North Dakota 2025-2026 Game Season Calendar – Tag Draws & Wildlife Units
North Dakota’s diverse landscapes offer some of the nation’s most rewarding outdoor pursuits for sportsmen and women. From the rolling prairies to the rugged badlands, the Peace Garden State provides exceptional opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. This comprehensive guide covers the upcoming 2025-26 game pursuits calendar, featuring essential dates, licensing information, and vital zone details to ensure your next expedition is both successful and compliant with state regulations.
Quick Reference: North Dakota Game Season Highlights
Below is a summary table of key species with their corresponding pursuit periods and methods for the 2025-26 season:
| Wildlife Species | Opening Date | Closing Date | Method | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer (Bow) | Aug 29, 2025 | TBD | Archery | Tentative |
| Deer (Regular) | Nov 7, 2025 | TBD | Firearms | Tentative |
| Pheasant | Oct 11, 2025 | TBD | Firearms | Tentative |
| Turkey (Spring) | Apr 12, 2025 | May 18, 2025 | All | Finalized |
| Turkey (Fall) | Oct 11, 2025 | TBD | All | Tentative |
| Waterfowl (Resident) | Sep 27, 2025 | TBD | Firearms | Tentative |
| Pronghorn (Bow) | Aug 29, 2025 | TBD | Archery | Tentative |
| Elk | Sep 5, 2025 | Jan 4, 2026 | Various | Finalized |
| Moose | Oct 10, 2025 | Nov 2, 2025 | Firearms | Finalized |
Note: Dates marked as “Tentative” are subject to change until their proclamation has been signed.
🦌 Big Game Opportunities: Archery & Rifle Seasons
Deer Pursuits
North Dakota offers extensive opportunities for white-tailed and mule deer enthusiasts across its diverse terrain:
- Archery Season: Opens August 29, 2025 (Tentative)
- Statewide access
- Application deadline: June 4, 2025
- Regular Firearm Season: Opens November 7, 2025 (Tentative)
- Available across all units
- Application deadline: June 4, 2025
- Muzzleloader Season (White-tailed only): Opens November 28, 2025 (Tentative)
- Statewide availability
- Application deadline: June 4, 2025
- Youth Season: Opens September 19, 2025 (Tentative)
- Perfect opportunity for mentoring young sportspeople
- Statewide access
Elk Adventures
The Peace Garden State offers several elk management units with varying dates:
- Regular Season (Units E1E, E1W, E2, E7): October 3, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (Finalized)
- Bow Season (Units E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7): September 5 – September 28, 2025 (Finalized)
- Special Season (Unit E6): October 3 – November 6, 2025 and November 24, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (Finalized)
Application deadline for all elk tags: March 26, 2025
Pronghorn Outings
Pronghorn enthusiasts can explore multiple units across western North Dakota:
- Bow Season: Opens August 29, 2025 (Tentative)
- Units 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and others
- Application deadline: August 6, 2025
- Gun/Bow Season: Opens October 3, 2025 (Tentative)
- Same units as bow season
- Application deadline: August 6, 2025
Moose Expeditions
For those seeking the thrill of moose pursuits:
- Bow Season: September 5 – September 28, 2025 (Finalized)
- Units M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11
- Regular Season: October 10 – November 2, 2025 (Finalized)
- Units M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11
Application deadline for moose tags: March 26, 2025
Bighorn Sheep Opportunity
Limited but prestigious bighorn sheep outings are available:
- Regular Season: October 31 – December 31, 2025 (Finalized)
- Units B1, B2, B3, B4, B5
- Application deadline: March 26, 2025
🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall, and Youth Opportunities
Turkey pursuit in North Dakota offers diversity with three distinct periods:
Spring Season (Finalized)
- Regular: April 12 – May 18, 2025
- Youth: April 12 – May 18, 2025
- All open units
- Application deadline: February 12, 2025
Fall Season (Tentative)
- Opens October 11, 2025
- All open units
- Application deadline: September 3, 2025
The spring season provides excellent opportunities when birds are most active during breeding season, while the fall season offers different challenges as birds gather in larger flocks.
🦊 Furbearer Opportunities
North Dakota offers diverse furbearer management opportunities year-round:
Year-Round Pursuits
- Badger: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (Finalized) – Traps year-round
- Beaver: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (Finalized) – Firearms, traps, underwater devices
- Coyote: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (Finalized) – Day pursuit, traps
- Fox: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (Finalized) – Day pursuit, traps
- Raccoon: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (Finalized) – Firearms, traps, archery
Seasonal Opportunities
- Bobcat: Opens November 8, 2025 (Zone 1) and November 24, 2025 (Zone 2) (Tentative)
- Fisher: Opens November 24, 2025 (Tentative)
- Mink/Muskrat: Opens October 25, 2025 (Tentative)
- River Otter: Opens November 24, 2025 (Tentative)
Special regulations for cable devices on land typically begin November 24, 2025, while cable devices near water have specific spring seasons from March 16 – May 10, 2025.
🐦 Small Game Opportunities
Upland Birds
- Pheasant: Opens October 11, 2025 (Tentative) – Male pheasants only
- Youth Season: Opens October 4, 2025 (Tentative)
- Sharp-tailed Grouse: Opens September 13, 2025 (Tentative)
- Hungarian Partridge: Opens September 13, 2025 (Tentative)
- Ruffed Grouse: Opens September 13, 2025 (Tentative) – Restricted areas
Other Small Game
- Tree Squirrel: Opens September 15, 2025 (Tentative)
- Crow: Spring season March 8 – April 20, 2025 (Finalized); Fall season opens August 16, 2025 (Tentative)
- Dove: Opens September 1, 2025 (Tentative)
🦆 Waterfowl Opportunities
The Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota offers premier waterfowl adventure opportunities:
Resident Seasons (Tentative)
- Ducks, Coots, Mergansers: Opens September 27, 2025
- High Plains and Low Plains Units
- Canada Geese: Opens September 27, 2025
- Eastern, Western, and Missouri River Zones
- Light Geese: Opens September 27, 2025
- White-fronted Geese: Opens September 27, 2025
- Tundra Swan: Opens September 27, 2025 (Application deadline: August 20, 2025)
Nonresident Seasons (Tentative)
- Ducks, Coots, Mergansers: Opens October 4, 2025
- Canada Geese: Opens October 4, 2025
- Light Geese: Opens October 4, 2025
- White-fronted Geese: Opens October 4, 2025
Special Waterfowl Seasons
- Youth Waterfowl: Opens September 20, 2025 (Tentative)
- Veteran/Active Military: Opens September 20, 2025 (Tentative)
- Early Canada Goose: Opens August 15, 2025 (Tentative)
- Spring Light Goose Conservation Order: February 15 – May 11, 2025 (Finalized)
🐾 Other Wildlife Management Opportunities
Mountain Lion
- Zone 1 Early Season: Opens August 29, 2025 (Tentative)
- Zone 1 Late Season: Opens November 24, 2025 (Tentative)
- Zone 2: Opens August 29, 2025 (Tentative)
Miscellaneous Game Birds
- Wilson’s Snipe: Opens September 13, 2025 (Tentative)
- Woodcock: Opens September 20, 2025 (Tentative)
🗺️ North Dakota Wildlife Management Zones
North Dakota divides its territory into specific management units and zones to effectively regulate wildlife populations:
- Deer Units: Statewide with specific unit boundaries for regular seasons
- Elk Units: E1E, E1W, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7
- Moose Units: M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11
- Pronghorn Units: 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, 13A
- Waterfowl Zones: Eastern, Western, Missouri River, High Plains, Low Plains
For detailed zone maps, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website.
🎟️ License Information
Resident Licenses
- Regular season tags available through lottery systems
- Application deadlines vary by species (see tables above)
- Youth opportunities available at reduced fees
Nonresident Options
- Limited allocation for popular species
- Different season start dates than residents (typically one week later for waterfowl)
- Premium fees compared to resident options
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do I need to apply for big game tags?
A: Application deadlines vary by species – deer (June 4), elk/moose/bighorn sheep (March 26), and pronghorn (August 6). All dates for 2025 are tentative except for elk, moose, and bighorn sheep which are finalized.
Q: Can I hunt on public lands in North Dakota?
A: Yes, North Dakota offers extensive public access opportunities through PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen), Wildlife Management Areas, National Grasslands, and more.
Q: Are night pursuits allowed for predators?
A: Yes, night pursuit for species like coyote and fox typically opens November 24, 2025 with specific regulations.
Q: When do lottery results become available?
A: Results are typically posted several weeks after application deadlines. Check the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website for specific dates.
Q: What are the special regulations for youth adventurers?
A: North Dakota offers youth-specific seasons for deer, pheasant, turkey, and waterfowl with unique dates and often more relaxed regulations to encourage participation.
Related Resources
Looking for more information about wildlife opportunities? Check out these related pages:
- Hunting Seasons in South Dakota
- Hunting Seasons in Minnesota
- Hunting Seasons in Montana
Final Thoughts for Peace Garden State Adventurers
The 2025-26 wildlife management seasons in North Dakota offer exceptional opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts across a diverse spectrum of species. From the adrenaline of a trophy elk pursuit in the badlands to the tradition of chasing ringnecks across the prairie, the state delivers memorable experiences for sportspeople of all skill levels.
Remember that many of the dates listed remain tentative until officially proclaimed, so always verify current regulations before your expedition. By understanding zone boundaries, adhering to application deadlines, and properly preparing for your adventure, you’ll maximize your chance of success while contributing to wildlife conservation efforts throughout the Peace Garden State.
Whether you’re a resident or visitor, North Dakota’s field and stream opportunities provide the perfect backdrop for creating lasting memories while experiencing some of America’s most stunning natural landscapes.
