Mar. 31—BISMARCK — North Dakota deer hunters had a 55% success rate during the 2024 deer gun season — unchanged from 2023 — the Game and Fish Department said Monday, March 31.
According to a Game and Fish news release, 42,416 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 23,300 deer during the 2024 gun season, based on results from a post-season department survey.
Game and Fish offered 50,100 deer gun licenses last year. Each hunter spent an average of 4.7 days in the field, unchanged from the 2023 deer gun season.
Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer in 2024 was 49% and 44% for antlerless whitetails. Mule deer buck success was 80% and 78% for antlerless mule deer.
Hunters with any-antlered or any-antlerless licenses generally shoot white-tailed deer, as these licenses are predominantly in units with mostly whitetails. Buck hunters had a success rate of 61%, while doe hunters had a success rate of 56%.
Game and Fish issued 11,920 gratis licenses in 2024, and 9,484 hunters harvested 4,199 deer for a success rate of 44%.
A total of 956 muzzleloader licenses were issued, and 790 hunters harvested 232 white-tailed deer (116 antlered, 116 antlerless); hunter success was 29%.
Game and Fish issued 27,102 archery licenses (23,993 resident, 3,109 nonresident) in 2024. In total, 22,449 bowhunters harvested 5,794 deer (4,884 whitetails, 910 mule deer) for a success rate of 26%.
The department is in the process of determining recommendations for licenses in 2025. In addition to harvest rates and winter aerial surveys, Game and Fish staff monitor other population indices to determine license numbers, including depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.
