North Dakota is home to six big game species: Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Elk, Antelope, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, and Moose. Residents have opportunities to buy or apply for tags for each of these species but nonresidents are restricted to deer and bighorn sheep tags only. Deer will be the primary target species for most hunters coming to the state and over-the-counter archery opportunities are available. Whitetail deer can be found statewide while mule deer and generally found in scattered populations throughout the western half of the state. Rifle and muzzleloader hunting tags are distributed through the state's drawing. Tags for Elk, Antelope, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, and Moose are only available through a drawing. The state is primarily comprised of private lands but small sections of public land can be found scattered throughout each of the units, particularly in the west, and savvy public hunters can find some great opportunities.
License Costs
North Dakota License Costs
Item | Item |
|---|---|
Resident | Resident |
Nonresident | Nonresident |
Item | Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate |
Resident | $1 |
Nonresident | $2 |
Item | General Game and Habitat License |
Resident | $20 |
Nonresident | $20 |
Item | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
Item | Resident | Nonresident |
Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | $1 | $2 |
General Game and Habitat License | $20 | $20 |
Species Costs
North Dakota Species Costs
Item | Item |
|---|---|
Resident | Resident |
Nonresident | Nonresident |
Resident Junior | Resident Junior |
Item | Deer |
Resident | $30 |
Nonresident | $255* |
Resident Junior | $10 |
Item | Elk |
Resident | $30 |
Nonresident | n/a |
Resident Junior | $10 |
Item | Antelope |
Resident | $30 |
Nonresident | n/a |
Resident Junior | $10 |
Item | Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep |
Resident | $30 |
Nonresident | $600* |
Resident Junior | $10 |
Item | Moose |
Resident | $30 |
Nonresident | n/a |
Resident Junior | $10 |
Item | Application Fee - Deer (Nonrefundable) |
Resident | n/a |
Nonresident | $5 |
Resident Junior | n/a |
Item | Application Fee - Elk, Moose, Sheep (Nonrefundable) |
Resident | $5 |
Nonresident | $100 |
Resident Junior | n/a |
Item | Resident | Nonresident | Resident Junior |
|---|---|---|---|
Item | Resident | Nonresident | Resident Junior |
Deer | $30 | $255* | $10 |
Elk | $30 | n/a | $10 |
Antelope | $30 | n/a | $10 |
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | $30 | $600* | $10 |
Moose | $30 | n/a | $10 |
Application Fee - Deer (Nonrefundable) | n/a | $5 | n/a |
Application Fee - Elk, Moose, Sheep (Nonrefundable) | $5 | $100 | n/a |
*Nonrefundable application fee is included in the full price. Application fee not applicable for Deer bow licenses
Important Dates
North Dakota Dates and Deadlines
Important dates and Deadlines |
Date |
Nonresident Any Deer Archery application deadline |
May 15, 2025 (tentative) |
Deer Gun application deadline |
June 4, 2025 (tentative) |
Elk application deadline |
March 26, 2025 (tentative) |
Antelope application deadline |
Aug 6, 2025 (tentative) |
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep deadline |
March 26, 2025 (tentative) |
Moose deadline |
March 26, 2025 (tentative) |
Important dates and Deadlines | Date |
Nonresident Any Deer Archery application deadline | May 15, 2025 (tentative) |
Deer Gun application deadline | June 4, 2025 (tentative) |
Elk application deadline | March 26, 2025 (tentative) |
Antelope application deadline | Aug 6, 2025 (tentative) |
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep deadline | March 26, 2025 (tentative) |
Moose deadline | March 26, 2025 (tentative) |
Tag Lottery
North Dakota utilizes two different types of drawing for the various big game species in the state. A system utilizing weighted bonus points is used for deer and antelope draws while the drawing for elk, bighorn sheep, and moose is done through a random lottery. Under the deer and antelope draws, an applicant can miss applying for a year without losing points; however, the applicant loses bonus points by failing to apply for two consecutive years. Bonus points are only used for first choice licenses while second choice options will not affect your point count. An applicant unsuccessful in drawing his or her first choice permit in the drawing receives a bonus point for next year's lottery. In years 2, 3, and 4, the points are doubled; and, for years 5 and beyond, they are cubed to increase the applicant's chances of drawing a permit.
Draw System
Tag Lottery
North Dakota utilizes two different types of drawing for the various big game species in the state. A system utilizing weighted bonus points is used for deer and antelope draws while the drawing for elk, bighorn sheep, and moose is done through a random lottery. Under the deer and antelope draws, an applicant can miss applying for a year without losing points; however, the applicant loses bonus points by failing to apply for two consecutive years. Bonus points are only used for first choice licenses while second choice options will not affect your point count. An applicant unsuccessful in drawing his or her first choice permit in the drawing receives a bonus point for next year's lottery. In years 2, 3, and 4, the points are doubled; and, for years 5 and beyond, they are cubed to increase the applicant's chances of drawing a permit.
North Dakota Point Cubing
Year | Year |
|---|---|
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) |
Total applications in the draw | Total applications in the draw |
Year | 1 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 0*0+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 1 |
Year | 2 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 1*2+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 3 |
Year | 3 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 1*2+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 5 |
Year | 4 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 3*2+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 7 |
Year | 5 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 4(cubed)+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 65 |
Year | 6 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 5(cubed)+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 126 |
Year | 7 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 6(cubed)+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 217 |
Year | 8 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 7(cubed)+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 344 |
Year | 9 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 8(cubed)+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 513 |
Year | 10 |
Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | 9(cubed)+1 |
Total applications in the draw | 730 |
Year | Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | Total applications in the draw |
|---|---|---|
Year | Calculation(existing points * multiplier + 1) | Total applications in the draw |
1 | 0*0+1 | 1 |
2 | 1*2+1 | 3 |
3 | 1*2+1 | 5 |
4 | 3*2+1 | 7 |
5 | 4(cubed)+1 | 65 |
6 | 5(cubed)+1 | 126 |
7 | 6(cubed)+1 | 217 |
8 | 7(cubed)+1 | 344 |
9 | 8(cubed)+1 | 513 |
10 | 9(cubed)+1 | 730 |
Nonresident Allocation
North Dakota allocates 1 percent of deer gun and muzzleloader licenses available in any unit (through the second deer gun lottery). One-half of the nonresident allocation of antlered white-tailed deer licenses, up to a maximum of 100 licenses, are available to licensed guides or outfitters.
Party Applications
Party applications are accepted for deer and antelope licenses. The maximum party size is 5. Group points default to the lowest point value present in the party. As an example, if three members have 4 points each but one member has 1 point, then the party will apply with 1 point. All party members must list the same unit on their application.
Waiting Periods
Bighorn Sheep, Elk, and Moose licenses are once in a lifetime in North Dakota. There are no restrictions on deer or antelope.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted online. (Visa, Mastercard & Discover)
Hunting License
Required to apply for big game but is refundable if not successful in the draw.
Getting a Tag
Draw a tag in the public draw
Purchase an OTC archery deer tag
Purchase a leftover tag
Youth Opportunities
Youth hunters have access to special youth deer tags that are valid for various parts of the state. Regular season any deer tags are available in unlimited numbers but are not valid for antlered mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F. Restricted antlered mule deer license can be drawn for these units, though. If the licensee is unsuccessful in harvesting a deer during the youth deer season, the license is also valid during the regular deer gun season. Restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses are valid only for the specific unit during either season.
Returning Tags
Licenses can be returned before the beginning of the season indicated on the license.
Hunting Rules
Minimum age to hunt
11 years by the end of the calendar year. By state law youth under the age of 12 may hunt only under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or adult authorized by their parent or guardian.
Hunter Education requirements
Required for anyone born after 1961. Students will not be certified for hunter safety completion unless 11 years of age or older.
Bowhunters education
Not required in North Dakota
Hunters orange requirements
Both a hat and outer garment above the waistline totaling at least 400 square inches
Weapons Restrictions
Archery-A bow must be pulled and released by hand. Any release aid may be used providing it is hand-operated, the shooter supports the draw weight of the bow, and the release is not attached to any other part of the bow besides the bowstring. A compound must have at least 35 pounds of draw weight at 28 inches of draw length or less. Recurve and longbows must have at least 35 pounds of draw at 28 inches. Arrows must be 24 inches long, tipped with a metal broadhead, with at least two cutting edges, and have a cutting diameter of at least ¾ inch. It is illegal to hunt big game with barbed arrows. Mechanical broadheads are legal. Telescopic sights, range-finding devices, battery-powered or electronically lighted sights or other electronic devices attached to the bow, or the arrow, are not permitted. Exception: A lighted nock and recording devices that do not aid in rangefinding, sighting, or shooting the bow are permitted.
Muzzleloader-Muzzleloading long guns of .45 caliber or larger, and handguns .50 caliber or larger, having all of the components loaded through the muzzle, with flint or percussion ignition, firing black powder or black powder substitutes are legal. Smokeless powders are not legal. Telescopic sights are prohibited. No magnification (1x) scopes are legal.
Rifles-Centerfire rifles of .22 to .49 caliber are legal. Centerfire rifles of .50 caliber or large using smokeless powder with a case length greater than 3.5 inches are prohibited.
Hunting opportunities for military members
Resident pricing eligibility
Military personnel in the state on duty or leave are eligible to purchase non-lottery licenses, such as fishing, small game, or furbearer at resident prices.
Military deer gun license
North Dakota residents who are stationed out of state may receive a deer gun license without being subject to the license lottery. To qualify for this perk, a hunter must: Maintain North Dakota as your state of residence, be stationed outside of the state, and 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 non-driver photo ID.
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