2008 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Guide
This guide is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to be a complete listing of regulations. For other specific information on regulations and laws, visit the Game and Fish Department website at www.gf.nd.gov or for North Dakota state laws go to www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/T201.html.
2008 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting
Guide (354Kb PDF)
2008 Fall Wild Turkey
Proclamation (245Kb PDF)
Licensing on the Web and Telephone, Downloadable Applications, & Regulations
1. 2008 Fall Season, Dates, Times, Open areas
Opens: October 11, 2008
Closes: January 11, 2009
Restrictions: Restricted to fall season dates and unit described on license.
Areas: All open units - See last page for map with unit boundaries.
Hunting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset daily.
2. Eligibility
Who May Apply - Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply. If licenses remain after the first lottery, state law allows nonresidents to apply at a fee of $80.
Hunter Education Requirement - Persons born after December 31, 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course and present the certification card earned to the license vendor to purchase a North Dakota hunting license. Exceptions: Persons who hunt only on land they own or operate, and persons under age 12 (those under age 12 may hunt if they have an appropriate license and are under direct supervision of a parent or guardian).
Minimum Age - There is no minimum age for hunting turkeys, but all hunters under age 15 afield with firearms must be under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or adult authorized by their parent or guardian.
3. Licenses
General - Licenses are issued by weighted lottery after the number of gratis licenses is deducted from the total available. The deadline for submitting regular lottery applications was July 2.
Gratis - Gratis licenses are available to North Dakota residents owning, or leasing for agricultural purposes and actively farming or ranching, at least 160 acres of land located in an open hunting unit, and are valid only upon land described on the application and subsequently the license.
Other Licenses Required - Hunters, regardless of age, must also possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate ($1 for residents and $2 for nonresidents), and a general game and habitat license ($13). In addition, resident hunters age 16 and older must possess a small game license ($6) or a combination license ($32) before hunting wild turkeys. (Gratis license holders exempt.) Stamps must be affixed to the back of a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Stamps and licenses must be signed in ink.
4. Hunting Over Bait
Hunting over bait on Department wildlife management areas is prohibited. Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/ or use of bait(s) for attracting game to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Baits include but are not limited to grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay or any other natural or manufactured foods. The designation does not apply to the use of scents and lures, water, food plots, standing crops or livestock feeds being used in standard practices.
Hunting over bait is also not allowed on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas; all North Dakota state school lands; and all North Dakota state park lands.
5. Transportation
License holders must accompany their wild turkey during transportation, except that it may be shipped by licensed public carrier in receipt of proper bill of lading.
6. Tagging Requirements
Immediately after a turkey is taken, the hunter must indicate the date of kill by cutting out the appropriate month and day from the tag provided with the license, and attach it around the leg of the turkey in an exact manner as illustrated on back of tag to prevent its removal. It is not legal to possess or transport a turkey unless it is properly tagged. The tag shall remain with the carcass until it is packaged as food. No person may reuse or attempt to reuse any tag issued. All used tags must be kept in possession until the meat is consumed or disposed of.
7. Bag Limit
Each license holder may take and possess one wild turkey of any sex or age per
license, not to exceed 15 licenses per
person.
Know your wild turkey
8. Firearms and Archery Equipment
Shotguns - Only shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and capable of holding not
more than three shells in the magazine
and chamber are legal. Minimum barrel length is 18 inches. Fully automatic firearms are
illegal.
Rifles - Only muzzleloading long guns are legal. Centerfire rifles and rimfire rifles are not legal for hunting wild turkeys.
Bows and Arrows - A bow must be pulled, held, and released by hand. Any release aid may be used providing it is hand operated, the shooter supports the draw weight of the bow, and the release is not attached to any part of the bow other than at the bowstring. A compound bow used for hunting turkeys must have at least 35 pounds of draw at 28 inches or less draw length. Recurve and long bows used for hunting turkeys must have at least 35 pounds of draw at 28 inches. Arrows must be at least 24 inches long, tipped with a metal broadhead, with at least two sharp cutting edges, and have a cutting diameter of at least 3/4 inch (i.e., not able to pass through a 3/4 inch ring). It is illegal to hunt turkeys with barbed arrows. Broadheads with mechanical or retractable blades are legal. Telescopic sights, range finding devices, battery powered or electronically lighted sights or other electronic devices attached to the bow, or the arrow, are not permitted. Handheld range finding devices are legal. Arrows capable of causing damage or injury in excess of that inflicted by the cutting edges of the broadhead, are prohibited (e.g., explosive arrow points, arrows tipped with drugs or chemicals, and pneumatic or hydraulic shafts are illegal).
Handguns - Handguns of .35 caliber and larger with 4 inch or greater barrel length are legal.
Other Firearms/Archery Restrictions
- Crossbows are not legal, except with a permit from the Game and Fish director. Contact the
Department for
additional information on crossbow regulations. - It is illegal to go afield with a firearm or bow and arrow while intoxicated.
- Firearms must be unloaded and encased within the boundaries of any national park.
- It is illegal to hunt upon the premises of another within 440 yards of any occupied building without the consent of the person occupying such building. Exception: Hunting is not prohibited on land owned by neighbors (private or public) even if the land is located less than 440 yards from the occupied building.
9. Aircraft and Motor Driven Vehicles
- Aircraft may not be used to drive, concentrate, rally, raise, stir up, spot, or disturb game.
- Motor-driven vehicles may not be used to pursue game.
- It is illegal to shoot with bow and arrow or firearm while in or on a motor-driven vehicle.
- It is illegal to carry a firearm in or on a motor-driven vehicle with a shell in the chamber. The entire cylinder of a revolver is considered the chamber, requiring the revolver to be completely unloaded. It is illegal to carry any muzzleloader in or on a motor-driven vehicle with a percussion cap on the nipple or powder in the flash pan.
- Motor-driven vehicles may only be used on established roads or trails. Except for persons having a special disability permit, no person may use a motor-driven vehicle while in the process of hunting turkeys or aid another in the process of hunting turkeys, including travel to and from the hunting location unless the motor-driven vehicle is on an established road or trail. Exception: a landowner or a lessee who actively farms or ranches the land, or a person having written permission from the landowner or lessee, may use a motor-driven vehicle off of an established road or trail to hunt turkeys except during the deer gun season.
- Motor-driven vehicles may not be used off established roads and trails on state wildlife management areas, federal waterfowl production areas, and any other areas where motor-driven vehicles are restricted.
- Established roads or trails do not include temporary trails made for agricultural purposes.
- No person may use motor-driven vehicles on North Dakota Game and Fish Department Conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) property without permission from the landowner. These areas have been entrusted to the public for walking access through written agreements by private landowners. The boundaries of these properties are identified by large yellow triangular signs.
10. Areas Closed to Hunting
Federal or state properties such as refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks and historic sites posted no trespassing or hunting are closed to hunting wild turkeys.
When hunting near the boundaries of closed refuges, sanctuaries, military installations, parks or historic sites, make sure you are familiar with any retrieval restrictions that may apply.
State school land is open to public access including hunting unless posted with State Land Department signs. Contact the State Land Department for additional information regarding Public Access on School Trust Lands.
Nonresidents are not allowed to hunt on Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas or Private Land Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) areas from October 11-17.
11. Posting and Trespass
- Only the owner or tenant may post land by placing signs alongside a public highway or boundary giving notice that no hunting is permitted on the land. The name of the person posting the land must appear on each sign in legible characters. The signs must be readable from outside the land and must be placed conspicuously and not more than 880 yards apart. On land entirely enclosed by a fence or other enclosure, posting of signs at or on all gates through the fence or enclosure constitutes a posting of all the enclosed land.
- Hunting on posted lands without permission from the owner or tenant is illegal and punishable by suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for a period of at least one year.
- Any person may enter upon legally posted land (without a firearm or bow) to recover game shot or killed on land where he/she had a lawful right to hunt.
- It is illegal to hunt in unharvested crops, including alfalfa, clover and other grasses grown for seed, without the landowner's consent, regardless of whether the land is posted or not.
- It is illegal to deface, take down or destroy posting signs.
- Failure to close gates upon exit or entry is a criminal violation punishable by forfeiture of hunting licenses.
12. RAP (Report All Poachers) Program
This program encourages people to report wildlife violations, remain anonymous if they prefer, and receive monetary rewards for convictions based on their information. Anonymous callers will be given a special code number and are not required to give their name. Rewards range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the nature and seriousness of the crime. Call 800-472-2121. Call this number only to report game and fish violations. Note: If calling from outside North Dakota, the number is (701) 328-9921.The reward fund is supported by private donations. If you wish to donate to the RAP program, tax deductible contributions can be sent to RAP, Box 188, Valley City, ND 58072-0188.
13. Road Rights of Way
Do not hunt on road rights of way unless you are certain they are open to public use. Most road rights of way are under the control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunting when the adjacent land is posted closed to hunting.
14. Wanton Waste
No person shall kill, cripple, waste, destroy, spoil or abandon the edible flesh (breast meat) of any wild turkey without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird, and retain it in his/her actual custody, at the place where taken and between that place and either (a) his/her personal permanent residence, (b) a taxidermist, or (c) a common carrier.
15. Licenses Available by Unit
| Unit | Fall Permits |
|---|---|
| 02 |
125
|
| 03 |
300
|
| 04 |
350
|
| 06 |
50
|
| 10 |
30
|
| 13 |
800
|
| 15 |
150
|
| 17 |
1400
|
| 18 |
60
|
| 19 |
250
|
| 21 |
Closed
|
| 25 |
850
|
| 27 |
1000
|
| 30 |
600
|
| 31 |
60
|
| 34 |
100
|
| 37 |
75
|
| 40 |
75
|
| 41 |
200
|
| 44 |
300
|
| 45 |
200
|
| 47 |
50
|
| 50 |
50
|
| 51 |
300
|
| 53 |
Closed
|
| 70 |
100
|
| 98 |
500
|
| 99 |
450
|
| R (Remainder of state) |
275
|
| Total |
8700
|
A maximum of 25 turkey licenses will be issued for a concurrent experimental turkey season for the city of Bismarck and specific surrounding areas. Licenses are distributed on a first come, first served basis to those licensed to bow hunt deer within the city limits of Bismarck. Licenses are available at the Game and Fish headquarters in Bismarck after a person has received a valid city archery permit.
16. Hunting by Nontribal Members on ND Indian Reservations
If an individual hunts exclusively on Indian lands within an Indian reservation, a tribal license is required and a state hunting license is not required. Hunting on nontribal lands within an Indian reservation requires a state hunting license. Game taken legally with a tribal license within an Indian reservation may be possessed and transported anywhere in North Dakota.
Portions of some units are located on Indian reservations. Contact reservation tribal offices for more information.
- Fort Berthold - Game and Fish Department, 404 Frontage Road, New Town, ND 58763, (701) 627-4760.
- Standing Rock - Game and Fish Department, Box D, Fort Yates, ND 58538, (701) 854-7236.
- Turtle Mountain - Department of Natural Resources, Box 570, Belcourt, ND 58316, (701) 477-2600.
- Spirit Lake - Fish and Wildlife Department, Box 359, Fort Totten, ND 58335, (701) 766-4221.
17. Be Safe - Wear Orange Clothing
While hunting in an area where any big game gun hunting season is in progress, turkey hunters are recommended to wear a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline of solid daylight fluorescent orange totaling at least 400 square inches.
18. Sunrise & Sunset Times
19. Map of Open Hunting Units
A high quality, enlargable map is also available in Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™.
- In order to view it you will need to download a free copy of Adobe® Acrobat®
Reader™.
- If you already have the reader program download the map here (393Kb pdf).
20. Fall Turkey Hunting Unit Descriptions:
Unit 02 - Barnes County
Unit 03 - Those portions of Benson County west of ND Highway 20, Towner County
south of ND Highway 17, Pierce County east of ND Highway 3 and south of ND Highway 17, and that
part of Ramsey County west of ND Highway 20 and south of ND Highway 17. NOTE! In addition to a Unit
03 fall wild turkey license, a special permit is required to hunt in Graham’s Island State
Park. Special restrictions are required when hunting in the park. Contact the park office for
additional information and for obtaining these free permits (701) 766-4015.
Unit 04 - Those portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties south of
I-94.
Unit 06 - Bowman County.
Unit 10 - An area in Cavalier and Pembina counties starting at the west junction
of ND Highway 5 and ND Highway 32, then north on ND Highway 32 to the US-Canadian border, then west
to ND Highway 1, then south to ND Highway 5, and then east to the point of origin.
Unit 13 - Dunn County.
Unit 15 - Emmons County.
Unit 17 - Those portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties north of
I-94.
Unit 18 - That portion of Grand Forks County that lies north of US Highway
2.
Unit 19 - Grant County, Sioux County, and that part of Morton County south of
I-94 that lies west of Morton County Road 86 (the Almont to Carson road) and that part of Morton
County north of I-94 that lies west of ND Highway 31.
Unit 21 - Hettinger County and Adams County. CLOSED IN 2008.
Unit 25 - McHenry County and that part of Pierce County west of ND Highway 3 and
that part of Ward County that lies east of US Highway 83.
Unit 27 - McKenzie County.
Unit 30 - Morton County except for that part of Morton County south of I-94 that
lies west of Morton County Road 86 (the Almont to Carson road) and except that part of Morton
County north of I-94 that lies west of ND Highway 31.
Unit 31 - Mountrail County.
Unit 34 – An area in Pembina County starting at the junction of ND Highway
32 and the US-Canada border, then south to ND Highway 5, then east to the Minnesota-North Dakota
border, then north to the US-Canada border, then west to the point of origin.
Unit 37 – An area in Ransom, Richland and Sargent counties starting at the
east junction of ND Highway 32 and ND Highway 46, then east to the Minnesota-North Dakota border,
then south to ND Highway 13 at Wahpeton, then west on ND Highway 13 to ND Highway 32 at Gwinner,
then north on ND Highway 32 to the point of origin.
Unit 40 – Rolette County, and those portions of Bottineau and Renville
counties east of US Highway 83 and that portion of Pierce County north of ND Highway 17.
Unit 41 – Those portions of Richland and Sargent counties south of ND
Highway 13.
Unit 44 – Slope County.
Unit 45 – Stark County.
Unit 47 – That portion of Stutsman County that lies east of US Highway
281.
Unit 50 – Those parts of Cavalier, Pembina, Ramsey and Walsh counties
starting at the junction of ND Highway 1 and ND Highway 5 at Langdon, then east on ND Highway 5 to
the Minnesota-North Dakota border, then south to the Walsh County/Grand Forks County line, then
west on the county line to ND Highway 1, then north to ND Highway 5 (the point of origin).
Unit 51 – Burke County, all of Renville County except that portion east of
US Highway 83, that part of Bottineau County west of US Highway 83, and that part of Ward County
that lies west of US Highway 83.
Unit 53 – Williams County and Divide County. CLOSED IN 2008.
Unit 70 – Those parts of Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom and Sargent counties
bounded by ND Highway 46 on the north, ND Highway 32 on the east, ND Highway 13 on the south, and
ND Highway 1 on the west.
Unit 98 – Burleigh County and McLean County.
Unit 99 – Mercer County and Oliver County.
Unit R – The remainder of North Dakota not included in a numbered unit.
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