Unit M8 is primarily known as a waterfowl hotspot with a large number of state Waterfowl Production Areas that house exceptional habitat for ducks and geese. However, the abundance of public access areas and a combination of creeks, wetlands, and croplands create great opportunities for moose. That said, while there are many small public access areas, the vast majority of the unit is private. Hunters looking to have a good chance at a mature moose would do well to put in some time prior to the season to understand where the moose are, and if they’re on private property, obtain permission.

Unit M8 boasts numerous public-access opportunities to harvest a moose. The west side and central parts of the unit has the wetlands and vegetation they love. Friendly landowners with nuisance moose will generally allow access on private property.

This unit is primarily in North Dakota’s Northern Coteau region and features many coulees and pothole ponds, especially in the northeastern portion of the unit. This makes it a popular nesting area for waterfowl. While the land is not exceptionally rugged, it is also not flat. There are plenty of ups and downs that provide places to hide. This is good for the hunter that is willing to put in the time to scout out all of the nooks and crannies.

Much of this unit is either agricultural property, both livestock pasture and cropland, or wetlands with native grasses. The ridges and some coulees and draws feature primarily cottonwood, with some scattered aspen and birch trees. Native tree patches in Unit M8 are scarce for the most part. What you won’t find a lot of in this unit is cover. Trees are in short supply across essentially the entire unit. That said, you can find some patches of cover in the north part of the unit.

Great access via highways and county roads will get you close to most areas. There are a few areas in the region that don’t have marked roads, but in general the public land portions are small and accessing them on foot is not too difficult. For the hunter that seeks to stay within a mile of the truck, this is a good unit. One public area worth checking out in the northern part of Unit M8 is the C.C. Underwood Wildlife Management Area. The area is small – only 321 acres – but it does have patches of timber and moose have been spotted in the area. There are also many other small State Trust Lands around it, so if you don’t find what you are looking for there, you can easily jump around to some of the other areas without wasting much time. State Trust Lands may have access restricted if livestock are present.

There aren’t a lot of options in this unit that provide lodging. Most WMAs allow camping, but check WMA-specific regulations before pitching a tent. If you’re in need of a change of pace, check out the Sky Dancer Casino and Resort on the Turtle Mountain Reservation.