North Dakota
Disclaimer: Season dates are gathered on a best-effort basis and may contain errors or be outdated. Always verify dates, bag limits, and regulations directly with North Dakota Game & Fish before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in North Dakota
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 15 stations in North Dakota. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
- ND · NWR
Arrowwood NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Audubon NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Des Lacs NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Florence Lake NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: NEW STATIONBIG GAME: NEW STATION - ND · NWR
J. Clark Salyer NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Lake Alice NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Lake Nettie NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Long Lake NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Lostwood NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Mclean NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: NEW STATIONBIG GAME: NEW STATION - ND · NWR
Slade NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Stewart Lake NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: NEW STATIONBIG GAME: NEW STATION - ND · NWR
Tewaukon NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
Upper Souris NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: OPENINGBIG GAME: OPENING - ND · NWR
White Lake NWR
North DakotaUPLAND GAME: NEW STATIONBIG GAME: NEW STATION
Deer
Deer, Mule and White-tailed
Archery - Resident
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: Statewide
Deer, Mule and White-tailed
Archery - Nonresident
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: Statewide (see restrictions)
Deer, Mule and White-tailed
Regular (Firearm)
Fri, 11/06/2026 — Sun, 11/22/2026
Zone: All Units
Deer, Mule and White-tailed
Archery - Resident Youth
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: Statewide
Deer, Mule and White-tailed (Youth Season)
Youth Season
Fri, 09/18/2026 — Sun, 09/27/2026
Zone: Statewide
Deer, White-tailed only
Muzzleloader
Fri, 11/27/2026 — Sun, 12/13/2026
Zone: Statewide
Turkey
Turkey
Fall - Regular
Sat, 10/10/2026 —
Zone: All open units
Turkey (Spring Season)
Spring Regular
Sat, 04/11/2026 — Sun, 05/17/2026
Zone: All open units
Turkey (Youth Spring Season)
Spring - Youth
Sat, 04/11/2026 — Sun, 05/17/2026
Zone: All open units
Elk
Elk
Antlerless
Sat, 01/09/2027 — Sun, 01/17/2027
Zone: E1E, E1W, E2, E3, E4, E6, E7
Elk
Regular
Mon, 11/23/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: E6
Elk
Regular
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: E3, E4
Elk
Regular
Fri, 10/02/2026 — Thu, 11/05/2026
Zone: E6
Elk
Antlerless
Fri, 08/07/2026 — Sun, 09/27/2026
Zone: E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7
Elk
Regular
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: E5
Elk
Regular
Fri, 10/02/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: E7
Elk
Archery
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 09/27/2026
Zone: E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7
Elk
Antlerless
Fri, 08/07/2026 — Sun, 08/30/2026
Zone: E3, E4
Elk
Regular
Fri, 10/02/2026 — Sun, 01/03/2027
Zone: E1E, E2, E1W
Moose
Moose
Regular
Fri, 10/09/2026 — Sun, 11/01/2026
Zone: M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11
Moose
Archery
Fri, 09/04/2026 — Sun, 09/27/2026
Zone: M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11
Waterfowl
Canada Geese
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: Missouri River Zone
Canada Geese
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: Eastern Zone
Canada Geese
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: Missouri River Zone
Canada Geese
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: Western Zone
Canada Geese
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: Western Zone
Canada Geese
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: Eastern Zone
Canada Geese (Early Season)
August Management Take/Early September Season
Sat, 08/15/2026 —
Zone: Eastern Zone
Canada Geese (Early Season)
August Management Take/Early September Season
Sat, 08/15/2026 —
Zone: Missouri River Zone
Canada Geese (Early Season)
August Management Take/Early September Season
Sat, 08/15/2026 —
Zone: Western Zone
Ducks (Special Veteran and Active Military Personnel Season)
Veteran/Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Season
Sat, 09/19/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Ducks (Youth Waterfowl Season)
Youth Waterfowl
Sat, 09/19/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: Low Plains Unit
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: High Plains Unit
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers
Regular - Resident/Nonresident
Sat, 12/12/2026 —
Zone: High Plains Unit
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: High Plains Unit
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: Low Plains Unit
Ducks, Coots, Mergansers
Bonus Blue-winged Teal
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: All Units
Light Geese
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Light Geese
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Light Geese (Spring Conservation Order)
Spring Conservation Order
Sat, 02/21/2026 — Sun, 05/10/2026
Zone: Statewide
White-fronted Geese
Regular - Nonresident
Mon, 10/05/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
White-fronted Geese
Regular - Resident
Sat, 09/26/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Doves
Regular
Tue, 09/01/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasants
Regular (Male Pheasants Only)
Sat, 10/10/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Ring-necked Pheasants (Youth Season)
Youth
Sat, 10/03/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Grouse
Greater Prairie Chicken
Regular
Ruffed Grouse
Regular
Sat, 09/12/2026 —
Zone: Restricted
Sage Grouse
Regular
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Regular
Sat, 09/12/2026 —
Zone: Statewide (see exceptions)
Squirrel
Tree Squirrel
Regular
Sat, 09/12/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
Badger
Regular - Cable Devices
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Badger
Regular - Day hunting / Traps (year-round)
Wed, 04/01/2026 — Wed, 03/31/2027
Zone: Statewide
Beaver
Regular - Cable devices on land
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Beaver
Regular - Cable devices on land within 50 feet of water
Mon, 11/16/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Beaver
Regular - Firearms, traps, underwater cable devices, archery equipment
Wed, 04/01/2026 — Wed, 03/31/2027
Zone: Statewide
Bobcat
Regular - Firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment (including crossbows), traps
Sat, 11/07/2026 —
Zone: Zone 1
Bobcat
Regular - Firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment (including crossbows), traps, cable devices (snares), pursuing with dogs
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Zone 2
Bobcat
Regular - Cable devices or dogs
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Zone 1
Fisher
Regular - Traps, cable devices
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Open Area Only
Mink
Regular - Cable Devices, Firearms, Archery Equipment
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Mink
Regular - Traps
Sat, 10/24/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Muskrat
Regular - Traps
Sat, 10/24/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Muskrat
Regular - Cable Devices, Firearms, Archery Equipment
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Regular - Firearms, traps, underwater cable devices, archery equipment, pursue with dogs
Wed, 04/01/2026 — Wed, 03/31/2027
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Regular - Cable devices on land
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Regular - Cable devices on land within 50 ft. of water
Mon, 03/15/2027 —
Zone: Statewide
River Otter
Regular - Traps, cable devices
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Weasel
Regular - Traps
Sat, 10/24/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Weasel
Regular - Firearms, Cable Devices, Archery Equipment
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Small Game
Hungarian Partridge
Regular
Sat, 09/12/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
Sandhill Crane
Regular
Sat, 09/19/2026 —
Zone: Unit 2
Sandhill Crane
Regular
Sat, 09/19/2026 —
Zone: Unit 1
Tundra Swan
Regular
Sat, 10/03/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Wilson's Snipe
Regular
Sat, 09/12/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
Regular
Sat, 09/19/2026 —
Zone: Statewide
Pronghorn
Pronghorn
Archery
Fri, 09/04/2026 —
Zone: Units 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, 13A, 17A
Pronghorn
Gun or Bow
Fri, 10/02/2026 —
Zone: Units 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, 13A, 17A
Mountain Lion
Mountain Lion
Regular Season
Fri, 08/28/2026 —
Zone: Zone 2
Mountain Lion
Early Season
Fri, 08/28/2026 —
Zone: Zone 1
Mountain Lion
Late Season
Mon, 11/23/2026 —
Zone: Zone 1
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
Regular
Sat, 11/14/2026 — Thu, 12/31/2026
Zone: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5
Bighorn Sheep
Regular
Fri, 10/30/2026 — Fri, 11/13/2026
Zone: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5
Other
Crow
Spring - Regular
Sat, 03/14/2026 — Sun, 04/26/2026
Zone: Statewide
Crow
Fall - Regular
Sat, 08/15/2026 —
Zone: Statewide