
• Unit 04 – Those portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties south of I-94.
• Unit 06 – Bowman County.
• Unit 13 – Dunn County.
• Unit 17 – Those portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties north of I-94.
• Unit 19 – Grant County, Sioux County, and that part of Morton County south of I-94 that lies west of Morton County Road 86 (the Almont to Carson road) and that part of Morton County north of I-94 that lies west of ND Highway 31.
• Unit 21 – Hettinger County and Adams County. Closed.
• Unit 25 – McHenry County and that part of Pierce County west of ND Highway 3 and that part of Ward County that lies east of U.S. Highway 83.
• Unit 27 – McKenzie County.
• Unit 30 – Morton County except for that part of Morton County south of I-94 that lies west of Morton County Road 86 (the Almont to Carson road) and except that part of Morton County north of I-94 that lies west of ND Highway 31.
• Unit 31 – Mountrail County.
• Unit 37 – Dickey County, LaMoure County, Logan County, McIntosh County, Ransom County, Richland County and Sargent County.
• Unit 40 – Rolette County, and those portions of Bottineau and Renville counties east of U.S. Highway 83 and that portion of Pierce County north of ND Highway 17.
• Unit 44 – Slope County.
• Unit 45 – Stark County.
• Unit 47 – Eddy County, Foster County, Kidder County, Sheridan County, Stutsman County and Wells County.
• Unit 50 – Cavalier County, Grand Forks County, Nelson County, Pembina County, Towner County and Walsh County.
• Unit 51 – Burke County, all of Renville County except that portion east of U.S. Highway 83, that part of Bottineau County west of U.S. Highway 83, and that part of Ward County that lies west of U.S. Highway 83.
• Unit 53 – Williams County and Divide County.
• Unit 98 – Burleigh County, Emmons County and McLean County.
• Unit 99 – Mercer County and Oliver County.