Deer unit 2A, North Dakota: licenses, lottery and hunting land
North Dakota deer unit 2A covers 1,138 square miles in NDGF's Red River region, across Richland County. In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 200 licenses available in unit 2A (200 any antlered deer). 845 residents named it as their first choice, and none of them drew. 1.3% of the unit is public land, mostly waterfowl production area, and 4,068 acres are PLOTS walk-in land on private ground (NDGF map layers, 2026).
Data updated October 2026. Lottery: NDGF, 2018 to 2026. Land: NDGF map layers, 2026. Seasons: NDGF 2026-27 table.
NDGF wildlife management areaWaterfowl production areaNational grasslandState trust landPLOTS (private land open to hunting)Unit 2ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| NDGF region | Red River |
|---|---|
| Size | 728,438 acres (1,138 square miles) |
| Counties | Richland |
| Licenses, 2026 lottery | 200: 200 any antlered deer |
| First-choice resident applicants, 2026 | 845 |
| Public land | 1.3% (9,426 acres) |
| PLOTS walk-in land | 4,068 acres; 33 tracts centered in the unit |
| Wildlife management areas | 3 (1,158 acres) |
| CWD (NDGF map) | Unit not on NDGF's CWD prevalence map |
| Deer gun season, 2026 | November 6 to 22, 2026 |
| Towns in and near it | Wahpeton, Hankinson, Walcott, Kindred and Oxbow |
How many deer licenses does unit 2A get?
In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 200 licenses available in unit 2A (200 any antlered deer). 845 residents named it as their first choice, and none of them drew. NDGF made 700 licenses available here in 2018 and 200 in 2026.
| Year | License | Licenses available | Set aside for landowners (gratis) | Issued in the resident drawing (all choices) | First-choice resident applicants | First-choice applicants who drew | Share who drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Any Antlered Deer | 200 | 196 | 0 | 845 | 0 | 0% |
| 2025 | Any Antlered Deer | 200 | 176 | 21 | 830 | 21 | 3% |
| 2025 | Any Antlerless Deer | 100 | 95 | 1 | 250 | 1 | under 1% |
| 2024 | Any Antlered Deer | 300 | 172 | 124 | 926 | 124 | 13% |
| 2024 | Any Antlerless Deer | 200 | 92 | 106 | 232 | 106 | 46% |
| 2023 | Any Antlered Deer | 400 | 176 | 215 | 970 | 213 | 22% |
| 2023 | Any Antlerless Deer | 400 | 94 | 304 | 258 | 241 | 93% |
| 2022 | Any Antlered Deer | 700 | 183 | 529 | 995 | 529 | 53% |
| 2022 | Any Antlerless Deer | 700 | 99 | 617 | 239 | 237 | 99% |
| 2021 | Any Antlered Deer | 650 | 183 | 480 | 950 | 481 | 51% |
| 2021 | Any Antlerless Deer | 650 | 99 | 568 | 235 | 233 | 99% |
| 2020 | Any Antlered Deer | 600 | 197 | 420 | 979 | 420 | 43% |
| 2020 | Any Antlerless Deer | 600 | 106 | 517 | 244 | 239 | 98% |
| 2019 | Any Antlered Deer | 500 | 196 | 313 | 943 | 312 | 33% |
| 2019 | Any Antlerless Deer | 500 | 106 | 408 | 209 | 200 | 96% |
| 2018 | Any Antlered Deer | 400 | 205 | 191 | 935 | 202 | 22% |
| 2018 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 110 | 187 | 190 | 165 | 87% |
Source: NDGF deer lottery statistics and NDGF deer lottery archive; NDGF notes small differences from voided, revoked or refunded licenses. "First-choice applicants who drew" adds up NDGF's successful applicants at every bonus point level; "share who drew" divides it by first-choice resident applicants, for that year only. It is not a forecast.
How many bonus points did it take to draw unit 2A in 2026?
Any Antlered Deer: 0 of 845 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 109 with no bonus points did.
| Bonus points | Any Antlered Deer: drew / applied |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 / 109 |
| 1 | 0 / 234 |
| 2 | 0 / 216 |
| 3 | 0 / 189 |
| 4 | 0 / 87 |
| 5 | 0 / 10 |
Source: NDGF deer lottery statistics, "Bonus Points (Successful Applicants/Total Applicants)". The top column is NDGF's own top bucket. An applicant who does not draw a first choice earns a bonus point for the next lottery.
How much public land and PLOTS is in unit 2A?
1.3% of unit 2A is public land: 9,426 of its 728,438 acres. The largest share is waterfowl production area, 5,189 acres. PLOTS adds 4,068 acres of private land open to walk-in hunting; 33 PLOTS tracts are centered inside the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of unit 2A |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl production area | 5,189 | 0.7% |
| PLOTS (private land open to hunting) | 4,068 | 0.6% |
| National grassland | 2,999 | 0.4% |
| NDGF wildlife management area | 1,158 | 0.2% |
| State trust land | 80 | under 0.1% |
Wildlife management areas in unit 2A: Stack Slough WMA (597 acres here), Swan Lake WMA (295 acres here) and Mud Lake WMA (266 acres here).
Measured by FilledTag inside NDGF's unit boundary from NDGF PLOTS Guide map layers (WMAs, PLOTS, trust land, federal land). Where two maps overlap, the acres are counted once. State trust land is open to walk-in hunting unless the Department of Trust Lands lists the tract as closed; some tracts ask that the lessee be told first.
Which counties does unit 2A cover?
Unit 2A lies in Richland County. Each county's page lists its PLOTS land and WMAs.
| County | Acres in unit 2A | Share of the unit |
|---|---|---|
| Richland County | 727,901 | 99.9% |
Has chronic wasting disease been found in unit 2A?
NDGF's CWD prevalence map does not list unit 2A. Carcass transport rules still apply statewide.
Source: NDGF CWD prevalence by deer unit.
When is deer season in unit 2A in 2026?
The deer gun season runs November 6 to 22, 2026 in every unit. Bow, youth and muzzleloader seasons are statewide. NDGF's note for the bow (nonresident) season of September 4, 2026 to January 3, 2027: Nonresidents may hunt only on private land, excluding Private Land Open To Sportsman, during the first 9 1/2 days of the Deer Bow season. Exemption: PLOTS landowners may hunt on their enrolled property.
| Season | Where | Opens | Closes | Apply by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer: Bow (Resident) | Statewide | September 4, 2026 | January 3, 2027 | no lottery |
| Deer: Bow (Nonresident) | Statewide | September 4, 2026 | January 3, 2027 | no lottery |
| Deer: Bow (Resident Youth) | Statewide | September 4, 2026 | January 3, 2027 | no lottery |
| Deer: Regular | All Units | November 6, 2026 | November 22, 2026 | June 3, 2026 |
| Deer: Youth Season | Statewide | September 18, 2026 | September 27, 2026 | June 3, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer: Muzzleloader | Statewide | November 27, 2026 | December 13, 2026 | June 3, 2026 |
Source: NDGF 2026-27 season dates.
How do you get to unit 2A?
Highways through the unit: I-29 (about 96 miles inside it), US 81 (about 96 miles inside it), ND 18 (about 48 miles inside it), ND 13 (about 36 miles inside it) and ND 11 (about 28 miles inside it). Towns inside: Wahpeton, Hankinson, Walcott, Colfax, Wyndmere, Lidgerwood and 8 more. Just outside: Kindred (on the line), Oxbow (2 miles), Leonard (6 miles) and Davenport (6 miles).
Which units border deer unit 2A?
Unit 2A touches 3 other deer units. Their 2026 licenses and land, for comparison:
| Unit | Licenses, 2026 | First-choice applicants | Public land | PLOTS acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 2B | 900 | 3,269 | 0.5% | 42,812 |
| Unit 2G1 | 400 | 1,710 | 6.7% | 18,838 |
| Unit 2G2 | 400 | 1,166 | 2.6% | 16,892 |
Questions hunters ask
How many bonus points does it take to draw deer unit 2A?
0 of 845 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 109 with no bonus points did. Those are NDGF's 2026 figures for any antlered deer licenses in unit 2A; the full table by point level is above. A coming year can differ.
How much public land is in deer unit 2A?
1.3% of unit 2A, 9,426 of its 728,438 acres, is public land by the state and federal maps NDGF publishes; the largest share is waterfowl production area at 5,189 acres. Another 4,068 acres are PLOTS, private land the owner has opened to walk-in hunting.
What towns are in deer unit 2A?
Wahpeton, Hankinson, Walcott, Colfax and Wyndmere are inside the unit, with 9 smaller places.
When is deer season in unit 2A in 2026?
The deer gun season runs November 6 to 22, 2026 in unit 2A, as in every unit. Bow season runs September 4, 2026 to January 3, 2027, the youth season September 18 to 27, 2026 and the white-tailed muzzleloader season November 27 to December 13, 2026. Dates are from NDGF's 2026-27 season table; the lottery deadline was June 3, 2026.
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Where these numbers come from
- Licenses, applicants and bonus points: NDGF deer lottery statistics; NDGF deer lottery archive.
- Seasons: NDGF 2026-27 season dates.
- Unit boundary: NDGF hunting unit maps. Land: NDGF PLOTS Guide map layers (WMAs, PLOTS, trust land, federal land). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Numbers are copied from NDGF or measured from the maps it publishes; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
North Dakota hunting Unit 2B Unit 2G1 Unit 2G2 Richland County