North Dakota Hunting Guide

Premier waterfowl and upland bird hunting with quality deer opportunities.

North Dakota Hunting Seasons 2026

Species	Archery	Firearm
Whitetail Deer	Aug 30 - Jan 5	Nov 8 - Nov 24
Waterfowl	—	Sep 28 - Dec 29
Pheasant	—	~Oct 11, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027 (verify proclamation); NR PLOTS/WMA restricted first 7 days

* Season dates are approximate and may vary by zone or unit. Always verify with your state wildlife agency for current regulations before hunting.

Official North Dakota hunting regulations →

Hunting Highlights

PLOTS walk-in access

Wild pheasant

Sharp-tailed grouse

Waterfowl paradise

Key Species in North Dakota

Whitetail DeerMule DeerWaterfowlPheasantPronghorn

Hunting Near Major Cities

Big Game Hunting Near Fargo

Seasons & public land near Fargo →

Big Game Hunting Near Bismarck

Seasons & public land near Bismarck →

Connect with North Dakota Hunters

Join our community to connect with local hunters, share spots, and get real-time advice from people who hunt North Dakota.

North Dakota Hunting Articles

View all

📍 state-guides

North Dakota Pheasant Hunting 2026: Season Dates, PLOTS Program, License Costs & Nonresident Guide

North Dakota pheasant hunting 2026—regular season opener, the 7-day nonresident restriction on PLOTS lands, daily bag limits, shooting hours, nonresident license and habitat stamp costs, top southwest counties, and nonresident access guide.

Jun 2, 202611 min read

📍 state-guides

North Dakota Fishing 2026: Licenses, Devils Lake, and Missouri River

North Dakota fishing 2026—license options, Game and Fish proclamation links, Devils Lake rules, Sakakawea planning, and Missouri River access checks.

Apr 14, 202614 min read

📍 state-guides

North Dakota Spring Turkey Hunting 2026: Units, Tags & Seasons

North Dakota spring turkey 2026—limited spring seasons by unit, Eastern and Merriam’s birds per GFP, lottery tags, and river-break scouting.

Mar 31, 20268 min read