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.
Resident Licenses and Requirements
See Resident License Eligibility.
In North Dakota hunting, fishing and boat licensing fees support wildlife management area management, fish stocking, educational programs, wildlife and fisheries surveys, boat and fishing access, the PLOTS program, enforcement and more.
Resident Licenses
Notes
- 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.
- Lotteries: Deer gun, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, tundra swan and wild turkey licenses are issued by lottery.
- 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.
- Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Electornic Stamp: Required of all hunters to hunt waterfowl.
- 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
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Combination License (ages 16 and older) - includes fishing, general game and habitat, small game and furbearer licenses. | $62 | $2 | $5 (if hunting waterfowl) |
| Veteran Combined Hunting (requires 100% service-related disability) includes general game and habitat, small game, and fur-bearer licenses | $10 | $2 | $5 (if hunting waterfowl) |
| *Need only purchase one per year per licensee. |
Fishing
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate |
|---|
| Fishing License (ages 16 and older) | $27 | $2 |
| Fishing License (ages 15 and younger not required, except for paddlefish tags, which are required for all paddlefish snaggers.) | n/a | n/a |
| Married Couple Fishing License | $42 | $2 |
| Senior Citizen Fishing License (65 or older) | $10 | $2 |
| Active Military - North Dakota residents who are on leave from active duty with the United States military can fish without a license. | n/a | n/a |
| Totally or Permanently Disabled Fishing License (proof of disability required) | $10 | $2 |
| Veteran with a 50 percent service-related disability | $10 | $2 |
| Paddlefish (A regular fishing license is also required for paddlefish snagging) | $15 | $2 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
Big Game
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat | Nonrefundable Application Fee |
|---|
| **Deer Gun (1st lottery) | $35 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| Deer Gun (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| Deer Bow (age 16 or older) | $35 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| Deer Bow (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| Pronghorn (age 16 or older) | $35 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| Pronghorn (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| Moose (age 16 or older) | $35 | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| Moose (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| Elk (age 16 or older) | $35 | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| Elk (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| Bighorn Sheep (age 16 or older) | $35 | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| Bighorn Sheep (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
**Military Deer Gun Licenses
- A resident of North Dakota who is a member of the United States Armed Forces stationed outside this state, who shows proof of North Dakota residency, including a driver’s license number or a non-driver photo identification number from this state, and who pays the appropriate licensing fee, is eligible to be issued a deer gun season license without having to participate in the lottery.
- North Dakota residents who were on federal active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces under Title 10, stationed outside of the state during the previous year’s deer gun season, and who received the expeditionary medal or campaign badge, and submit an application and appropriate license fee by the deer gun application deadline, are eligible for one white-tailed deer gun license in the unit of their choice, without having to participate in the lottery. Applications received after the deer gun deadline will be issued licenses based on availability.
|
Upland and Small Game
Crow, Doves, Hungarian Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Snipe, Woodcock, Pheasants, Tree Squirrels, Waterfowl (also see crane, early Canada goose and swan requirements sections below).
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Small Game License (age 16 or older) | $20 | $2 | $20 | $5 (if hunting waterfowl) |
| Small Game License (age 15 or younger) | n/a | $2 | $20 | $5 (if hunting waterfowl) |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
| If hunting ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coot, a Federal Waterfowl Stamp is required (exceptions: not required to hunt during spring light goose conservation season and not required for hunters ages 15 and younger). |
| If hunting ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves or woodcock, HIP registration is required. |
Early Canada Goose
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Small Game License | Federal Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Early Canada Goose (ages 16 and older) | $10 | $2 | $20 | $20 | $29 | $5 |
| Early Canada Goose - (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a | n/a | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
| HIP registration is required. |
Spring Light Goose Conservation Order
Snow, Blue and Ross's geese only
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Small Game License | Federal Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Spring Light Goose Conservation Order (ages 16 and older) | n/a | $2 | $20 | $20 | n/a | $5 |
| Spring Light Goose Conservation Order (ages 15 and younger) | n/a | $2 | $20 | n/a | n/a | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
| A Federal Waterfowl Stamp is not required. |
| HIP registration is required. |
| Resident spring goose hunters must have a current year license beginning April 1. The past year's license expires March 31 |
Wild Turkey
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Small Game License |
|---|
| Wild Turkey, spring and fall (ages 16 and older, 1st lottery) | $20 | $2 | $20 | $20 |
| Wild Turkey, spring and fall (ages 15 and younger) | $20 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
Sandhill Crane
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Small Game License |
|---|
| Sandhill Crane Permit (ages 16 and older) | $10 | $2 | $20 | $20 |
| Sandhill Crane Permit (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
| HIP registration is required. |
Swan
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Federal Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Swan (ages 16 and older) | $10 | $2 | $20 | $29 | $5 |
| Swan (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. A combination license may be purchased instead of a general game and habitat license. |
| HIP registration is required. |
Furbearer
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate |
|---|
| Furbearer (ages 16 and older) | $20 | $2 |
| Furbearer (ages 15 and younger) - No license needed | n/a | n/a |
| Active Military - No license needed. Upon presentation of valid leave papers and a valid North Dakota operator's license, a resident who is on leave and is an active duty as a member of the United States armed forces or the United States merchant marine may hunt small game, fish, or trap during the open season without a license. | n/a | n/a |
| *Need only purchase one certificate license per year per licensee. |
| Hunters and trappers are required to purchase licenses, except any resident, or member of his or her family permanently residing with him or her, may hunt small game, trap or use cable devices during the open season without a license upon land owned or leased by him or her, but otherwise is governed by seasons, limits and all other regulations. |
Other
| License |
|---|
| North Dakota residents do not need a license to hunt prairie dog, skunk, porcupine, rabbits or ground squirrels. |
Nonresident Licenses and Requirements
In North Dakota hunting, fishing and boat licensing fees support wildlife management area management, fish stocking, educational programs, wildlife and fisheries surveys, boat and fishing access, the PLOTS program, enforcement and more.
See Resident License Eligibility.
Nonresident Licenses
Notes
- 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.
- Lotteries: Deer gun, any deer bow, bighorn sheep, tundra swan licenses are issued by lottery.
- 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.
- Waterfowl Habitat Restoration Electornic Stamp: Required of all hunters to hunt waterfowl.
- 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
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate |
|---|
| Individual Season Fishing (ages 16 and older) | $68 | $5 |
| Individual Season Fishing (ages 15 and younger) - Ages 15 and younger do not need a fishing license if accompanied by a licensed adult, except that paddlefish tags are required for all paddlefish snaggers. | n/a | n/a |
| Married Couple Season Fishing | $108 | $5 |
| 3 Day Fishing | $48 | $5 |
| 10 Day Fishing | $58 | $5 |
| Paddlefish Tag (A fishing license is also required for paddlefish snagging) | $35 | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
Big Game
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License |
|---|
| Deer Gun (1st Lottery) - Includes a $5 nonrefundable application fee. After second lottery is held, a nonresident deer gun license is $55, if available. | $355 | $5 | $20 |
| Deer Gun (ages 15 and younger) | $350 | $2 | $20 |
| White-Tailed Deer Bow (ages 16 and older) | $350 | $5 | $20 |
| White-Tailed Deer Bow (ages 15 and younger) | $350 | $2 | $20 |
| Bighorn Sheep - Includes $100 nonrefundable application fee. Successful applicants must pay an additional $500 for the license. | $600 | $5 | $20 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
Upland and Small Game
Crow, Doves, Hungarian Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Sandhill Cranes (see additional requirements under the crane section), Snipe, Woodcock, Pheasants, Tree Squirrels
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License |
|---|
|
| Small Game (ages 16 and older) - a nonresident must choose between a 14-consecutive-day or two 7-consecutive-day license periods and may purchase more than one license per year. | $150 | $5 | $20 |
| Small Game (ages 15 and younger) | n/a | $2 | $20 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
| HIP registration is required to hunt cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. |
Waterfowl
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Federal Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| A zone-restricted license that requires selection of hunting areas (**see restrictions below) | $153 | $5 | $20 | $29 | $5 |
| Youth (ages 15 and younger) | n/a | $2 | $20 | n/a | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
| HIP registration is required. |
**Zone Selection
- Nonresidents may hunt waterfowl for two 7-day periods per year.
- There are 6 nonresident waterfowl hunting zones (divided by geographical areas - NE, NC, NW, SE, SC, SW).
- Zone Selection Restrictions:
- A nonresident hunter may select two different zones to hunt each year, one per 7-day period.
- The same zone may not be selected for both 7-day periods.
- Nonresidents only hunting one 7-day period in the year may select two zones to hunt during that time.
- Nonresidents under age 16 can purchase license at resident fee.
|
Spring Light Goose Conservation Order
Snow, Blue and Ross's geese only
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Spring Light Goose Conservation Order (ages 16 and older) | $50 | n/a | n/a | $5 |
| Spring Light Goose Conservation Order (ages 15 and younger) | n/a | $2 | $20 | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
| A Federal Waterfowl Stamp is not required. |
| HIP registration is required. |
| Spring light goose license does not count against the 14-day regular season license. |
Early Canada Goose
| License | License Fee | Federal Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Early Canada Goose (ages 16 and older) | $50 | $29 | $5 |
| Early Canada Goose - (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | n/a | $5 |
| HIP registration is required. |
| Early Canada goose license does not count against the 14-day regular season nonresident license. |
Fall Wild Turkey
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Small Game License |
|---|
| Fall Wild Turkey (ages 16 and older) - After the first lottery has been held, if licenses remain, nonresidents may purchase a fall wild turkey license. | $100 | $5 | $20 | n/a |
| Fall Wild Turkey (ages 15 and younger) - After the first lottery has been held, if licenses remain, nonresidents may purchase a fall wild turkey license. | $100 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
Sandhill Crane
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Small Game or Waterfowl License |
|---|
| Sandhill Crane Permit (ages 16 and older) | $30 | $5 | $20 | $150 (Small Game) or $153 (Waterfowl) |
| Sandhill Crane Permit (ages 15 and younger) | $10 | $2 | $20 | n/a |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
| HIP registration is required. |
Swan
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | *General Game and Habitat License | Waterfowl License | Federal Waterfowl Stamp | Waterfowl Restoration Stamp |
|---|
| Swan (ages 16 and older) | $50 | $5 | $20 | $153 | $29 | $5 |
| Swan (ages 15 and younger) | $50 | $2 | $20 | n/a | n/a | $5 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate and one General Game and Habitat license per year per licensee. |
| HIP registration is required. |
Nongame
Allows taking unprotected species such as prairie dog, skunk, rabbits and ground squirrels
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate |
|---|
| Nongame (ages 16 and older) | $25 | $5 |
| Nongame (ages 15 and younger) | $25 | $2 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate per year per licensee. |
Furbearer and Nongame
| License | License Fee | *Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate |
|---|
| Furbearer and Nongame (ages 16 and older) - allows taking unprotected species and for hunting fox and coyote. | $50 | $5 |
| Furbearer and Nongame (ages 15 and younger) - allows taking unprotected species and for hunting fox and coyote. | $50 | $2 |
| Nonresidents Reciprocal Trapping License (ages 16 and older) - Reciprocal trapping (includes snaring) licenses are offered to nonresidents whose home state allows North Dakota residents to trap. Nonresidents having this license may not take bobcats, mountain lions, fishers or river otter. | $350 | $5 |
| Nonresidents Reciprocal Trapping License (ages 15 and younger) - Reciprocal trapping (includes snaring) licenses are offered to nonresidents whose home state allows North Dakota residents to trap. Nonresidents having this license may not take bobcats, mountain lions, fishers or river otter. | $350 | $2 |
| *Need only purchase one certificate per year per licensee. |
A Nonresident May Not Hunt Game and Fish Department Lands the First Week of Pheasant Season
Nonresidents may not hunt on lands owned or leased by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including state wildlife management areas and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS), for the first week of pheasant season. This restriction applies to all types of hunting, not just pheasants. This restriction does not apply to lands owned or managed by other state agencies that may be open to hunting, such as state school lands, federal lands that may be open to hunting, such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl production areas, or to private lands not enrolled in the Game and Fish PLOTS program.
