North Dakota Hunting Laws
North Dakota's deer-rifle rule is unusually simple: any centerfire rifle of .22 caliber or larger is legal, with no minimum cartridge case length or muzzle-energy threshold — contrary to an older rule of thumb (1.75" case or 900 ft-lb at 100 yards) still repeated in some secondhand summaries, and magazine capacity is unlimited. Shotgun slugs for deer must be 20 gauge or larger, muzzleloaders run .45 caliber (long gun) or .50 caliber (handgun) with flint or percussion ignition only, and North Dakota Century Code expressly authorizes hunting with a suppressor.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in North Dakota
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Precharged pneumatic (PCP) air guns are legal for deer gun season only (not muzzleloader season) if they fire a projectile at least .35 caliber, at least 150 grains, at a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 fps.
"Precharged pneumatic air guns, charged from an external high compression source such as an air compressor, air tank or an external hand pump are legal for deer but must fire a projectile (excluding air bolts) of at le..." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
PCP air-gun projectiles for deer must weigh at least 150 grains, in addition to the .35 caliber and 600 fps minimums.
"must fire a projectile (excluding air bolts) of at least .35 caliber in diameter and at least 150 grains in weight with a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 feet per second" |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer gun, youth, muzzleloader, and archery deer hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange as a head covering plus an outer garment above the waistline.
"All big game hunters, including bowhunters, are required to wear orange clothing while the regular deer gun season is in progress. All youth deer season and muzzleloader season hunters are required to wear orange clot..." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Orange Clothing Requirements | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
North Dakota law expressly allows hunting with a suppressor (and with a short-barreled rifle) for any game the hunter is licensed to take with that firearm.
"An individual in lawful possession of a device that will silence or deaden the sound or natural report of a firearm when the firearm is discharged may hunt any game for which the individual is licensed and for which a..." |
N.D.C.C. § 20.1-01-36 — Suppressor and short-barreled rifle allowed for hunting | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer handguns must be .35 caliber or larger (or any centerfire handgun chambered for a legal deer-rifle cartridge); fully automatic firearms, nonexpanding FMJ bullets, and altered projectiles are prohibited.
"Handguns must have a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and be .35 caliber or larger. In addition, any centerfire handgun designed to fire a legal rifle cartridge is legal." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer handguns need a barrel of at least 4 inches.
"Handguns must have a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and be .35 caliber or larger." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey handguns must be .35 caliber or larger with a barrel of at least 4 inches — the same standard used for deer handguns.
"Handguns – Handguns of .35 caliber or larger with 4 inch or greater barrel length are legal." |
2026 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Handguns | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloading long guns must be .45 caliber or larger; muzzleloading handguns (also legal during muzzleloader season) must be .50 caliber or larger.
"Muzzleloading long guns of .45 caliber or larger, and handguns .50 caliber or larger, having all components loaded through the muzzle, with flint or percussion ignition, firing black powder or black powder substitutes..." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Muzzleloader Season | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloaders must be flint or percussion ignition loaded with black powder or an approved substitute — smokeless powder is not legal.
"with flint or percussion ignition, firing black powder or black powder substitutes are legal. Smokeless powders are not legal." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Muzzleloader Season | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Magnified telescopic sights are prohibited on muzzleloaders during muzzleloader season; unmagnified (1x) scopes are allowed.
"Telescopic sights are prohibited. (Exception: No magnification (1x) scopes are legal.)" |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Muzzleloader Season | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer rifles must be centerfire (rimfire rifles are not among the legal types listed); magazine capacity is unlimited.
"Centerfire rifles of .22 caliber or larger, and muzzleloading rifles of .45 caliber or larger, are legal for deer. Magazine capacity is unlimited. Centerfire and muzzleloader rifles must be designed to be fired from t..." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer rifles need only be .22 caliber or larger centerfire — there is no separate minimum case-length or muzzle-energy requirement in the current guide.
"Centerfire rifles of .22 caliber or larger... are legal for deer." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Ordinary centerfire and rimfire rifles are not legal for turkey — only muzzleloading long guns, shotguns, handguns, and bow equipment may be used.
"Rifles – Only muzzleloading long guns are legal. Muzzleloading rifles must have all components loaded through the muzzle. Centerfire and rimfire rifles are not legal for hunting wild turkeys." |
2026 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Rifles | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer shotguns (rifled slugs or patched round balls) must be 20 gauge or larger — .410 and 28 gauge are not legal for deer.
"Rifled slugs or patched round balls of 20 gauge or larger are legal for shotguns and muzzleloaders." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer shotguns need a barrel of at least 18 inches.
"Minimum barrel length of shotguns is 18 inches." |
2026 Deer Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Deer Gun and Youth Deer Seasons | Aug 2026 |
| Waterfowl |
Nontoxic shot is required statewide for ducks, geese, tundra swans, mergansers, sandhill cranes, snipe, and coot.
"The possession or use of shot other than federally approved nontoxic shot is prohibited while hunting ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, tundra swans, mergansers, snipe and coot statewide." |
ND Upland Game, Migratory Game Birds and Furbearer Guide 2026-27 — Nontoxic Shot Regulations | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
On U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands (federal refuges and waterfowl production areas), nontoxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting except turkey and big game.
"Nontoxic shot is required for all hunting on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands, including federal refuges and waterfowl production areas. This regulation applies to all hunters using shotguns, except while hunt..." |
ND Upland Game, Migratory Game Birds and Furbearer Guide 2026-27 — Nontoxic Shot Regulations | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shotguns may be no larger than 10 gauge, must hold no more than three shells combined in magazine and chamber, and need an 18-inch minimum barrel; no shot-size limit is specified. Fully automatic firearms are illegal.
"Shotguns – Only shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and capable of holding not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber are legal. Minimum barrel length is 18 inches. Fully automatic firearms are illegal." |
2026 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Guide — Firearms and Archery Equipment — Shotguns | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in North Dakota on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
2026 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Guide
North Dakota Game and Fish Department · retrieved August 30, 2026
2026 North Dakota Deer Hunting Guide
North Dakota Game and Fish Department · retrieved August 30, 2026
ND Upland Game, Migratory Game Birds and Furbearer Guide 2026-27 (in Combination Hunting & Trapping Guide)
North Dakota Game and Fish Department · retrieved August 30, 2026
North Dakota Century Code, Title 20.1, Chapter 20.1-01 — General Provisions
North Dakota Legislative Branch · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official North Dakota hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact North Dakota Game and Fish Department directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.