North Dakota Help

[wade]

Hi , I'm looking for some ideas for western North Dakota. I want to mule deer hunt in the badlands areas on public ground. I hunt South Dakota in the Lemon area but would sure like to give North Dakota a try. Anybody have any advise on public areas?
Thanks Wade

 

[NDHunter]

Pretty much go anywhere in the Badlands on public land and just start hunting. There are plenty of deer there and you will just have to put in some time. It's no secret that 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are popular rifle units so go hunt in any of those.

The other thing is that you will need to draw a tag. Did you apply for and draw the NR any-deer tag?

 

[wade]

Thanks for your advise. The applications become available in May and i will apply then. I haven't even looked into the success on non-residents. In South Dakota it nearly impossible for a non resident to draw a antlered tag. They have to apply during the 3rd drawing and there isn't much left.

 

[NDHunter]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, gotcha. I thought you had said archery hunting but now I see that that is nowhere in your post.

Draw odds for non-resident rifle tags are insanely bad. You might be lucky to get one in 10 years. They only give out 1-2 mule deer tags in those good units to non-residents and I think they get up to 40-50+ non-resident apps. The good thing is that the tag is only $250 and there are no fees at all in applying.

 

[Multi-SpeciesHunter]

I'm a resident and have been applying for a mule deer buck tag for 5 years now. Like NDHunter said, it's insanely hard for a non-res. But you could pick up a bow and go!

 

[mnhoundman]

Does anyone know when you have to apply by? For ND the archery tag?

 

[rswedeen]

Wade - I am not trying to be argumentative here, but your statement about non resident deer tags in SD is only partially correct. Your statement is true for East River SD deer tags. Non residents can only get left over tags, after the first two drawings. There is rarely any buck tags left over. However, West River deer season is structured differently. The SD GFP allocates a set number of deer tags for non residents in each of the West River hunting units. A non resident may apply in the first drawing for West River buck tags. There is a non resident drawing pool and a separate resident pool.

 

[NDHunter]

Does anyone know when you have to apply by? For ND the archery tag?

You have to apply in January so you're out of luck for this year. I guess the draw odds this year were about 35% or so.

 

[mnhoundman]

You have to apply in January so you're out of luck for this year. I guess the draw odds this year were about 35% or so.

Thanks! Hopefully the muleys rebound a bit soon. Its so close to home for me.

 

[wade]

Thanks for the clarification. I forget when speaking about our application system that we have 2 separate applications with West River and East River.

 

[Musket Man]

There is sure some neat country in the ND badlands! I been through there a couple times and didnt want to leave either time!