Doug Leier: Game and Fish Department answers frequently asked questions about North Dakota elk hunting – Grand Forks Herald

WEST FARGO – “Hey Doug, what is the question you are asked most often every year when deer hunting season opens?”

It’s probably related to trespassing or tagging. However, these may vary as each situation is unique. In short, if you’re unsure whether you can legally access land for posting or trespassing, the answer is unique to your unique circumstances. In short, my advice is don’t go if you’re not sure.

Q. When should you tag deer?

A. Immediately after an animal is killed, the hunter must indicate the date of the kill by cutting the appropriate month and day from the tag provided with the license and attaching it to the base of the antlered deer’s antler or to a slit in the animal’s antler. the ear of an antlerless deer. It is not legal to own or transport an animal under any circumstances unless it is properly tagged.

Here are a few more questions:

Q. I have a concurrent season license. When can I use it?

A. May be used with bow during undergraduate archery season; bow, rifle or muzzleloader deer gun season; or muzzleloader season with muzzleloaders. You are limited to the antlerless deer species listed on the license and must remain in the unit to which the license is assigned.

Q. I shot a deer, but it was rotten. What can I do?

A. You must adopt the animal by tagging it. A license provides only the opportunity to hunt. The harvest of a deer or the quality of the animal is not guaranteed.

Q. What should I do if I find an injured deer?

A. Contact a game warden. Do not shoot the deer unless you want to tag it or are instructed to do so by the warden.

Q. Is camouflage flame orange acceptable for deer gun season?

A. No. You must wear both a hat and outer clothing containing a total of at least 400 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange above the waistline.

Q. I hunt with a bow. When should I wear orange?

A. During normal deer gun season only.

Q. Can I investigate road rights of way?

A. Do not hunt on road rights of way unless you are sure they are open for public use. Most rights-of-way are easements under the control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunting when adjacent land is declared no-hunting.

Q. Can I scan on the section line if it is hung on both sides?

A. No. If land is marked on both sides, the transect line is closed to hunting but open to travel.

Q. Can I hunt for bait on private land?

A. In deer hunting units affected by chronic wasting disease, it is illegal to hunt over bait or place bait to attract large animals for hunting purposes.

Q. Can I take an injured deer from marked land?

A. If the deer was shot on land to which you have legal rights and ran onto protected land, you can retrieve it. However, you cannot take a firearm or bow with you. The Department recommends contacting the landowner as a courtesy before entering.

Q. What happens if the landowner says I can’t take back a deer from declared land that was shot on land that I have the right to be on?

A. Contact a game warden.

Q. Can I go off-trail on private land to retrieve a deer?

A. You can drive off-road on private land once a deer has been killed and properly tagged, unless prohibited by a landowner or operator. You should proceed towards the carcass by the shortest accessible route and return to the road or path by the same route.

Q. Can I transport someone else’s deer?

A. Yes, but you will need a transportation permit from a game warden. The license holder, the person transporting the animal and the carcass must be presented to the game warden before a permit is issued.

Q. Can I carry a handgun while hunting with a deer rifle?

A. Yes, but for deer hunting to be legal the gun must meet the minimum requirements listed in deer hunting regulations.

Q. If I have both licenses, can I carry both the bow and gun afield during deer gun season?

A. Yes, but only if you are going to fill out your gun permit. While hunting with a deer bow license, the hunter cannot have any firearm other than a gun. However, no gun can be used to assist in hunting deer with an archery license.

Q. Can hunters with a youth season license who are 14 or 15 years old (in 2024) who have not harvested a deer during the youth season hunt during the regular deer gun season with that license?

A. Yes, but you are subject to the restrictions listed in the license.

Q. Can 11, 12 or 13 year old (year 2024) hunters who have an antlerless whitetail deer license and have not harvested a deer during the juvenile season hunt with that license during the regular deer gun season?

A. Yes, but they are subject to the restrictions listed in the license.

Q. I was unsuccessful in filling out my mule deer license in a limited unit during youth season. Can I hunt the rest of the state during normal gun season?

A. No. You are limited to the same unit as in the youth season.

Hunters with additional questions are encouraged to visit.

Game and Fish Department website

at gf.nd.gov or call (701) 328-6300 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.