Fishing Licenses & Fees

Licensing Requirements

• Residents and nonresidents age 16 and older need fishing licenses.
  • Residents under age 16 may take and possess a limit of fish without a fishing license.
  • Any nonresident under age 16 may take and possess a limit of fish without a nonresident fishing license if accompanied by an individual possessing a valid fishing license.

Exceptions:

1. Military - North Dakota residents who are on leave from active duty with the United States military can fish without a license. Contact the Department for details.
2. Nonresident full-time students - Nonresident full-time students living in North Dakota, who are attending a state or tribal college, or a private institution of higher education, may qualify for purchasing resident fishing licenses. Contact the Department for details.
3. Free Fishing Days - Residents of North Dakota may fish (except for paddlefish) without a resident fishing license on four designated days each year.

Additional Requirements

• Darkhouse Spearfishing
  • In addition to possessing the needed valid fishing license, all individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must first register (free).
• Paddlefish Snagging
  • All paddlefish snaggers must possess a paddlefish tag in addition to a valid fishing license.

License Eligibility

North Dakota fishing opportunities are open to both North Dakota residents and nonresidents (exception: Free Fishing Days are resident only).

North Dakota Resident License Eligibility

Who is eligible for a North Dakota resident license?

A person who has actually lived in, or maintained his or her legal residence, in North Dakota for the past six months, may qualify for resident licenses, providing he or she does not continue to claim residency in another state.

Note: When applying for a resident license applicants 18 years or older must submit a valid North Dakota driver's license number or valid North Dakota nondriver photo identification number.

Exceptions:

• A Waiver of Residency allows an individual with a bona fide intention of becoming a resident, even though they have not resided in North Dakota for the required 6 months to purchase nonlottery licenses such as fishing, small game, and furbearer at resident prices.
• Military Exception. Military personnel in the state on duty or leave are eligible for a similar waiver to the one listed above. Also, a North Dakota resident, in the armed forces stationed outside the state, upon showing proof of residency, may receive a deer gun license without being subject to the license lottery. To apply you must meet these requirements:
  • Maintain North Dakota as your state of residence.
  • You must be stationed outside of North Dakota.
  • Fill out and send in a deer application with the following items: A check or money order for $30, a copy of your orders showing where you are stationed, and a copy of a valid North Dakota driver's license or North Dakota nondriver photo ID. Contact our licensing section at (701) 328-6335 for more information.
• Nonresident youth hunting licenses. A nonresident under age 16 need only purchase a North Dakota resident fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a North Dakota resident general game and habitat license to hunt small game and waterfowl except swans and wild turkeys. To be eligible, a nonresident youth may not have turned sixteen before September 1 of the year for which the license is issued and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian.
• Nonresident full-time state or tribal college students living in North Dakota and attending a North Dakota institution of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the Board of Higher Education, a private institution, or a tribal college may qualify to purchase nonlottery resident licenses. Contact the Department for details.

Miscellaneous

• Licenses are valid for one year starting April 1 and ending March 31 of the following year. An angler must possess a valid fishing license for the respective season.
• The fishing license must be in the possession of the licensee at all times while fishing.
• A digital image of a fishing license stored on a mobile device is accepted as a license in possession.

Resident Licenses

Notes

1. The following prerequisites are required in addition to a hunting and/or fishing license:
   • Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate: Required to hunt or fish in North Dakota. Need only purchase one per year per licensee.
   • General Game and Habitat License: Required for all hunting licenses except furbearer. Need only purchase one per year per licensee.
2. Lotteries: Deer gun, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, tundra swan and wild turkey licenses are issued by lottery.
3. HIP Registration: All hunters regardless of age must obtain a new Harvest Information Program registration number each year for each state in which they hunt ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Registration is free.
4. Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Electornic Stamp: Required of all hunters to hunt waterfowl.
5. Federal Waterfowl Stamp (Duck Stamp): Required of all hunters ages 16 and older to hunt ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coot. Exception: Not required to hunt during spring light goose conservation season. Stamps cost $25 + $4 mailing.

Licenses

Combination Licenses

Fishing

Nonresident Licenses

Notes

1. The following prerequisites are required in addition to a hunting and/or fishing license:
   • Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate: Required to hunt or fish in North Dakota except spring light goose and early Canada goose licenses. Need only purchase one per year per licensee.
   • General Game and Habitat License: Required for all hunting licenses except furbearer, nongame, spring light goose and early Canada goose. Need only purchase one per year per licensee.
2. Lotteries: Deer gun, any deer bow, bighorn sheep, tundra swan licenses are issued by lottery.
3. HIP Registration: All hunters regardless of age must obtain a new Harvest Information Program registration number each year for each state in which they hunt ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Registration is free.
4. Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Electornic Stamp: Required of all hunters to hunt waterfowl.
5. Federal Waterfowl Stamp (Duck Stamp): Required of all hunters ages 16 and older to hunt ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, brant and coot. Exception: Not required to hunt during spring light goose conservation season. Stamps cost $25 + $4 mailing.

Licenses

Fishing