Quick Tips
- Great opportunity for whitetail, good opportunity for muleys
- Check for PLOTS and Trust Lands along the White Earth River for mule deer
- Parts of this unit can get pretty swampy, especially during wet years
- State Trust Lands may be closed to hunting if livestock are present
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 120"-140" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-150" | 160"+ |
On The Ground
Unit 3A1 boasts numerous public-access opportunities to harvest a whitetail. It is a great unit for public-land whitetail and a decent unit for public-land mule deer. It’s one of the few units in northwest North Dakota that delivers enough public hunting property to support large numbers of public-land hunters.
Good populations of deer can be found in this unit. Whitetail tend to be more common but some great mule deer opportunities can be found.
Terrain
This unit features more variety in terrain compared to other northern North Dakota GMAs. Along with the typical rolling hills, rocky soils, creek bottoms, and small lakes, this unit features some steep inclines and drastic changes in elevation. Specifically areas east of Tioga and along the White Earth River you’ll find some steep hillsides where the elevation can change 300 feet in only a few hundred yards. The steeper hills and dense forested areas east of the town of Tioga along the White Earth River provide a variety of PLOTS properties and State Trust Lands with opportunities for mule deer. Overall, unit 3A1 features larger public-access hunting areas, and more PLOTS and State Trust Lands than many of the units to the east. For the DIY hunter that only wants to hunt public lands, and enjoys venturing deep into those public lands, this unit delivers multiple opportunities for both whitetail and mule deer. The Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge along the east edge of this unit is the largest public-access area in 3A1. It features more than 22,000 acres of public access – but be sure to check in with the refuge headquarters to understand the regulations and restrictions prior to hunting as these can change year over year. PLOTS properties are generally prevalent in this unit and often border other PLOTS properties or Trust Lands, providing plenty of decent-sized hunting areas.
Roughly 3,846 square miles
5.2% public land
Elevations range from 1,900 – 2,500 ft
Vegetation
North Dakota’s northernmost unit where you’ll find mule deer features a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees. Steep evergreen-filled ravines along the White Earth River create an excellent habitat for mule deer. As you go north, you’ll find more aspen and birch trees. The majority of this unit’s private property is ranch land and hay fields.
Access
There are several highways crossing this unit from all directions that can get you somewhat close to most hunting areas in this unit. County roads create an almost perfect grid pattern across the entire unit providing easy access to most public hunting areas. There are portions of this unit that are more difficult to get to due to swamplands and unpassable grades. Most public-hunting areas are easily accessible, however you may have to walk to get to a good hunting spot. Utilize your GOHUNT maps and GPS and depending on where you choose to hunt, you may be in for a walk to get to where you’ll want to be.
Camping and Lodging
Primitive camping is allowed in the Lostwood Wilderness, and campgrounds and RV parks are available in or around many of the small towns in this unit. There are also cabin rentals available in this unit. Stanley, Powers Lake, and Tioga all have motels.
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