Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed St. Louis on May 14, 1804 on the first American exploration of the Louisiana Purchase and areas west to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition the two men led endured challenging weather and hostile native tribes. Among the subjects chronicled during the more than two-year journey were many North American species of animals seen for the first time by white settlers.
Buffalo once roamed the Great Plains of North America in astonishingly large numbers. The western pioneer days and the construction of the railroads brought numerous hunters across their path; buffalo herds were practically eradicated during the 1800s. Today the herds are much smaller, found only on isolated pockets of land throughout the country. North Dakota has plenty of hunting land but buffalo hunting is not a managed game animal, according to the North Dakota Fish and Game Department. Buffalo hunting in North Dakota is only performed on private land, through the resources of private outfitters that raise their own herds.
Riding snowmobiles is a popular outdoor activity in North Dakota during the long snowy winters that exist throughout the state. The North Dakota legislature mandates that the 2,853 miles of snowmobile trails are available for use from the first day of December until the first day of April each year. There are several options for snowmobile enthusiasts to take advantage of these maintained riding trails that run throughout a large portion of the state.
The elk is a large deer species found in parts of North America, especially Canada and the western United States. South Dakota has a relatively small elk population and does not permit elk hunting by nonresidents. The state capital Pierre in Hughes County is poorly situated for elk hunting.
South Dakota is not a destination for elk hunting enthusiasts. Because the population of elk is small (around 2,000 in 2010), hunting licenses are only available to residents, and even then are allocated by a draw system. The town of Pringle is located in elk hunting country.
As of 2010, about 2,000 elk resided in South Dakota. This herd was rebuilt from zero at the time of statehood in 1889. They provide limited hunting opportunities for residents of South Dakota and are managed by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department. There are also some private hunting preserves offering elk hunting opportunities.
North Dakota offers numerous hunting opportunities, including elk, mule deer, pheasants and waterfowl. But one of the most overlooked species to hunt is the prairie dog. With prairie dog towns--groups of prairie dogs--found throughout the North Dakota grasslands, hunters can enjoy a year-round season for prairie dogs with few regulations.
North Dakota is a sportsman's paradise with numerous hunting opportunities, including elk, mule deer, pheasants and waterfowl. With more than 90 percent of the land owned by private landowners, hunting opportunities can be difficult to find. There are, however, several open land public hunting programs that provide public hunting opportunities. These public hunting lands are a privilege to the sportsmen and take a lot of time, money and dedication by the North Dakota Game and Fish employees and volunteers.
North Dakota elk hunting does not receive much media attention because there is a smaller population of elk compared to neighboring regions. According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, North Dakota has an elk population of 2,000 as of 2009. Despite the small population, North Dakota offers some excellent hunting opportunities; state residents and one nonresident are eligible for tags.
North Dakota has both a spring and fall snow goose hunting season each year. Technically the spring season begins in February, although effectively there are no geese to hunt until the spring migration progresses. The fall hunting season begins in October. During the spring season only blue, snow and Ross's geese are legal game. The fall season also includes Canadian geese.
North Dakota offers hunters a zoological repertoire that's rarely found in other parts of the U.S. Hunters will find grouse, pheasant, crow, snipe and other fowl floating above wild herds of deer, bighorn, pronghorn and elk. Stalking through the hilly Great Plains or the flat Red River Valley is a hunting adventure unlike any other, so follow a few steps to get your North Dakota hunting license.
