Public & Private Lands

View the public and private lands in the Dickinson, ND area.

Not all lands owned by the agencies listed below are open to hunting. Please review the current hunting guides and PLOTS guide for specific lands open to hunting. Contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department or the manager of the land on which you wish to hunt if you have questions.

Bureau of Land Management
The BLM manages nearly 70,000 acres in North Dakota, much of it in the western part of the state. Much of this land is leased for agricultural use, but it is open to public access.

State School Land
Managed by the State Land Department, North Dakota has more than 700,000 acres of state school land. Much of this land is leased for agricultural purposes, primarily cattle grazing. School land is generally open to hunting. However, operators leasing the land may close access if livestock is present.

State Wildlife Management Areas - ND Game & Fish
State wildlife management areas are located throughout the state. Unless otherwise specified, WMAs are open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Check the current hunting and fishing regulations and proclamations for details. Most WMAs are ideal for nature study, hiking, and primitive camping.

U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service manages three national grasslands in North Dakota, totaling about 1.1 million acres. The largest, the Little Missouri National Grasslands, is about 1 million acres and contains much of western North Dakota’s badlands. Much of this land is leased for agricultural use, but is open to public access.

Waterfowl Production Areas
Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; about 263,000 acres in North Dakota. Almost all WPAs are found north and east of the Missouri River. Generally they are less than 640 acres, but some are larger.

Private Land Access in North Dakota
While public land provides varied opportunities for hunters and anglers in North Dakota, much of the state's hunting takes place on private land. Permission is always required to hunt private land that is posted.

View the information for the public and private lands in the Dickinson, ND area.

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PLOTS Areas
In accordance with NDCC 20.1-08-04.9, nonresidents may not hunt any game during the first full week of hunting season on North Dakota Game and fish Department wildlife management areas or on Conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) areas.

Wildlife management areas so posted, refuges, sanctuaries, national parks and historic sites shall be closed to the hunting of all species (Exception: small game hunting may be permitted at times and on those areas of federally owned refuges designated by the refuge manager.) For additional regulations on federal refuges, contact refuge headquarters.

State school land is open to public access including hunting unless posted with ND Department of Trust Lands signs. Contact the ND Department of Trust Lands for additional information regarding state school lands.