Season windows from official North Dakota Game & Fish Department data, organized by species, unit, weapon, and tag type so you can line up realistic hunt dates before you apply.
Earliest Archery Open
Sep 4, 2026
2026 season
Latest Rifle Close
Jan 3, 2027
2026 season
Total Seasons
10
across all species
The 2026 North Dakota calendar spans 10 season windows across 5 species, opening as early as Sep 4, 2026 for archery and running through Jan 3, 2027 for rifle. Each species carries its own archery, rifle, and muzzleloader dates, and many vary by unit.
Line these windows up against the application deadlines before you apply, since drawing a tag you can't hunt around your schedule is a wasted point year. Dates below come from official North Dakota Game & Fish Department records; use the year selector above to compare seasons across years.
| Season | Weapon | Opens | Closes | Tag Type | Tags Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statewide · rifle | Rifle | Oct 30, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Draw | – |
| Season | Weapon | Opens | Closes | Tag Type | Tags Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statewide · |
When does hunting season open in North Dakota in 2026?
The earliest North Dakota 2026 archery season we track opens Sep 4, 2026, and the latest rifle season runs through Jan 3, 2027. Dates vary by species, unit, and weapon; check the full breakdown below. Source: official North Dakota Game & Fish Department records.
What can I hunt in North Dakota in 2026?
We track 10 North Dakota 2026 season windows across 5 species: Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Moose, Mule Deer, Whitetail. Each has its own archery, rifle, and muzzleloader dates by unit.
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Last updated Jun 22, 2026 from official North Dakota Game & Fish Department records.
| Archery |
| Sep 4, 2026 |
| Sep 27, 2026 |
| Draw |
| – |
Statewide · rifle | Rifle | Oct 2, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Draw | – |
| Season | Weapon | Opens | Closes | Tag Type | Tags Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statewide · archery | Archery | Sep 4, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | Draw | – |
Statewide · rifle | Rifle | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Draw | – |
| Season | Weapon | Opens | Closes | Tag Type | Tags Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statewide · archery | Archery | Sep 4, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Draw | – |
Statewide · rifle | Rifle | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | Draw | – |
| Season | Weapon | Opens | Closes | Tag Type | Tags Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statewide · archery | Archery | Sep 4, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Draw | – |
Statewide · rifle | Rifle | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | Draw | – |
Statewide · muzzleloader | Muzzleloader | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | Draw | – |
