NDGF Archery Deer
By Doug Leier
With fall fast approaching, North Dakota’s hunting seasons have already opened. The 2026 season officially kicked off Aug. 15 with the early Canada goose management season. Depending on the hunting zone, the first closure is Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone, followed by Sept. 15 in the western zone and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone.
This time of year is more about openings than closures, with nearly every weekend through early November marking another hunting or trapping season.
Dove season opens Sept. 1. Archery deer season and bow hunting for pronghorn license holders begin Sept. 4. Nonresident deer bowhunters may not hunt Game and Fish lands, including wildlife management areas and Private Land Open to Sportsmen, during the first 9½ days. They may access public lands beginning Sept. 14.
Grouse and partridge seasons open Sept. 12. Youth deer season begins Sept. 18, while youth waterfowl and sandhill crane seasons open Sept. 19. Resident waterfowl season starts Sept. 26. Rifle pronghorn season opens Oct. 2, youth pheasant Oct. 3, and pheasant and fall turkey seasons Oct. 10. Deer gun season begins Nov. 6 at noon.
Hunters and trappers can find the 2026 North Dakota Hunting and Trapping Guide at gf.nd.gov. Printed guides are available by request.
Who is eligible for a North Dakota resident license?
A person who has actually lived in, or maintained his or her legal residence in North Dakota for the past six months, may qualify for resident licenses, providing he or she does not continue to claim residency in another state.
Note: When applying for a resident license, applicants 18 years or older must submit a valid North Dakota driver’s license number or valid North Dakota nondriver photo identification number.
Exceptions:
. A Waiver of Residency allows an individual with a bona fide intention of becoming a resident, even though they have not resided in North Dakota for the required 6 months, to purchase non-lottery licenses, such as fishing, small game, and furbearer, at resident prices.
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. Military Exception. Military personnel in the state on duty or leave are eligible for a similar waiver to the one listed above.
. Nonresident youth hunting licenses. A nonresident under age 16 need only purchase a North Dakota resident fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a North Dakota resident general game and habitat license to hunt small game and waterfowl except swans and wild turkeys. To be eligible, a nonresident youth may not have turned 16 before Sept. 1 of the year for which the license is issued and must possess a certificate of completion for a certified hunter education course. The nonresident youth may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian.
. Nonresident full-time state or tribal college students living in North Dakota and attending a North Dakota institution of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the Board of Higher Education, a private institution, or a tribal college may qualify to purchase nonlottery resident licenses. Contact the Game and Fish Department for details.
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