North Dakota Pheasant Hunting – Premier Destination

Create memories that will last a lifetime.

North Dakota Pheasant Hunting – It’s not just about the pheasants, it’s about your hunting buddies, your family members, your dog’s excitement upon retrieval, achieving new goals and it’s about the edges. Hunters from all over the country gather in North Dakota to experience the Peace-Garden State’s amazing bird counts, explore the prairie wetlands, and create memories that last a lifetime!

Two men and a dog walking back after pheasant hunting in North Dakota

The season for North Dakota pheasant hunting begins in October and goes through early January. As with most fishing and hunting, early morning and evening are often the best times for hunting as the birds can be found in lighter cover such as grasses and along the edges of brushy meadows and marshes. There are plenty of PLOTS to hunt on and often residents will give permission for you to hunt on their private land. Remember that permission is always required to hunt private land that is posted. Bringing along a thoughtful gift for the landowners to show your appreciation and you may build a relationship that lasts for more hunting trips to come! 

You’ll want to make sure your hunting license requirements are met depending on whether you are a resident or non-resident and how long you wish to hunt. Daily bag limits on pheasants are 3 with a possession limit of 12. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. More information can be found from the game and fish department on https://gf.nd.gov/hunting/ducks 

The cool fall temperatures provide the extra benefit of pheasants laying low a bit longer as they do not always like to fly up as quickly in colder weather. Dogs are always welcome to join you as most pheasant hunters prefer to have a hunting dog with them. Dogs bring joy to the hunt and also add to the success of finding birds. For everyone’s safety, It’s important to remember that orange is required to be worn at all times while pheasant hunting.

Black lab retrieving a pheasant

Some great areas to hunt pheasants in North Dakota are Mott, Crosby, Ellendale, Wing, and Scranton. Mott, often considered the “Pheasant Capital of the Nation”, has plenty of open space for hunting and is located along the Cannonball River. Crosby is a small town with lots of hospitality, beautiful scenery, and some great North Dakota Pheasant hunting. 

Check out the Prairie Pothole Lodge near Ellendale, North Dakota for prime hunting land. Wing offers the Rolling Plains Adventures, which has been voted as “Hunters Top Choice” Package and also received the North Dakota Governor’s Travel and Tourism Award. They provide multiple pheasant hunting packages and lodging options. Scranton is home to Dakota Winds Hunting Guide and Outfitters. Dakota Winds Hunting has an established reputation as one of the best pheasant outfitters in the state.

North Dakota Pheasant Hunting Near Jamestown ND

For those who are interested in other types of hunting, there are also opportunities for elk and duck hunting in the surrounding areas of Jamestown. Jamestown offers a wide variety of fun to experience when you are not hunting, too! Be sure to stop by the National Buffalo Museum as you take a journey back to a time when the buffalo roamed freely across the landscape. Here you can explore the significance and history of the American buffalo. Snap some photos with a visit to the World’s Largest Buffalo Monument. Created by sculptor Elmer Petersen, he has proven one of the Midwest’s most popular roadside attractions for over 50 years. In 2010, the World’s Largest Buffalo received his name, Dakota Thunder. 

Learn about the legendary author, Louis L’Amour, and visit some of the places that influenced the man he would become. You can find out more about Louis L’Amour and other stories that have made Jamestown the community it is today on the Jamestown Talking Trail. This self-guided audio adventure has 70 stops throughout the area including Frontier Village and St. James Basilica. Bring the world of the prairie pioneers to life with a trip to the Frontier Village! Original buildings from the frontier villages of North Dakota were brought to this site and filled with antiques and artifacts, creating informative historical displays. 

Prepare to be thrilled by all your choices because Jamestown, ND restaurants are plentiful! Whether you crave a quick drive-through dinner, the authentic taste of quality Mexican cuisine, spit-roasted chicken, a steak cooked to perfection or even a bowl of knoephla like Grandma used to make, you can find it here in Jamestown! Traditional Knoephla is a rich and creamy chicken and potato soup with chewy little dumplings. To take a bite of Knoephla is to taste the contentment of a prairie home. You can find Knoephla soup served on Thursdays at The Depot Cafe in downtown Jamestown.

You’ll also love the juicy, hearty flavor packed into a Bison Burger! A couple of Jamestown restaurants serve this tasty burger. You can try one at the Sabir’s Buffalo Grill, located downtown, or at the Frontier Fort Bar & Grill.