Small Game Hunting

Hunter Education required for persons born after 1961. Include a photocopy of your hunter education certificate when mailing applications.

View Most Recent Small Game Regulations

Small Game Types

Pinnated Grouse (Prairie Chicken), Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Sage Grouse, Hungarian Partridge, Mourning Dove, Sandhill Crane, Snipe, Woodcock, Tree Squirrel, Ring-Necked Pheasant

2008 Season Opening Dates: 

• Fall Crow - Aug. 9
• Early Canada goose - Aug. 15
• Mourning Dove - Sep. 1
• Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse & Squirrel - Sept. 13 
• Sandhill Crane - Sept. 20
• Youth Pheasant Season - Oct. 4
• Pheasant - Oct. 11
• Fall Turkey - Oct. 11

Species Distribution Maps: 

• Ruffed Grouse
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Hungarian Partridge
• Sandhill Crane
• Sage Grouse

A resident must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate - $1
• Small Game License - $6 (Not required of residents under age 16)
• General Game and Habitat License - $13, or a Combination License - $32
  • (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses).
• ** See below for sandhill crane permit details.

A nonresident must possess the following licenses:

• Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate - $2
• General Game and Habitat License - $13
• and Nonresident Small Game License - $85
  • (good for two 7-day periods or one 14-day period). 
• More than one license may be purchased per season. 
• There are no nonresident zone restrictions for small game hunting.
• ** See below for sandhill crane permit details.

A Nonresident May Not Hunt G&F Lands Oct. 11-17

Nonresidents may not hunt on lands owned or leased by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS), for the first week of pheasant season (October 11-17). This restriction applies to all types of hunting, not just pheasants.  This restriction does not apply to lands owned or managed by other state agencies that may be open to hunting, such as state school lands, federal lands that may be open to hunting, such as US Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), or to private lands not enrolled in the G&F PLOTS program. 

Nonresidents can change their 7 or 14 day periods for small game by calling the 1-800-406-6409 licensing number prior to the start of the period. It costs $4 per license to do so.

Nonresident youth hunting licenses

(North Dakota Century Code 20.1-03-07.2):   A nonresident youth less than sixteen years of age may purchase a resident small game hunting license and may hunt small game and waterfowl except swans and wild turkeys; provided, that the nonresident youth's state [currently, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin], or province or territory of Canada of residence provides a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents less than sixteen years of age. The nonresident youth may not have arrived at the age of sixteen before September first of the year for which the license is issued and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian who is licensed to hunt small game or waterfowl in this state and is subject to the same regulations as the adult family member or legal guardian. This section does not apply to big game or to a license issued by lottery.

A nonresident full-time student living in North Dakota and attending an institution of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the Board of Higher Education, a private institution, or a tribal college may qualify to purchase resident (non lottery) licenses. Details and license sales are available only through our web site at https://secure.apps.state.nd.us/gnf/onlineservices/lic/public/online/main.htm.

**Sandhill crane

Sandhill crane hunters must possess a $5 Sandhill Crane Permit in addition to other licenses. Permits available from the game and fish office, Online Services, or by calling instant licensing on the telephone at 1-800-406-6409 (Note: for instant licensing on the telephone, a service charge of $4 is assessed for each transaction under $70 and $10 for transactions of $70 or more).  Note:  After obtaining a sandhill crane permit a nonresident may hunt crane with either a nonresident waterfowl license or a nonresident small game license, subject to the restrictions such as time periods and zones specified on that license.

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