WEST FARGO – “Hey Doug, what’s the most common question you get every year when deer hunting season starts?”

Probably something to do with violation or tagging. But these can vary as each situation is unique. In short, if you’re not sure if you can legally access the land for posting or trespassing, the answer is specific to unique cases. My short advice is don’t go unless you are sure.

Q. When should you tag the deer?

A. Immediately after an animal has been 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 antler on antlered deer or in an ear slot on antlerless deer. Under no circumstances is it legal to own or transport an animal unless it is properly tagged.

Here are some more questions:

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

A. The license may be used during the archery season; bow, rifle or muzzleloader deer gun season; or muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. You are limited to the type of antlerless deer printed on the license and must remain in the facility to which the license was assigned.

Q. I shot a deer, but it’s rotten. What can i do?

A. You must take possession of the animal by tagging it. The license only allows the opportunity to hunt. It is not a guarantee to harvest a deer or the quality of the animal.

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

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

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

A. Not. You must wear both a hat and outerwear above the waist with a total of at least 400 square centimeters of solid fluorescent orange.

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

A. During regular deer gun season only.

Q. Can I hunt rights of way?

A. Do not hunt on rights of way unless you are certain they are open to public use. Most rights-of-way are easements under the control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunters when the adjacent land is posted as closed to hunting.

Q. Can I hunt on a section line if it is displayed on both sides?

A. Not. If land is located on both sides, the section line is closed to hunting but open to travel.

Q. Can I hunt bait on private land?

A. It is illegal to hunt over bait or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting in deer hunting units affected by chronic wasting disease.

Q. Can I retrieve an injured deer from posted land?

A. If the deer was shot on land where you had a legal right to be and ran into posted land, you can retrieve it. However, you may not take a firearm or bow with you. The Department suggests contacting the landowner as a courtesy before entering.

Q. What if the owner says I can’t retrieve a deer from posted land that was shot on land I had a right to be on?

A. Contact a guardian.

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

A. Unless prohibited by a landowner or operator, you may drive off-trail on private land once a deer has been killed and properly tagged. You must go to the enclosure by the shortest accessible route and return to the road or trail by the same route.

Q. Can I transport someone else’s deer?

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

Q. Can I carry a pistol when hunting with a deer rifle?

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

Q. Can I carry both a bow and a gun during gun season for deer if I have both licenses?

A. Yes, but only if you plan to complete your gun permit. No firearms, except handguns, may be in the hunter’s possession while hunting with a deer bow permit. However, handguns may not be used in any way to assist in harvesting a deer with an archery license.

Q. Can hunters 14 or 15 years old (in 2024) with a youth season license who did not harvest a deer during the youth season, hunt regular season deer guns with this license?

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

Q. Can hunters 11, 12 or 13 years old (in 2024) with a non-whitetail deer license who did not harvest a deer during the youth season hunt the regular gun season deer with this license?

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

Q. I was unable to obtain my mule deer permit in a restricted unit during the youth season. Can I hunt the rest of the state during the regular gun season?

A. Not. You are restricted to the same unit as during 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 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays.