Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
North Dakota’s 2024 deer season is set, with 50,100 licenses available to hunters, down 3,300 from last year.
In addition, muzzleloader licenses decreased by 66 and restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses remained the same.
Casey Anderson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief, said population, harvest and survey data indicate the state’s deer population is stable to decreasing in the southeastern part of the state.
The spring mule deer survey showed western North Dakota’s population is 1% higher than last year, following record low fawn production in 2023.
North Dakota’s 2024 deer gun season opens Nov. 8 at noon and continues through Nov. 24.
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 5.
Those who didn’t apply last year will lose accrued points by not applying or purchasing a point this year.
A general game and habitat license is required when applying for a deer license. If the applicant has not already purchased one for the 2024-25 season, the license will be added to their cart upon checkout. The applicant has the option of having the general game and habitat license refunded if their deer license is not drawn in the lottery.
Gratis applicants who have previously applied online will automatically have their land description carried forward to this year’s application. However, any changes with land descriptions from last year’s application must be made prior to submitting the 2024 application.
Gratis applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline will qualify for an any-legal-deer gratis license. As per state law, gratis applications received after the deadline will be processed based on licenses remaining after the 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.
