all Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide Plan your 2025–26 ND hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to pronghorn to ducks. Whether you’re drawing an arrow for a rutting buck in the Missouri Breaks, slipping decoys for teal over prairie potholes, or tracking coyote year‑round on private land, North Dakota’s badlands, grasslands, and wetlands deliver top‑tier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in North Dakota? North Dakota supports a rich variety of game: Big Game: Whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk (limited draw), moose (Unit 4 draw), black bear (extreme west draw) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, sharp‑tailed grouse, ring‑necked pheasant, gray partridge, fox & gray squirrels Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, pintail), Canada geese, snow geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, bobcat, fox, beaver, muskrat From Turtle Mountains to Pembina Gorge, hunters pursue healthy state animal populations across ND’s diverse landscapes. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in North Dakota? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may take unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, beaver, and muskrat any time of year with no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator and furbearer management. Public Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season dates and method restrictions. North Dakota Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail & Mule Deer Archery: Sept 20 – Jan 31, 2026 Youth Firearms Weekend: Oct 11–12, 2025 General Firearms: Nov 29 – Dec 8, 2025 Muzzleloader: Jan 9 – Jan 10, 2026 Late Antlerless: Dec 11 – Dec 20, 2025 Deer tags are either over‑the‑counter or draw‑only (mule deer); bag limit: one buck per season plus antlerless deer under special permits. Pronghorn Antelope General Rifle & Bow: Sept 15 – Sept 30, 2025 (Units 1–5) Limited‑Entry (draw): Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2025 (Units 6 & 7) Antelope tags manage herds across western grasslands; bag limit one buck per tag. Elk & Moose Elk (draw only): Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (Units 1–2) Moose (Unit 4 draw): Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Elk and moose hunts require successful lottery; one animal per season per licensee. Black Bear Draw Hunts Only: Sept 1 – Oct 15, 2025 (West Unit) Bear tags issue by quota draw; harvested bears require mandatory reporting. North Dakota Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Cottontail Rabbit: Oct 1 – Mar 15, 2026 (8/day) Snowshoe Hare: Oct 1 – Mar 15, 2026 (8/day) Sharp‑Tailed Grouse & Partridge: Oct 1 – Mar 31, 2026 (3/day) Pheasant: Oct 24 – Jan 31, 2026 (2/day) Squirrel: Year‑round; no closed season (10/day) Non‑toxic shot required; upland hunters use dogs and decoys across public grasslands and CRP fields. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 5 – Sept 30, 2025 Duck & Goose: Oct 26 – Nov 27 & Dec 16 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Youth Waterfowl Days: Sept 19–20, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Jan 15, 2026 (15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl permit required Prairie pothole impoundments host massive migrations; daily duck bag limit is 6 with species sub‑limits. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail & Mule Deer: 1 buck; antlerless by permit Pronghorn Antelope: 1 buck per tag Elk & Moose: 1 per draw permit Black Bear: 1 per unit tag Ducks: 6/day; sub‑limits apply Geese: 5/day (dark geese) Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Pheasant: 2/day Grouse & Partridge: 3/day each Rabbit & Hare: 8/day each Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits protect sustainable harvests of big game and small game for future seasons. License & Tags Information for North Dakota Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid North Dakota Game and Fish Department license and required permits: Resident Hunters License: $27; Nonresident: $125 Deer Tags: $10; mule deer draw fee $15 Antelope Tags: $10; draw zones $15 Elk/Moose Tags: $14–$75; draw only Waterfowl Permit & HIP: $7; Federal Duck Stamp required Furbearer License: $15; includes coyote, beaver, muskrat Licenses fund habitat conservation, wildlife management, and enforcement; draw applications open early spring. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader NDGFD authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during rifle seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms Dogs & Bait: Permitted for waterfowl retrievers; predator control dogs on private lands Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements for each hunt. Regulations & Resources NDGFD regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (special youth day allowances) Unit Maps & Boundaries: GIS maps for Game Management Units and WMAs Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, elk, moose, antelope within 48 hrs via NDGFD portal Special Areas: Game refuges, CWD monitoring zones, and family waterfowl impoundments Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD): https://gf.nd.gov/hunting/season-dates With well‑defined seasons, clear bag limits, and streamlined license systems, North Dakota delivers premier hunts for whitetail deer, pronghorn, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and experience the Peace Garden State’s exceptional wildlife heritage on your 2025–2