Tentatively planning a duck/goose hunt with some buddy's to North Dakota this fall. Does anyone have any tips for going there? We've hunted WI quite a bit but never headed out west for waterfowl. Planning to hunt public land. East, West? Dates? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Luke
North Dakota Hunting?
- Thread starter mustang8
- Start date
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
When we've hunted deer out there, I could have easily killed my limit of birds with my bow. I don't think many locals bother them. The plots books were available free most convenience stores
Wait for 2nd weekend, 1st is always a zoo. LOTS of guys from MN, SD come for Non Res opener.
Also I would temper expectations on availability of "good" spots, especially if field hunting. Most people here now post all their stuff and lease it or only let certain people on. In ND you can hunt stuff that isn't posted though. But be warned, the last few years the new sleep in the field or show up 5 hours before sunrise crowd is very present in ND. You will have stiff competition.
If you want to have an easier time finding public access, stick by all the water. You can always hunt a slough if you can't find a field.
Also I would temper expectations on availability of "good" spots, especially if field hunting. Most people here now post all their stuff and lease it or only let certain people on. In ND you can hunt stuff that isn't posted though. But be warned, the last few years the new sleep in the field or show up 5 hours before sunrise crowd is very present in ND. You will have stiff competition.
If you want to have an easier time finding public access, stick by all the water. You can always hunt a slough if you can't find a field.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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The sleep in the field and show up 5 hours early was what it turned into with early season Pennsylvania goose hunting. I simply stopped hunting the early season. I killed a lot of geese in September but I was sick of stressing about it. I waited until deer season to start hunting waterfowl and found it to be much more enjoyable. I killed more birds in January and February hunting the rivers than most guys did in the early season anyhow.
PROS:
-Dont have to ask permission.
-Dont have to get up at 3:00AM.
-Birds decoyed better and responded to calls better.
-Easier to hide with the snow on the ground.
-Closer Shots
-Quick Limits
-little hunting pressure on the rivers
CONS:
-Cold
-Slightly more dangerous
-Cold
-Cold
Its was a win win for me. But I wasn't afraid to launch a boat when it was 10 degrees outside either...
Idk about these two. Crazies hunt all year and it doesn't matter what time of year in most places in ND. You will have competition for field hunting. Idk about birds decoying better either, until the migration starts you are hunting local birds that have been pounded since mid august (15 bird limits?! WTF game and fish) that are much more wary of calling and spreads.
Im guessing that we will hunt both water and fields, or I guess whatever we can access on any givin day. Im sure we wont go for the opener. We'd rather go and maybe kill less birds and feel more relaxed than be stressed out and get up early etc. Might be a dumb question but here in Wisconsin we don't have Plot Books. What are they? We have plat books, but their not free and they only tell us who owns what.
Devils Lake is a zoo and way too much private stuff. They lease everything to outfitters in those parts.
BobJohansen
New Member
Would agree on shying away from the Devils Lake area. The high number of hunters and difficulty of land access are common themes. You can find pockets of not as highly pressured areas in the eastern half but if I were starting a new trip I would head further west. Most land is posted but access for ducks is usually easily obtainable. You will get the response to "Shoot them all" quite a bit.
We are planning on taking my motorhome out there with a follower truck so we are more mobile. Does ND have sort of the same rules as say WY as far as camping ability on public land? Or are we going to have to get a camp site somewhere?