WATERFOWL: McLean County offers some of the best waterfowl hunting in North America. The area adjacent to Lakes Audubon and Sakakawea has a large resident population of giant Canada geese and is a rest stop for large numbers of migrating snows and blues. A sharp increase in duck numbers in recent years has brought back excellent hunting of all species. The county has thousands of acres of public lands open to hunting and most landowners in the area will allow hunters on their land with advance notice. There are a number of waterfowl guides in the county.

UPLAND BIRDS: McLean County offers excellent grouse, Hungarian Partridge and pheasant hunting throughout the county. Excellent fall turkey hunting is available on the Missouri River bottomlands. While upland birds can be found on public lands, hunting pressure is heavy at times. Hunters should make advance plans to contact guides or landowners for entry on private lands.

WHITETAIL DEER: Whitetail deer are found throughout the county with the best areas in the Missouri River bottomlands. Nearly all landowners require advance notice of hunters, especially in the river bottomlands. Hunters should make advance plans for entry on private lands to avoid disappointment. 

Hunting Licenses

Please note that a Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate is a prerequisite to all licenses. Both fishing and hunting licenses in the form of stamps are pasted to this certificate and signed. The certificate cost is $1.00 for residents and $2.00 for non-residents. Resident licenses can be purchased from the North Dakota Game and Fish office in Bismarck, the McLean County Auditor's Office, license vendors located throughout McLean County, Instant Licensing by telephone by calling 1-800-406-6409, or Instant Licensing on the Web . Non-resident (non-lottery) licenses can be purchased from the North Dakota Game and Fish office in Bismarck, the McLean County Auditor's Office, some license vendors located throughout McLean County, Instant Licensing by telephone by calling 1-800-406-6409, or Instant Licensing on the Web .

 

License Type	Cost
Resident Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate	$1.00
Resident General Game & Habitat License	$13.00
Resident Small Game License                                                (Residents under age 16 do not need a Small Game License.)	$6.00
Resident Furbearer License (Residents under age 16 do not need a license to take furbearers.)	$7.00
Resident Sportsmen License (includes Fishing, Small Game, General Game and Habitat, and Furbearer licenses)	$32.00
Resident Deer Bow (age 16 or older)	$20.00
Resident Youth Deer Bow (under age 16)	$10.00
Resident Pronghorn Bow (age 16 or older)	$20.00
Resident Youth Pronghorn Bow (under age 16)	$10.00
Federal Migratory Bird Stamp, also called the Duck Stamp, available from post offices and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. (Hunters under age 16 do not need a duck stamp.)	$15.00
Non-Resident Fishing, Hunting and Furbearer Certificate	$2.00
Non-Resident Small Game, General Game Habitat & Certificate	$100.00
Non-Resident General Game Habitat, Waterfowl & Certificate (Required for waterfowl hunting.) *	$100.00
Non-Resident Waterfowl or Non-Resident Small Game (Sold Separately)	$85.00
Non-Resident General Game & Habitat	$13.00
Non-Resident White Tail Deer Bow	$200.00
Non-Resident Pronghorn Bow	$200.00
Non-Resident Furbearer and Non-Game	$25.00

Persons born after 1961 are required to complete a certified hunter education program and present the certificate earned to the license vendor in order to purchase a hunting license. Certificates earned in other states or Canada are valid. To avoid delay in purchasing a license you should have the number or card at time of purchase.

A non-resident youth under age 16 may purchase a license to hunt small game and waterfowl, except swans and wild turkey, at the same price as a resident under age 16, provided his state or province provides a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents under the age of 16. Other states offering a reciprocal arrangement are Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. To be eligible, a non-resident youth may not have arrived at age 16 before September 1 of the year for which the license is issued. The youth licensee may only hunt under the supervision of an adult family member or legal guardian who is licensed to hunt small game or waterfowl in the state.

For more information regarding hunting licenses, regulations, applications, and more -- click on the link below:

North Dakota State Game and Fish Department