NDGF Ashley Peterson deer
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 9 ½ 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 at gf.nd.gov. 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.
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