North Dakota 2026-2027 Game Season Calendar – Tag Draws & Wildlife Units

Planning a trip into the prairies this year? This guide pulls together the latest official North Dakota dates for deer, pronghorn, elk, turkey, waterfowl, upland birds, furbearers, and more—plus tag basics, unit notes, public-access tips, and beginner-friendly license details. I’ve also flagged the big updates for 2026-27 so you can spot what changed before you buy a tag, mark a calendar, or start scouting. If you like comparing regulations across the country, the state hunting seasons hub is a handy place to branch out later.

North Dakota Hunting Season Overview 2026-2027

Here’s the short version: 2026-27 brings a conservative deer setup, a longer resident-only early waterfowl window, and the usual mix of prairie birds, furbearers, and unit-based big-game opportunities. The state’s deer license allocation was reduced to 39,100 total tags—down 3,200 from the prior year—and nonresident any-deer archery permits were trimmed to 240. That tells you wildlife managers are still leaning cautious while herds continue recovering in parts of the state.

On the bird side, resident duck and goose hunters get a nine-day head start before nonresidents enter the regular waterfowl framework on October 5. Licenses for the 2026-27 small-game, fishing, and furbearer year became valid April 1, 2026 and run through March 31, 2027, so if you’re building a checklist now, start there.

Summary Table: Key Species, Dates & Methods

All Big Games: Archery & Rifle

North Dakota’s big-game structure is straightforward on paper, but unit details matter. A lot. If you’re new, think of it like this: deer is the easiest calendar to read, while elk, moose, sheep, and pronghorn get more unit-specific in a hurry.

Deer 🦌

• Bow: Sept. 4, 2026 (12 noon) – Jan. 3, 2027
• Youth: Sept. 18, 2026 (12 noon) – Sept. 27, 2026
• Gun: Nov. 6, 2026 (12 noon) – Nov. 22, 2026
• Muzzleloader: Nov. 27, 2026 (12 noon) – Dec. 13, 2026

Tag notes:

• Gun and muzzleloader permits are issued through lottery.
• Licenses are non-transferable.
• Tagging is immediate after harvest.
• Nonresident any-deer bow permits are limited, and early access is tighter: during the first 9½ days of the bow opener, those hunters may use private land only, not PLOTS.

State-specific heads-up: deer carcasses or boned meat generally need to travel with the head unless you follow the photo-and-tag exception for CWD handling. That’s one of those rules that seems minor until you’re loading a pickup in the dark.

Pronghorn

• Bow: Sept. 4 – Sept. 27, 2026
• Gun or Bow: Oct. 2 – Oct. 18, 2026

Units include areas such as 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 11A, 13A, and 17A. This is a unit-driven tag, so double-check boundaries before assuming a pasture fence line is your “map.”

Elk

• Bow: Sept. 4 – Sept. 27, 2026 (E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7)
• Antlerless elk:
  • Aug. 7 – Sept. 27, 2026 in E1E, E1W, E2, E6, E7
  • Aug. 7 – Aug. 30, 2026 in E3, E4
  • Jan. 9 – Jan. 17, 2027 in selected units
• Regular:
  • Oct. 2, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 in E1E, E1W, E2, E7
  • Sept. 4, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 in E3, E4, E5
  • E6 split: Oct. 2 – Nov. 5, 2026 and Nov. 23, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027

Moose

• Bow: Sept. 4 – Sept. 27, 2026
• Antlerless moose: Aug. 7 – Aug. 30, 2026 (M9, M10, M11)
• Regular: Oct. 9 – Nov. 1, 2026

Bighorn Sheep

• Early: Oct. 30 – Nov. 13, 2026
• Late: Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2026
• Units: B1-B5

Mountain Lion

• Zone 1 early: Sept. 4 – Nov. 22, 2026
• Zone 1 late: Nov. 23, 2026 – Mar. 31, 2027
• Zone 2: Sept. 4, 2026 – Mar. 31, 2027

Important: lion pursuit is resident-only.

Turkey Season: Spring, Fall, Youth 🦃

• Spring regular: Apr. 11 – May 17, 2026
• Youth spring: Apr. 11 – May 17, 2026
• First-time youth age 15 or younger can get a license valid in any open unit, which is a very beginner-friendly perk.
• Regular spring permits are issued through a weighted lottery.
• All turkey hunters need the annual certificate and general game/habitat license; hunters 16+ also need small game or a combination license.
• Fall turkey: the species page shows a tentative opener of Oct. 10, 2026 for open units, but the final 2026-27 fall proclamation and full closing date were not fully posted at the time of review. Treat this as a “check before you buy” item.

Furbearers Season 🦊

• Badger: year-round day take; cable devices on land Nov. 23, 2026 – Mar. 15, 2027
• Coyote: year-round by day; night take Nov. 23, 2026 – May 31, 2027
• Red/gray fox: year-round by day; night take Nov. 23, 2026 – May 31, 2027
• Raccoon: open year-round
• Beaver: open year-round; land cable devices Nov. 23, 2026 – May 10, 2027
• Weasel: trapping Oct. 24, 2026 – Mar. 15, 2027; hunting opens Nov. 23, 2026
• Mink & muskrat: trapping Oct. 24, 2026 – May 10, 2027; hunting opens Nov. 23, 2026
• Bobcat: Zone 1 Nov. 7, 2026 – Mar. 15, 2027; Zone 2 Nov. 23, 2026 – Mar. 15, 2027
• Fisher & American marten: Nov. 23 – Nov. 29, 2026
• River otter: Nov. 23 – Dec. 13, 2026

Resident-only species: bobcat, mountain lion, fisher, marten, and river otter.

Upland Birds Season

If you’re building a first upland trip, pheasant plus partridge is usually the simplest combo to plan around. Prairie chicken and sage grouse remain closed, so don’t assume “grouse” means every prairie species is available.

Upland Animals Season

• Tree squirrel: Sept. 12, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027
• Rabbit: open statewide year-round
• Porcupine: open statewide year-round
• Prairie dog: open statewide year-round
• Ground squirrel: open statewide year-round
• Skunk: open statewide year-round

That’s a pretty generous lineup for off-peak days when you still want time outside but don’t have a draw tag in your pocket.

Other Small Games Season

Migratory Birds Season

Migratory bird planning in this state really comes down to three things: dates, HIP, and units.

• Sandhill crane: Sept. 19 – Nov. 15, 2026
  • Unit 1 is west of U.S. 281
  • Unit 2 is east of U.S. 281
• Tundra swan: Oct. 3, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
  • Lottery tag required
• Dove: Sept. 1 – Nov. 29, 2026
• Snipe: Sept. 12 – Nov. 29, 2026
• Woodcock: Sept. 19 – Nov. 2, 2026

HIP registration is required for all migratory bird hunters, even if you’re just going after doves on a warm September evening.

Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese Season 🦆

Ducks, coots & mergansers

• Bonus blue-winged teal: Sept. 26 – Oct. 4, 2026
• Resident regular, Low Plains: Sept. 26 – Dec. 6, 2026
• Resident regular, High Plains: Sept. 26 – Dec. 6, 2026
• Nonresident regular, Low Plains: Oct. 5 – Dec. 6, 2026
• Nonresident regular, High Plains: Oct. 5 – Dec. 6, 2026
• High Plains late split, resident/nonresident: Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027

Scaup note: the official ducks page groups ducks, coots, and mergansers together and did not show a separate 2026 scaup date line on the page reviewed, so treat scaup under the duck framework unless the annual guide adds a species-specific bag-limit note.

Light geese

• Resident regular: Sept. 26, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
• Nonresident regular: Oct. 5, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
• Spring conservation order: Feb. 21 – May 10, 2026

Canada geese

• Early season / August management take:
  • Missouri River Zone: Aug. 15 – Sept. 7, 2026
  • Western Zone: Aug. 15 – Sept. 15, 2026
  • Eastern Zone: Aug. 15 – Sept. 22, 2026
• Regular resident:
  • Eastern Zone: Sept. 26 – Dec. 19, 2026 (listed as tentative on the species page at review time)
  • Western Zone: Sept. 26 – Dec. 24, 2026
  • Missouri River Zone: Sept. 26, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027
• Regular nonresident:
  • Eastern Zone: Oct. 5 – Dec. 19, 2026
  • Western Zone: Oct. 5 – Dec. 24, 2026
  • Missouri River Zone: Oct. 5, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027

White-fronted geese

• Resident: Sept. 26 – Dec. 6, 2026
• Nonresident: Oct. 5 – Dec. 6, 2026

Other Waterfowls Season

• Youth waterfowl: Sept. 19 – Sept. 20, 2026
• Veteran / active military waterfowl: Sept. 19 – Sept. 20, 2026
• Tundra swan: Oct. 3, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
• A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters age 16+ except during the spring light goose conservation order.
• The 2026 resident-only early duck/goose window was extended to nine days, which is a meaningful change for locals who like quieter marshes before travel pressure ramps up.

More Games Season

A few extra openers and carry-over opportunities that deserve a spot on your calendar:

• Dove: Sept. 1 – Nov. 29, 2026
• Crow: Aug. 15 – Nov. 2, 2026 and Mar. 13 – Apr. 25, 2027
• Mountain lion: resident-only, zone-based dates through Mar. 31, 2027
• Spring light goose conservation order: Feb. 21 – May 10, 2026
• Early Canada goose: starts Aug. 15, 2026 depending on zone
• Prairie dog / ground squirrel / porcupine / rabbit / skunk: year-round opportunities

For official date tables and regulation updates, bookmark North Dakota Game and Fish season dates.

Game Units & Public Access 🔗

North Dakota uses unit maps for deer, turkey, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, cranes, ducks, geese, and nonresident waterfowl zones. Before opening day, spend ten minutes with the official interactive unit and zone maps and match those boundaries to your GPS or phone app. That little bit of homework is especially useful in the High Plains/Low Plains waterfowl split, deer units with special restrictions, and crane units divided by U.S. 281.

License Details: Resident, Youth, Nonresident & Add-Ons 🎟️

Quick fee snapshots

• Resident combination license (16+): $62
• Resident small game (16+): $20
• Resident deer gun / deer bow / elk / moose / sheep / pronghorn: generally $35 for adults, reduced youth fee
• Nonresident small game: $150
• Nonresident waterfowl: about $153
• General game and habitat license: required for most hunting licenses
• HIP: free, but mandatory for migratory bird pursuits

FAQ

Do I need a lottery tag for deer in North Dakota?

Yes—for deer gun and muzzleloader. Bow deer is more accessible, but nonresident any-deer archery permits are capped.

Can I use public land right away as a nonresident bow hunter?

Not for the first 9½ days of the deer bow opener. During that period, nonresident any-deer archery license holders are limited to private land and cannot use PLOTS.

Is night hunting allowed?

For some predators, yes. Coyote and fox may be taken at night starting Nov. 23, 2026. That does not mean night equipment is allowed for big game—thermal, electronically enhanced light-gathering optics, and similar tools are prohibited for big-game locating or pursuit.

Do I need HIP for doves and cranes?

Absolutely. HIP is required for migratory birds such as ducks, geese, swans, cranes, snipe, doves, and woodcock.

Can I transport a deer or elk carcass any way I want?

No. CWD transport rules are specific. If you leave a head in the field, you must follow the state’s tagging/photo exception correctly. Also, carcass waste moved out of the unit of origin must be disposed of through approved waste handling.

Prepare for Your North Dakota Hunt

North Dakota rewards people who plan for details, not just dates. This is a state where a waterfowl trip can hinge on whether you picked the right 7-day nonresident zone, where a deer hunter needs to think about carcass transport before the shot, and where prairie bird success often comes down to access and wind more than raw bird numbers. If you’re heading west, keep an eye on unit boundaries for pronghorn, elk, and mule deer country. If you’re chasing ducks or geese, sort out the High Plains versus Low Plains split and the resident/nonresident opener gap well ahead of travel. And if this is your first turkey or pheasant year, start simple: pick one species, one unit, one map, and one backup spot. That approach plays especially well in North Dakota, where clean planning usually beats complicated ambition.