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North Dakota Outdoors: Each deer season is unique

Each deer season is unique. It’s part of what creates the hunting heritage as you reconnect with the same hunting crew at deer camp each year. But no matter how hard you try, there’s bound to be a little different twist each year. A new member joining the crew or, unfortunately, one missing. While the weather, habitat and field conditions are also bound to change, some of the usual questions arise each year. Here’s a few answers to some of the annual frequently asked questions: Is camouflage blaze orange acceptable for the deer gun season? No. You must wear both a hat and outer ...

Deer gun season opens Nov. 10

North Dakota’s deer gun season, arguably the state’s most anticipated and celebrated hunting season, opens Nov. 10 at noon Central time. The Game and Fish Department’s standardized opening day of North Dakota’s deer gun season is determined by the calendar and always opens the Friday immediately preceding Veterans Day, Nov. 11. This is to ensure that the opening day of North Dakota’s deer gun season does not occur on the federal holiday. The last time the opener of the 16 ½-day season fell on the second weekend in November and ran through Thanksgiving was 2018.

Get your deer tested for chronic wasting disease

Wouldn’t you feel better knowing the deer you shot, harvested and ate tested negative for chronic wasting disease? The North Dakota Game and Fish Department does the testing. Steph Tucker and Cami Wright are shown in this NDGF photo. If your deer hunting unit is under a chronic wasting disease hunting restriction, if you want to know if the deer you’ve taken had CWD or you are concerned with the future of North Dakota’s deer herd, you should make plans to get your deer tested by the Game and Fish Department. While there is currently no scientific evidence CWD can pass from deer ...

NDGF offices open for deer replacement tags

Deer hunters who can’t find their deer license should contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department soon to secure their tag before the season opens. The Game and Fish Department must be contacted to authorize the online purchase of a replacement tag. Printable applications are not available. The deer gun season opens Friday, Nov. 10, at noon Central time. This year, observance of Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 10, and state agency offices are normally closed; however, Game and Fish offices will be open from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS: Practice safe gun handling, hunter safety

The opening shots, so to speak, of the 2023 hunting season officially began over two months ago on Aug. 15 with the early Canada goose season. If you’re like many, the intention of brushing up on your swing and transitioning from fishing to shotgunning isn’t as gradual as you’d like. ...

NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS: Fall hunting season dependent on weather

As the old saying goes, “If it wasn’t for the weather, most people wouldn’t know how to start a conversation.” The weather here on the Northern Plains impacts everything and everyone directly, and for farmers, ranchers, hunters, biologists and wildlife managers, what happened in the ...