The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced on Apr. 1 that hunters harvested about 20,877 deer during the 2025 deer gun hunting season, based on a post-season survey. The department reported that a total of 36,353 hunters participated last year, with an overall hunter success rate of 57 percent. On average, each hunter spent nearly five days in the field.
The summary shows that white-tailed deer hunters had a success rate of 53 percent for antlered and 45 percent for antlerless whitetails. Mule deer license holders achieved an 82 percent success rate for both antlered and antlerless mule deer. Hunters with any antlered or any antlerless licenses mostly harvested white-tailed deer, but mule deer made up a larger share in the Slope and Missouri River units. Success rates were recorded at 65 percent for any antlered hunters and at 56 percent for any antlerless hunters.
The department issued more than eleven thousand gratis licenses in the same period; these resulted in nearly half being successful harvests as over nine thousand four hundred fifty-three hunters took four thousand four hundred fifty-two deer.
According to the official website, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department promotes community engagement through hunter education courses and wildlife outreach to foster conservation awareness. The agency also focuses on protecting fish and wildlife populations along with their habitats to support public uses according to its official website.
The department manages wildlife resources throughout North Dakota according to its official website, collaborates on landowner programs such as Private Land Open To Sportsmen to enhance habitat protection and public access according to its official website, provides licenses and permits for outdoor activities alongside educational programs according to its official website, and specializes in wildlife conservation management according to its official website.
Looking ahead, ongoing efforts by the department aim to balance hunting opportunities with long-term conservation goals across North Dakota.
