Hunting on the Grasslands
(Note - Links on this page open
in new window.)
National Grasslands are open for
public hunting under the North
Dakota Game and Fish or the South
Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
regulations. Some suggestions on finding a place
to hunt in the National Grasslands:
-
Using Species Distribution
Maps for either North
Dakota or
South Dakota, pick an area to hunt.
Perhaps you want to combine a duck hunt with a
pheasant hunt. We suggest you choose an area that
has overlapping ranges for the two species.
-
National
Grasslands Maps are useful when hunting
in or near the Grasslands. These maps show the
location of state, federal, and private lands
in the National Grasslands. Maps are $6.00 per
copy.
Once you have maps in hand, you can locate the
public lands. This will get you started hunting
on your arrival. Then, we suggest contacting area
landowners for permission to hunt on the privately
owned land.
-
State school
land, administered by the
North Dakota Land Department
or the
South Dakota Office of School and Public Lands,
may be open to public hunting. Check their websites
to find out which tracts are closed and how they
must be posted.
There
is a new policy on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands that
confines motorized vehicles (except snowmobiles) to
existing roads and trails only. This includes the
Little Missouri, Sheyenne, Grand River and Cedar River
National Grasslands.
Previously, big game hunters could
retrieve animals by driving off-trail on untraveled
terrain. Campers and waterfowl hunters could also
drive off-trail to reach favored locations. However,
effective July 1, 2001, off-trail driving is no longer
allowed, except for limited administrative or management
purposes.
Guidelines in determining an existing
trail under the new travel policy include:
- A two-track trail with bare dirt
in the wheel tracks and grass in the middle.
- Vehicles may travel on existing
routes where plants grow in obvious wheel depressions.
- ATVs may drive within a two-track
road or trail, if the road is wider than the vehicle.
- Vehicles of any kind may not drive
on two-track trails that are narrower than the vehicle.
- Game and livestock trails are
not suitable pathways for motorcycles.
- Established motorcycle trails
are not suitable for four-wheeled types of vehicles.
A complete copy of the OHV brochure
is available online at http://www.mt.blm.gov/ea/ohv/FSbrochure.pdf
or at any Forest Service office.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Weather on the National Grasslands
can change in minutes. Always pack proper gear for
any eventuality as it can go from +50°F to -20°F
overnight during the hunting seasons.
