Deer season set

North Dakota’s 2026 deer season is set, with 39,100 licenses available to hunters, down 3,200 from last year, the lowest total in over a half century. Muzzleloader licenses were also reduced, and antlerless deer gun licenses are not available in several units.

A total of 240 nonresident any deer archery licenses are available, a decrease of 60 from last year. Additionally, nonresidents may only hunt on private land, excluding Private Land Open To Sportsmen, during the first 9½ days of the deer bow season.

The statewide deer herd continues to recover from the lingering effects of the 2022-23 winter and epizootic hemorrhagic disease outbreaks across a landscape with increasingly limited habitat. Additional measures to help encourage population growth were discussed at spring advisory board meetings. The department will continue to engage stakeholders on these measures including limiting adult archery tags to antlered only in the upcoming year.

Conservative license allocations are intended to maintain hunting opportunities while encouraging population growth in the state, said Bill Haase, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief.

High quality deer habitat is not as abundant as in the past, particularly quality cover for fawn rearing and recruitment, limiting the potential for population recovery. This has been particularly evident in the eastern third of the state, where most gun license allocation reductions occurred for the upcoming season. In some parts of the state, deer gun harvest is down 90% from what was harvested in 2005, during the peak CRP years.

The department continues to emphasize habitat through existing voluntary landowner programs, new partnerships and innovative solutions, such as the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program, to bolster deer populations.

The spring mule deer survey showed western North Dakota’s population is 31% higher than last year, which is attributed to high over-winter survival. Conservative license allocations remain to support continued population rebound.

North Dakota’s 2026 deer gun season opens Nov. 6 and continues through Nov. 22.

Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth and muzzleloader can apply online through the Game and Fish Department’s website. The deadline for applying is midnight June 3.

State law allows residents age 11, 12 and 13 to obtain any antlerless licenses, except in units 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F where mule deer doe licenses are issued through lottery.

In addition, regular deer gun hunters who turn 14 or 15 and who have never received a youth season deer gun license (a license at age 11, 12 or 13 does not apply) are eligible to receive a youth any deer license, except in units 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F where mule deer licenses are issued through lottery.

Total deer licenses are determined by harvest rates, aerial surveys, depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.

Governor’s Legacy Program adds habitat, access

The North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts has completed the first enrollment cycle for the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program. The program was launched through a $6.5 million Outdoor Heritage Fund grant awarded in December 2025, with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department serving as a co-applicant. The program was developed with input from agricultural and conservation partners and is designed to support grassland restoration, soil health and wildlife habitat across the state.

The program provides five-year agreements that include annual rental payments, cost-share for grass establishment, and a first-of-its-kind $10 per acre crop insurance credit for unproductive cropland converted to grassland habitat. Producers who enroll acres into the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program receive additional incentives.

Demand for the program was strong, with 458 applications submitted and nearly 20,000 acres offered for consideration, totaling approximately $10.5 million in requests, well above the available grant funding. Interest in PLOTS was also high, with nearly 6,000 acres offered for walk-in public access. Following review and ranking, the highest scoring applications were selected, fully obligating all grant funds through more than 9,000 acres of habitat and access projects for 2026.

The response demonstrates significant producer interest in grassland restoration and soil health practices, as well as strong support for a state-led program. The Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program was developed following recommendations from the Game and Fish Department’s 2024 Habitat and Access Summit, which identified the need for a state program to help offset ongoing losses in the federal Conservation Reserve Program.

The N.D. Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the department are working with partners to explore long-term funding options to continue and expand the program.

Fish Challenge now open

Anglers are invited to participate in the fifth annual North Dakota Fish Challenge. The challenges encourage exploration of North Dakota’s many fisheries, and this year promote the joy of just catching a fish, no matter the size or species, with the newly added 100 Fish Challenge. To complete the challenge, just catch 100 fish of any kind.

In addition, anglers can complete the Total Catch Challenge by coaching a new angler, cleaning up a local waterbody, cooking a catch and casting a story; the Rough Fish Challenge by catching a bullhead, carp and sucker; the Sportfish Challenge, by catching a bluegill, walleye, bass and trout; or the inaugural Classic Challenge, requiring a northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and channel catfish.

Either way, the process is simple. Snap a photo of each and submit your entry on the North Dakota Game and Fish website through Aug. 15.

Anglers who complete a challenge will receive a decal and certificate.