Hunting Seasons and Dates

When Can I Hunt in North Dakota?

Dreaming of a bighorn sheep hunt or planning your next big adventure? Knowing the season dates and regulations is the first step toward a successful and legal hunt.

Below, you’ll find the most current hunting season information available for North Dakota. Keep in mind that dates and regulations can change each year—and sometimes even during the season.

Many 2025–2026 season dates are still tentative. Be sure to check the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) website for the latest updates on open seasons, species-specific regulations, and any changes that may affect your plans.

We’ve included the most recent tentative dates below and will continue to update this guide as final dates are confirmed by NDGF.

Deer

Deer hunting tags are awarded through a lottery system. Check official sources for the application deadline for entering the lottery. You’ll also want to note the different dates for bow vs. North Dakota rifle deer season.

• Mule and White-tail:
  • Bow (Statewide): Opens August 29, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Regular (All Units): November 7 – 23, 2025
  • Youth (Statewide): September 19 – 28, 2025
    
• White-tail Only:
  • Muzzleloader: Opens November 28 – December 14, 2025

Turkey

• Spring Regular: April 12, 2025 – May 18, 2025
• Youth Spring (All open units): April 12 – May 18, 2025
• Fall Regular (All open units): October 11, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Elk

Elk hunting licenses are also awarded through a lottery system.

• Bow (Hunting Units E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7): September 5 – 28, 2025
  
• Regular:
  • E3, E4, E5: Opens September 5, 2025 – Janaury 4, 2026
  • E6: October 3 – Novener 6, 2025 and November 24, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • E1E, E2, E1W, E7: October 3, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn sheep hunting licenses are awarded through a lottery drawing.

• Regular (Hunting Units B1, B2, B3, B4, B5): October 31 – December 31, 2025

Moose

As with other big game in North Dakota, moose hunting licenses are awarded through a lottery drawing.

• Bow (Hunting Units M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11): September 5 – 28, 2025
• Regular (Hunting Units M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11): October 10 – November 2, 2025

Pronghorn

Get a pronghorn hunting license by applying for the lottery drawing. Consult the North Dakota Game and Fish website for final season open and closing dates.

• Bow (Hunting Units 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, 13A, 17A): August 29 – September 21, 2025
• Gun or Bow (Hunting Units 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, 13A, 17A): October 3 – 19, 2025

Upland Game

• Pheasant:
  • Regular – Male-Only (Statewide): October 11, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Youth (Statewide): October 4 – 5, 2025
• Grouse:
  • Ruffed (Restricted Hunting Units): September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Sage: Closed
  • Sharp-Tailed (Regular, Statewide): September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
• Tree Squirrel (Regular, Statewide): September 13, 2025 – February 28, 2026
• Hungarian Partridge: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
• Greater Prairie Chicken: Closed

Waterfowl

Many waterfowl hunting dates are still tentative for North Dakota.

• Ducks, Coots Mergansers:
  • Veteran/Active Military (Statewide): September 20 – 21, 2025
  • Regular:
    • Resident (High Plains Unit): September 27 – December 7, 2025
    • Resident (Low Plains Unit): September 27 – December 7, 2025
  • Regular:
    • Non-Resident (Low Plains Unit): October 4 – December 7, 2025
    • Non-Resident (High Plains Unit): October 4 – December 7, 2025
  • Regular – Resident/Non-Resident (High Plains Unit):December 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Bonus Blue-winged Teal (All Units): September 27 – October 5, 2025
  • Youth (Statewide): September 20 – 21, 2025
• Canada Goose:
  • August Management Take/Early Season
    • Western Zone: August 15 – September 15, 2025
    • Eastern Zone: August 15 – September 22, 2025
    • Missouri River Zone: August 15 – September 7, 2025
  • Regular (Resident)
    • Western Zone: September 27 – December 25, 2025
    • Eastern Zone: September 27 – December 20, 2025
    • Missouri River Zone: September 27, 2025 – January 2, 2026
  • Regular (Non-Resident):
    • Western Zone: October 5 – December 25, 2025
    • Eastern Zone: October 4 – December 20, 2025
    • Missouri River Zone: October 4, 2025 – January 2, 2026
• Light Geese:
  • Regular – Resident (Statewide): September 27, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Regular – Non-Resident (Statewide): October 4, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Spring Conservation Order (Statewide): February 15, 2026 – May 11, 2026
• White-fronted Geese:
  • Regular – Resident (Statewide): September 27 – December 7, 2025
  • Regular – Non-Resident (Statewide): October 4 – December 7, 2025
• Tundra Swan (Regular Statewide): October 4, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Other Game Birds

• Dove (Regular, Statewide): September 1 – November 29, 2025
• Sandhill Crane (Regular – Units 1 & 2): September 20 – November 16, 2025
• Snipe (Regular, Statewide): September 13 – November 30, 2025
• Woodcock (Regular, Statewide): September 20 – November 3, 2025

Furbearers

• Coyote:
  • Regular Day-Hunting & Traps (Statewide): April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Regular Night-Hunting (Statewide): November 24, 2025 – May 31, 2026
  • Regular Cable Devices (Statewide): November 24, 2025 – March 15, 2026
• Fox (Red and Gray):
  • Regular Day-Hunting & Traps (Statewide): April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Regular Cable Devices (Statewide): November 24, 2025 – May 31, 2026
  • Regular Night-Hunting (Statewide): November 24, 2025 – March 15, 2026
• Mountain Lion: TBD