Time Is Running Out To Apply For A Deer Gun License In North Dakota

The deadline for submitting your applications to the North Dakota Game and Fish for the 2023 deer gun season is June 7.

Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth and muzzleloader can apply online through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

A general game and habitat license is required when applying. If the applicant has not already purchased one for the 2023-24 season, the license will be added to their cart at 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 applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline will qualify for an any-legal-deer license. As per state law, gratis applications received after the deadline will be processed based on licenses remaining after the lottery. Generally, only antlerless licenses remain.

Online lottery applications for the gun seasons are generally made available in early May.

Special Allocation Lottery Applications are accepted between October 1 and January 1 each year. NOTE: Applications submitted prior to October 1 will not be accepted.

Nonresident Any Deer Archery online lottery applications are available between March 15 and April 15 each year. Hunters can apply online during that time period.

This year, over 54,000 licenses are up for grabs state-wide for Deer and Antelope, with over 2,000 alone being available in the upper northwest portion of North Dakota.

Here is how licenses have been dolled out in years prior.

• 2016 – 49,000 deer gun licenses.
• 2017 – 54,500 deer gun licenses.
• 2018 – 55,150 deer gun licenses.
• 2019 – 65,500 deer gun licenses.
• 2020 – 69,050 deer gun licenses.
• 2021 – 72,200 deer gun licenses.

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