This is a huge unit, especially when compared to its sister unit 2A. Some of the most productive deer hunting in this unit is in the Goose River drainage. This cuts right through the heart of the unit, and while there is not any public land along it, knowing how to ask permission or what landowners are open to hunting is a sure-fire way to get your hands on a North Dakota deer.

In general, if you are looking to put a large deer on the ground in this unit, you are going to either need to know a landowner, be good at knocking on doors and asking for permission, or be willing to pay for access to private ground.

In the far northeastern corner of the state, Unit 2B is comprised of primarily private farmland across the entire unit. However, the Goose River does cut through the middle of it, and with that comes trees and breaks in the land. You may find some deer in the southwest corner of the area on Waterfowl Production Areas like Blikre, Peterson, or Fingal, but will need to get lucky to do so, as they are all small and contain little in the way of trees.

The agriculture in this region can consist of corn, soybeans, and sugar beets, all of which have ample calories and are excellent for deer. Along the Goose River, you will find trees and shrubs, with the trees being largely deciduous. This type of vegetation makes for excellent deer habitat and would be a great place to focus your attention.

There are plenty of public roads that can get you close to the trust lands and other public hunting grounds here. There are several unpaved roads in this unit, but there are a lot of well-maintained gravel roads. Interstate 29 runs north and south along the east side of the unit and makes it easy to access from top to bottom. To hunt the Goose River you will need access to private land as there is virtually no public access. There are also some public access areas scattered throughout the unit that will provide the public land hunter with whitetail hunting opportunities. The majority of these are waterfowl production areas. The deer-hunting opportunities in these areas are limited, as most of the access areas are small, with the only huntable land immediately surrounding bodies of water.

There are numerous small towns that have lodging throughout the area, but Fargo, in the southeast corner, and Grand Forks in the northeast are both going to have numerous lodging options. If you’re looking for primitive camping, most WMAs in the state allow it, but be sure to check each one’s specific regulations.