North Dakota Bird Hunting

Seasons Span September 13 – January 4, 2026

State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.

Season Dates

  • Pheasant:
    • Regular Season: October 11, 2025 – January 4, 2026
    • Youth Season: October 4–5, 2025
  • Sharp-tailed Grouse: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Hungarian Partridge: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026
  • Ruffed Grouse: September 13, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Shooting hours for all upland game are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Required Licenses and Costs

  • Residents:
    • General Game and Habitat License: $20 (required for all hunters)
    • Small Game License: $15 (required for residents aged 16 and older for upland birds)
    • Combination License: $50 (includes Small Game, General Game and Habitat, Furbearer, and Fishing licenses)
    • Youth (under 16): No Small Game License required for residents under 16
  • Nonresidents:
    • General Game and Habitat License: $20 (required for all hunters)
    • Nonresident Small Game License: $100 (required for upland bird hunting)
    • Nonresident Youth (under 16): Can purchase a license at the resident fee ($15) if their state has youth reciprocity with North Dakota; otherwise, they need the adult nonresident license ($100)
  • Hunter Education: Required for hunters born after 1961, unless hunting exclusively on their own land or as a youth under specific exemptions
  • Note: Licenses can be purchased online or at licensed vendors. Always verify costs on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website (gf.nd.gov) as prices may change.

Daily Bag Limits and Possession Limits

  • Pheasant:
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3 (roosters only)
    • Possession Limit: 12
  • Sharp-tailed Grouse:
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3
    • Possession Limit: 12
  • Hungarian Partridge:
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3
    • Possession Limit: 12
  • Ruffed Grouse:
    • Daily Bag Limit: 3
    • Possession Limit: 12
  • General Rule: The possession limit for upland game (except at one’s personal permanent residence) is typically four times the daily bag limit, unless otherwise specified. No more than one daily bag limit may be taken per day.

Additional Notes

  • Regulations: Only shotguns (no larger than 10 gauge, holding no more than three shells, minimum barrel length 18 inches) and archery equipment (bows with a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, arrows at least 24 inches with metal broadheads) are permitted. Fully automatic firearms are illegal.
  • Public Land Access: North Dakota offers over 700,000 acres of state-managed land and 200,000 acres of national wildlife refuges for hunting. Use tools like onX Hunt to identify accessible areas.
  • Conservation: Hunters are encouraged to respect bag limits to support sustainable populations, especially for species like sharp-tailed grouse, which rely on threatened prairie habitats.

For the most up-to-date information, consult the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2025-26 Hunting and Trapping Guide (gf.nd.gov) or vendor locations by late August 2025. Always verify regulations and license requirements before hunting.