Unit M10

North Dakota’s northwestern moose unit features a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees. Steep evergreen-filled ravines along the White Earth River and lush crop fields thanks to the abundance of water and excellent soil. As you go north, you’ll find more aspen and birch trees. The majority of this unit’s private property is cropland and livestock pasture. Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge features stands of aspen and willow thickets around pothole ponds that create the perfect habitat for moose. As you go north towards the Canadian border, and east Des Lacs Lake, small lakes and pothole ponds become more prevalent, making these areas exceptional for waterfowl hunting. This part of the unit is definitely unique with small ponds among the rolling hills and random patches of thick deciduous trees. Overall a great unit for public-land hunters.

Three main roads run east and west, and three main roads run north and south to get you somewhat close to most areas west of Des Lacs Lake. In the eastern portion of the unit, Highways 52 and 83 heading north from Minot will get you to virtually any part east of Des Lacs Lake. 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 access due to wetlands and "unpassable" grades. Bring a map, GPS are your best hiking boots, and you’ll be prepared for most areas of this unit. 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 a fun hunt and punched tag. The Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge in the eastern portion of this unit is the largest public-access area in M10. Take Road 8 north from Stanley to reach the refuge. 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. This unit also has steeper inclines throughout the unit than what is typical of other units in North Dakota’s Northern Coteau Region. It’s one of the few units in northwest North Dakota that delivers enough good-sized public hunting property to support a moose hunt. East beyond Des Lacs Lake features very little public access outside of occasional PLOTS walk-in areas. The Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge runs along both sides of the Souris River and Lake Darling, however your best option in the far eastern portion of M10 is to hunt private property.

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 parts of this unit. Stanley, Powers Lake, Tioga and Minot all have motels accommodations available.