North Dakota's deer gun and muzzleloader licenses are a weighted lottery: your application is entered 2x(bonus points)+1 times with 1-3 points and (points cubed)+1 times at 4 or more, and points build every year you miss your first choice. Nonresidents get just 1% of the deer gun licenses in each unit (landowner licenses come out of that share first, often leaving zero lottery licenses in small units), plus a separate statewide any-deer bow lottery capped at 15% of mule deer gun licenses (240 in 2026); pronghorn, elk, moose and spring turkey lotteries are resident-only, and elk/moose/bighorn are once-in-a-lifetime. Deer applications close in early June (June 3 in 2026) with results in late June, and payment is only processed if you draw; a nonresident deer gun application costs $380 in fees ($350 license + $5 certificate + $20 habitat + $5 nonrefundable application fee). The only other lottery open to nonresidents is bighorn sheep (apply by late March, $600 up front, drawn September 1, maximum one nonresident license, once in a lifetime).
Every figure below cites the agency document it came from. Last verified September 1, 2026.
Worked example. Every applicant gets 2 × points + 1 (points³ + 1 from four points on) entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances — but never a guarantee.
Lottery FAQ; N.D.C.C. 20.1-03-11(4) · verified Sep 1, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant gets 2 × points + 1 (points³ + 1 from four points on) entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances — but never a guarantee.
Lottery FAQ, 'Bonus Point Calculation' table · verified Sep 1, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant has the same chance: tags ÷ applicants. Points don't exist or don't matter here.
N.D.C.C. 20.1-08-04.6 · verified Sep 1, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant has the same chance: tags ÷ applicants. Points don't exist or don't matter here.
N.D.C.C. 20.1-08-04.2 · verified Sep 1, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant gets 2 × points + 1 (points³ + 1 from four points on) entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances — but never a guarantee.
hunting/lotteries ('first lotteries for deer gun, muzzleloader deer, pronghorn, swan, and wild turkey are weighted lotteries'); 2026 Pronghorn Guide · verified Sep 1, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant has the same chance: tags ÷ applicants. Points don't exist or don't matter here.
N.D.C.C. 20.1-08-04.1 · verified Sep 1, 2026
Worked example. Every applicant has the same chance: tags ÷ applicants. Points don't exist or don't matter here.
N.D.C.C. 20.1-08-04.1 · verified Sep 1, 2026
Showing nonresident fees. Switch to resident
| Fee | Amount | Paid at application | Refundable | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresident bighorn sheep application fee (nonrefundable) (Bighorn Sheep) | $100 | Yes | No | Nonresident licensing and fees |
| Nonresident deer gun application fee (nonrefundable) (White-tailed / Mule Deer) | $5 | Yes | No | Nonresident licensing and fees |
| Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate | $5 | Yes | No | Nonresident licensing and fees |
| General Game and Habitat License | $20 | Yes | Yes | Nonresident licensing and fees |
| Nonresident any-deer bow license (statewide lottery) (White-tailed / Mule Deer) | $350 | If drawn | Yes | Nonresident licensing and fees |
| Nonresident bighorn sheep license (Bighorn Sheep) | $1,000 | If drawn | Yes | Nonresident licensing and fees |
| Nonresident deer gun/muzzleloader license (White-tailed / Mule Deer) | $350 | If drawn | Yes | Nonresident licensing and fees |
Drew a tag? Check which cartridges are legal for your species and weapon on the North Dakota hunting laws page.
Every percentage on this page is a prior-draw probability: the chance an applicant with that many points would have drawn in the draw year shown, computed from the agency's published results. It is not a forecast — quotas, applicant numbers, and point creep change every year. Every figure links to the agency document it came from. Where a state does not publish a number, we show a dash, never a zero. Hunts with fewer than five tags show counts instead of percentages. Fees show the fee year used. Read the methodology for the engine details.
This page is informational only. Draw rules, quotas, fees, and deadlines are set by the state agency and change by commission action — confirm everything on the agency's own site before you apply, and apply through the agency, not here. We disclaim all liability for reliance on this page.
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