North Dakota Unit E5 Unit Profile // GOHUNT. The Hunting Company
North Dakota Unit E5
Updated Apr 8, 2026
At a Glance
52,055Square Miles
6%Public Land
750 - 3,300Elevation Range
Quick Tips
The primary elk range follows the Little Missouri River in the state's southwest corner
West of Beulah is typically a good spot for elk
Elk occasionally leave the safety of the Turtle Mountain State Forest = contact landowners west of the forest about potential access to this area
The farther you hike into public access property generally increases your odds for success
Landowners south of Jamestown have had problems with nuisance elk in recent years = talk with locals for potential access to private property
Unit E5 is North Dakota’s largest elk unit, covering the entire state except for the other six elk units. Although Unit E5 isn’t as desirable of a tag as the badlands units near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the huge number of places to hunt makes it a great unit to draw a tag in. There are plenty of spots that include North Dakota’s primary elk range in Unit E5. And there are other spots that although they aren’t part of the primary range, elk are commonly seen throughout the state.
Network with online forums, locals and G&F headquarters to find landowners with nuisance elk. They’ll often allow access on private property.
