Hunting Opportunities at North Dakota Preserves

North Dakota has a long tradition of hunting, passed on from generation to generation. It’s an important part of our history, culture and economy. Hunters were some of the early conservationists in our state, and they continue to support habitat protection through hunting license fees and taxes on guns and ammunition.

The Nature Conservancy provides hunting opportunities at all five of our preserves in North Dakota.

Hunting is an important management tool for TNC, particularly to reduce the damage to native plant communities from white-tail deer.

With the increase in human population and fragmentation of land due to conversion for development, energy use and agriculture, the lands available for hunting in North Dakota are decreasing.

TNC’s work to protect more than 27,000 acres in North Dakota since 1981 protects the habitat that game species and other wildlife need to survive and provides places where young and old alike can enjoy hunting and other recreational activities.

While all of our preserves in North Dakota provide hunting opportunities, there are restrictions to protect sensitive natural areas.

Open to Legal Public Hunting

Brown Ranch

No vehicles – walk-in only. Permit is required. No hunting of sharp-tailed grouse or prairie chickens. To request a permit, download, complete and then return the Brown Ranch hunting form.

Davis Ranch

No vehicles – walk-in only. No permit is required. Download the Davis Ranch hunting rules.

John E. Williams Preserve

No vehicles – walk-in only. Permit is not required. Download the Williams Preserve hunting rules.

Pigeon Point

No vehicles – walk-in only. Permit is required. No hunting of sharp-tailed grouse or prairie chickens. To request a permit, download, complete and then return the Pigeon Point hunting form.

Open for Deer-Hunting Only

Cross Ranch Preserve

White-tailed deer hunting only is allowed by permit and is limited to the preserve’s North Unit due to the presence of bison in the South Unit and Central Unit. Parking is allowed only in designated areas. To request a permit, download, complete and then return the Cross Ranch hunting form.