 Legendary
Hunting and Fishing
North Dakota's
reputation among outdoor adventurers is
legendary, from world-class walleye and
perch fishing to unbeatable upland game,
waterfowl and big game. For a complete
guide, from where to go for the best success
to licensing and other legal issues, contact
the
Game and Fish
Department or call us at
1-800-HELLO-ND (1-800-435-5663).
Popular Fishing
Hotspots Include:
-
Missouri River
System
-
The Upper
Missouri
-
Lake Sakakawea
-
Central Missouri
River
-
Lake Oahe
-
Devils Lake
-
Red River of the
North
Upland Bird Hunting
Autumn is magical to
a North Dakota upland bird hunter. Early on,
mourning doves sky-dance against golden
sunsets, challenging even the best
wingshooters. While the season is long, the
opportunity is usually short-lived; most
doves head south at the first hint of cold,
so the best shooting is over by the third
week in September.
Waterfowl Hunting
North Dakota is an
important state for duck production.
Millions of birds come here every spring to
nest and raise their young. Come October,
most of them are still around. That means
you don’t have to wait for the northern
flight to have a good duck hunt in North
Dakota.
Big Game Hunting
You need more than a
hand’s worth of fingers to count the number
of big game species residing in North
Dakota. Giant moose tromp the woodlands in
the northeast and north-central; elk
traverse the southwest’s Badlands and the
wooded breaks of the Pembina Gorge.
Pronghorn cruise rolling grasslands south
and west of the Missouri River, while mule
deer hole up in breaks and Badlands.
California bighorns reside in the most
rugged of Badlands terrain. White-tailed
deer, found just about everywhere in the
state, round out the big-game six.
 Furbearer/Nongame
Hunting
Blow a predator call
in North Dakota and you’re never quite sure
what will respond. In the east, it’s more
likely red fox, in the west odds favor a
coyote, but both species live in every
county of the state. In the Badlands,
secretive bobcats can add a real surprise.
Winter Activities
Activities such as
snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and
snowshoeing, ice fishing, sledding and
skating are favorite pastimes during the
winter months in North Dakota. Our most
popular areas include the scenic Pembina
Gorge, the forested hills of the Turtle
Mountains and the vast agricultural plains
that blanket much of the state.
Camping
With 17 State Parks and
Recreation Areas and countless local camping
facilities, North Dakota is a great place to
camp, with abundant activity available in
every park.
Boating
North Dakota’s lakes and
rivers are well equipped with boat landings
and great reasons to get out on the water
(as if you need one) like world-class
fishing.
Canoeing
Quiet, meandering rivers like
the Red, Pembina, Sheyenne, Souris and
Little Missouri (a National Scenic River)
afford easy access and pleasant scenery,
while the Missouri River takes you back in
time with Lewis and Clark, and delivers a
bit stronger current.
 Hiking
From paved paths to extreme
wilderness, North Dakota will exceed your
expectations. We’ve mapped them out with
specific descriptions here.
Biking
Bicycling, ranked as the
number one participation sport in North
Dakota, is the perfect sport for you.
Whether you’re looking for a short trek on a
paved bike trail, a long-distance ride out
on North Dakota’s scenic highways, or an
exciting off-road mountain bike ride, North
Dakota has a route to meet your quest.
Golfing
This may surprise you, but
North Dakotans are among the most avid
golfers, with one of the highest numbers of
golf courses per capita in the nation. In
every corner of the state, excellent courses
boast very reasonable green fees and all
kinds of terrain for a variety of
challenges.
Horseback
Riding
Can there be a better way to
experience the authentic Old West than
riding the trail? Giddyup!
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