North Dakota Hunting Seasons

2021 Tentative Season Dates

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2021 include:

2021 Tentative Season Opening Dates
Season	Tentative Open Date
Spring Turkey	April 10
Dove	September 1
Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Mountain Lion	September 3
Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse, Squirrel	September 11
Youth Deer	September 17
Youth Waterfowl	September 18
Early Resident Waterfowl	September 25
Pronghorn Gun	October 1
Regular Waterfowl, Youth Pheasant	October 2
Pheasant, Fall Turkey	October 9
Mink, Muskrat, Weasel Trapping	October 23
Deer Gun	November 5

2020 Season Dates

The following is a listing of North Dakota Hunting Seasons (alphabetical by species). Note: Species that have youth seasons or split spring/fall seasons will be listed multiple times in the species selection box.

Note: Dates listed as TENTATIVE are subject to change until their proclamation has been signed.

Be sure to select the correct date range as many seasons cross the calendar year.
For example:

The 2017-2018 pheasant season was from 10/07/2017 – 01/07/2018.
The 2018-2019 pheasant season dates are 10/06/2018-01/06/2019.

Species Selection

Season

Badger

Regular - Day hunting, traps

Statewide

Open Year-round Opens: Wed, 04/01/2020 Closes: Wed, 03/31/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Badger

Regular - Cable Devices

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Badger

Beaver

Regular - Firearms, traps, underwater cable devices, archery equipment

Statewide

Open Year-round Opens: Wed, 04/01/2020 Closes: Wed, 03/31/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Beaver

Regular - Cable devices on land

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Beaver

Bighorn Sheep

Regular

UNITS B1, B3, B4

Opens: Fri, 10/30/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/31/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Bighorn Sheep

Bobcat

Regular - Firearms, Traps, Archery Equipment

Open area only

Opens: Sat, 11/07/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Bobcat

Regular - Cable Devices, Pursue with Dogs

Open area only

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Bobcat

Canada Geese

Regular - Nonresident

Missouri River Zone

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Fri, 01/01/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese

Western Zone

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/24/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese

Eastern Zone

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Sat, 12/19/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese

Regular - Resident

Western Zone

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/24/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese

Eastern Zone

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Sat, 12/19/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese

Missouri River Zone

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Fri, 01/01/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Canada Geese

Coyote

Regular - Night hunting

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Coyote

Regular - Day hunting, traps

Statewide

Open Year-round Opens: Wed, 04/01/2020 Closes: Wed, 03/31/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Coyote

Regular - Cable devices

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Coyote

Crow

Spring - Regular

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 03/14/2020 Closes: Sun, 04/26/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Crow

Fall - Regular

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 08/22/2020 Closes: Mon, 11/09/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Crow

Doves

Regular

Statewide

Opens: Tue, 09/01/2020 Closes: Sun, 11/29/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Doves

Ducks and Coots

Regular - Resident

Low Plains Unit

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks and Coots

High Plains Unit (1)

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks and Coots

Veteran/Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Season

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 09/19/2020 Closes: Sun, 09/20/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks and Coots

Regular - Nonresident

Low Plains Unit

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks and Coots

High Plains Unit (1)

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks and Coots

Regular - Resident/Nonresident

High Plains Unit (2)

Opens: Sat, 12/12/2020 Closes: Sun, 01/03/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Ducks and Coots

Elk

Regular

UNIT E1W

Opens: Fri, 10/02/2020 Closes: Sun, 01/03/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

UNITS E3, E4

Opens: Fri, 09/04/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/31/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

UNIT E5

Opens: Fri, 09/04/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/31/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

UNIT E6

Opens: Fri, 10/02/2020 Closes: Thu, 11/05/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

UNIT E6

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/31/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

UNITS E1E, E2

Opens: Fri, 10/02/2020 Closes: Thu, 12/31/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

Bow

UNITS E1E, E1W, E2, E6

Opens: Fri, 09/04/2020 Closes: Sun, 09/27/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Elk

Fisher

Regular - Traps, cable devices

Open Area Only

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Sun, 11/29/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Fisher

Fox (Red and Gray)

Regular - Night hunting

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Fox (Red and Gray)

Regular - Cable devices

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 03/15/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Fox (Red and Gray)

Regular - Day hunting, traps

Statewide

Open Year-round Opens: Wed, 04/01/2020 Closes: Wed, 03/31/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Fox (Red and Gray)

Hungarian Partridge

Regular

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 09/12/2020 Closes: Sun, 01/03/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Hungarian Partridge

Light Geese

Regular - Resident

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Fri, 01/01/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Light Geese

Regular - Nonresident

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Fri, 01/01/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Light Geese

Mergansers

Regular - Nonresident

High Plains Unit (1)

Opens: Mon, 09/28/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mergansers

Low Plains Unit

Opens: Sat, 10/03/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mergansers

Regular - Resident/Nonresident

High Plains Unit (2)

Opens: Sat, 12/12/2020 Closes: Sun, 01/03/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mergansers

Regular - Resident

Low Plains Unit

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mergansers

High Plains Unit (1)

Opens: Sat, 09/26/2020 Closes: Sun, 12/06/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mergansers

Mink

Regular - Traps

Statewide

Opens: Sat, 10/24/2020 Closes: Mon, 05/10/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mink

Cable Devices, Firearms, Archery Equipment

Statewide

Opens: Mon, 11/23/2020 Closes: Mon, 05/10/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mink

Moose

Regular

UNITS M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11

Opens: Fri, 10/09/2020 Closes: Sun, 11/01/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Moose

Bow

UNITS M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11

Opens: Fri, 09/04/2020 Closes: Sun, 09/27/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedLottery Deadline: Wed, 03/25/2020 Lottery Deadline Date Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Moose

Mountain Lion

Early season

Zone 1

Opens: Fri, 09/04/2020 Closes: Sun, 11/22/2020 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mountain Lion

Conditional Season

Zone 1

Opens: Sun, 01/24/2021 Closes: Wed, 03/31/2021 Season Dates Status: FinalizedHunting Information - Mountain Lion

Badger
Beaver
Bighorn Sheep
Bobcat
Canada Geese
Canada Geese (Early Season)
Coyote
Crow
Deer, Mule and White-tailed
Deer, Mule and White-tailed (Youth Season)
Doves
Ducks (Youth Waterfowl Season)
Ducks and Coots
Elk
Fisher
Fox (Red and Gray)
Greater Prairie Chicken
Ground Squirrel
Hungarian Partridge
Light Geese
Light Geese (Spring Conservation Order)
Mergansers
Mink
Moose
Mountain Lion
Muskrat
Porcupine
Prairie Dog
Pronghorn
Rabbit
Raccoon
Ring-necked Pheasants
Ring-necked Pheasants (Youth Season)
River Otter
Ruffed Grouse
Sage Grouse
Sandhill Crane
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Skunk
Tree Squirrel
Tundra Swan
Turkey
Turkey (Spring Season)
Turkey (Youth Spring Season)
Weasel
White-fronted Geese
Wilson's Snipe
Woodcock