A total of 42,416 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 23,300 deer during the 2024 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department.

Game and Fish made available 50,100 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 55%, with each hunter spending an average of 4.7 days in the field.

Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer 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 harvest 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%.

A total of 27,102 archery licenses (23,993 resident, 3,109 nonresident) were issued 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.