N. Dakota

[Tobias]

Found myself with some unexpected free time so I picked up an OTC bow tag for ND, and I'm planning to head that way in about 10 days. I've read somewhat conflicting reports on winter kill across the state, and I don't see anything overly specific on the state's website. Would anyone be willing to share (very general) insight into areas I should absolutely avoid due to decimated herds?

Thanks!

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Live in ND. I'd avoid anything along the missouri River and from 30 min east of bismarck all the way to the montana border. Good luck if hunting public land! Almost better off knocking on doors to get permission.

Let us know how you do.

 

[Novashooter]

I don't think the whitetail got decimated anywhere, at least not like antelope did. The entire state was hit hard by winter, and you will find areas with good numbers and areas with poor numbers all in the same county. Honestly if you could go anywhere in this general area, I would have suggested you go to Minnesota. They didn't get it as bad. Lots more hunters there, but also better amount of public land. You can try far eastern ND, but you will be there at the peak of duck and pheasant hunters which will dominate alot of the public land there there. Sometimes that can be used to your advantage too.

 

[Tobias]

I don't think the whitetail got decimated anywhere, at least not like antelope did. The entire state was hit hard by winter, and you will find areas with good numbers and areas with poor numbers all in the same county. Honestly if you could go anywhere in this general area, I would have suggested you go to Minnesota. They didn't get it as bad. Lots more hunters there, but also better amount of public land. You can try far eastern ND, but you will be there at the peak of duck and pheasant hunters which will dominate alot of the public land there there. Sometimes that can be used to your advantage too.

Thanks for the heads up on the bird guys- was not on my radar at all. I’d love to hunt Minnesota, but I’m already looking at a 20+ hour drive to ND.

 

[Tobias]

Live in ND. I'd avoid anything along the missouri River and from 30 min east of bismarck all the way to the montana border. Good luck if hunting public land! Almost better off knocking on doors to get permission.

Let us know how you do.

I figured knocking on doors with CA plates could be more exciting than the hunt haha. That’s tough to hear, I was taking a close look at the SW corner

 

[Novashooter]

I figured knocking on doors with CA plates could be more exciting than the hunt haha. That’s tough to hear, I was taking a close look at the SW corner

I wouldn't worry about it. I can't imagine it's any worse than "blue platers", which are the army of Minnesota duck and pheasant hunters that come to ND.

 

[WCB]

Live in ND. I'd avoid anything along the missouri River and from 30 min east of bismarck all the way to the montana border. Good luck if hunting public land! Almost better off knocking on doors to get permission.

Let us know how you do.

I'd Extend that another 30+ minutes East of the MO. Area I normally hunt and we have a house in anytime we hunt you see dozens of deer a night. My Cousins hunted it two weeks ago and between 3 of them they saw 10 deer in 4 days of hunting. 1 of them stayed out 3 more days and saw 5 deer in 3 days 1 being the same buck every night.

I don't think the whitetail got decimated anywhere, at least not like antelope did. The entire state was hit hard by winter, and you will find areas with good numbers and areas with poor numbers all in the same county. Honestly if you could go anywhere in this general area, I would have suggested you go to Minnesota. They didn't get it as bad. Lots more hunters there, but also better amount of public land. You can try far eastern ND, but you will be there at the peak of duck and pheasant hunters which will dominate alot of the public land there there. Sometimes that can be used to your advantage too.

I mean there are areas reported 40-50% Whitetail die off and 80% Mule deer. I'd say that is decimated. Like a wrote above our area got "decimated" 2 different farmers we know out there several miles apart that have wintering herds of 250-300 animals estimated 75-80% die off in those herds after pulling carcasses from their windrows, the ditches, and fields for days in the spring.

 

[Novashooter]

No doubt localized area got decimated. I mean overall county wide whitetails did not get hit half as bad as the antelope.

 

[FoxOneFifty]

Damn, former ND resident here...didn't know last winter hit so hard.

For OP, if you haven't already...download OnX and start searching areas of interest. Their maps have quite a few filters that can save you time identifying public land and further help you narrow down a few areas worth checking out before committing to lodging. Recommend a decent Air B&B as ND wind/weather is can get pretty brutal keeping you inside longer than you'd probably like.

Good luck on your hunt!