The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced on May 8 that the state’s 2026 deer season will offer 39,100 licenses to hunters, a decrease of 3,200 from last year and the lowest total in more than fifty years. The department also reduced muzzleloader licenses, and antlerless deer gun licenses will not be available in several units.
The changes come as the statewide deer herd continues to recover from the effects of the severe winter of 2022-23 and outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease. The department said these conditions have been made worse by increasingly limited habitat across North Dakota. Additional measures aimed at encouraging population growth were discussed at spring advisory board meetings, including limiting adult archery tags to antlered only for the upcoming year.
A total of 240 nonresident any deer archery licenses are available this year, down by 60 compared to last season. Nonresidents may hunt only on private land—not including Private Land Open To Sportsmen—during the first nine-and-a-half days of bow season.
“Conservative license allocations are intended to maintain hunting opportunities while encouraging population growth in the state,” Bill Haase, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief, said.
Haase said high quality deer habitat is not as abundant as it once was, especially cover needed for fawn rearing and recruitment. This has limited potential for population recovery in many areas but has been most noticeable in eastern North Dakota where most license reductions occurred. In some regions, current harvest numbers are down by up to ninety percent compared with peak years during high Conservation Reserve Program enrollment. The department continues its focus on habitat through voluntary landowner programs, new partnerships and initiatives such as the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program.
According to a recent survey cited by the department, western North Dakota’s mule deer population is now thirty-one percent higher than last year due to strong over-winter survival rates; however, conservative license allocations remain in place there as well.
Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth or muzzleloader seasons can apply online at gf.nd.gov until midnight June 3. The regular deer gun season opens Nov. 6 and runs through Nov. 22 this year.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department operates across the state managing wildlife populations and habitats while providing educational programs such as hunter education courses designed to foster conservation awareness according to the official website.
