Quick Tips
- This is an excellent unit with a ton of river-bottom habitat
- Hunting near the rivers is a good bet and will provide tree-stand hunting opportunities
- Hunters who enjoy a little variety should not leave the shotgun at home as there are plenty of waterfowl opportunities
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-150" | 160"+ |
On The Ground
On the east side of the state, Unit 2F2 is part of the Sheyenne-James region, and as such offers phenomenal whitetail habitat. The Jamestown River flows through the western edge of the unit and many lakes and ponds are found throughout the area. These areas provide the kind of terrain that deer love, with plenty of nooks and crannies for cover while still having an ample amount of food and water.
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.
Terrain
The terrain in this unit is what makes it such a great place to hunt. The land that follows along the Sheyenne River is somewhat broken and provides the kind of coverage that whitetails enjoy while giving hunters the ability to move without being seen. The same can be said for the terrain along the James River. This unit sets up nicely for the tree-stand hunter who enjoys hunting river bottoms. A large portion of the river’s banks is lined with trees, making it an excellent travel corridor for whitetail and a prime location for a tree-stand hunter. The James River flows through the east portion of the unit, and while it has less cover, it still has patches of trees in places and also provides good opportunities for the whitetail hunter. The river flows into multiple lakes as it meanders south. This is where we find the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, which provides excellent opportunities for the DIY whitetail hunter. The wooded ravines are home to a large population of whitetail, and there is no shortage of them. The refuge covers nearly 16,000 acres and is around 10-miles long, running north to south. Bordering the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge is BLM land that encompasses the long and narrow Jamestown reservoir. This provides around 20 more miles of water-front public access property to hunt.
Roughly 1,984 square miles
2.1% public land
Elevations range from 1,600 – 1,300 ft
Vegetation
A good portion of this unit consists of agricultural land. However, the Sheyenne River flows through the western portion of the unit providing a lot of riparian habitat with plenty of nooks and crannies for cover while still having an ample amount of food and water. The river bottoms, especially along the James River, can be thickly forested with deciduous trees and make for excellent travel corridors.
Access
There are several highways running in all directions throughout this unit that make virtually every area easy to access. The terrain is largely flat, and even if the area you want to get to requires some walking, it is generally easy to access. Much of the rest of the unit is made up of farmed agricultural land that will house deer, but you will likely have to find private-access in order to be successful. There are some small public access areas between the river, made up of waterfowl production areas and state trust land.
Camping and Lodging
Jamestown is in the Southwest portion of the unit and has numerous hotels and motels. If primitive camping is more your style, this unit has a lot of options. Camping options can be found in both the Arrowhead National Wildlife Refuge and along Lake Ashtabula along the east side of the unit.
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