North Dakota’s long‑standing deer hunting tradition kicks off this weekend. The deer gun season opens at noon Central Time on Friday, Nov. 6, inviting thousands of families and friends to head out onto the fields and public lands.
Season launch and lottery demand
Levi Jacobson, assistant wildlife division chief, highlighted the deep roots of the sport in the state. “In North Dakota, there’s a lot of traditions of deer hunting. This year, again, we had over 70,000 applicants for our deer lottery. So it’s a tradition that runs deep and people still enjoy deer hunting,” Jacobson said.
Whitetail deer numbers still lag
Despite the enthusiasm, the whitetail deer population remains below desired levels. Jacobson explained that a severe outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in 2021, followed by a harsh winter, set the herd back significantly. “We had another EHD outbreak this year that sent them back a little bit more. The eastern part of the state is still struggling to come back and we just don’t have the habitat base there to get them to rebound the way we would like them,” he noted.
Mule deer on the rise
Conversely, mule deer appear to be thriving in many parts of the state. Jacobson reported that surveys conducted this spring showed a 31 % increase in mule deer numbers compared with the previous year. “You get outside the Badlands and the rest of the state, they seem to be increasing and kind of spreading out… People are seeing mule deer in areas that they haven’t really seen mule deer before,” he said.
What’s needed to boost deer populations?
Jacobson emphasized habitat improvement as the most critical factor. “The biggest thing to increase our population is we’re going to need the habitat. We’re lacking good quality deer habitat out there. So if we can build that up, that’ll help them rebound,” he explained. Mild winters have helped, but disease continues to pose a setback. Avoiding future disease outbreaks would also be a major boost.
Hunters may need to work harder
With fewer deer and a smaller whitetail herd, hunters are being urged to focus on pockets of quality habitat. “There’s going to be fewer hunters out there, so if you can find the pockets of habitat, you should be able to find good deer numbers,” Jacobson advised.
Where to find more information
For full details on the 2026 deer gun season, including regulations, licensing and public‑land maps, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
