Quick Tips
- If DIY public-land deer hunting in rugged country is your thing, this unit provides excellent opportunities
- The rivers in this area all provide excellent habitat and are surrounded by farmland that is sure to produce large deer
- If you are in decent shape and are up for the challenge, put in some map work and try to find the places that are furthest from public-access roads -you just might find the buck of a lifetime
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-140" | 150"+ |
On The Ground
Located in the far northeastern corner of the state, Unit 2D offers ample public land opportunities with excellent deer habitat. The Pembina River enters the unit from Canada, and with it brings some excellent deer habitat.
Good populations of deer can be found within the unit but hunting pressure can be high in public areas. Hunters may need seek private land access or think outside the box when hunting public.
Terrain
This unit is diverse. The Pembina River and its tributaries create steep canyon land that is heavily forested. The elevation drops from about 1,500-ft. to about 1,000 ft. to the river, and then quickly rises back up. This brings with it broken country and forest. There are also large swaths of fairly flat, forested country. There is a lot of agricultural land on private property. If you are planning to hunt the canyons around Pembina River, be sure to come in good physical shape, as the land can be pretty rugged.
Roughly 928 square miles
3% public land
Elevations range from 1,500 – 1,000 ft
Vegetation
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 rivers, 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 smart place to focus your attention.
Access
It can be challenging to access public land in this unit. Highway 5 and 32 cut this unit into quarters. There is a hiking trail along the Pembina River, but there aren’t roads to access large portions of it. The Pembina Hills Wildlife Management area has about 1,300 acres of prime habitat between two parcels. Following the river a little further to the south, you quickly run into the Wilber Allen Wildlife Management Area that also has about 1,300 acres of prime habitat. Going even further south, you run into even more parcels of the Pembina Hills Wildlife Management Area that combined provide well over 2,000 more acres of phenomenal habitat. If you are looking for a DIY hunt on public property, these areas combine to provide a great chance at success.
Camping and Lodging
Cavalier is one of the closest towns that offers several options for lodging. Hunters who are interested in primitive camping will find plenty of sites for camping. Most of the wildlife management areas allow primitive camping, but be sure to check each one's specific regulations.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
April 2025
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3