Deer unit 2C, North Dakota: licenses, lottery and hunting land
North Dakota deer unit 2C covers 3,056 square miles in NDGF's Red River region, across Walsh, Pembina, Grand Forks and Nelson counties and others. In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 700 licenses available in unit 2C (600 any antlered deer and 100 any antlerless deer). 2,164 residents named it as their first choice, and 11 of them drew. 1.2% of the unit is public land, mostly waterfowl production area, and 42,094 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 wildlife refuge (rules vary)Corps of EngineersBureau of ReclamationState trust landState forestState park (rules vary)PLOTS (private land open to hunting)Unit 2CNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| NDGF region | Red River |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,955,835 acres (3,056 square miles) |
| Counties | Walsh, Pembina, Grand Forks, Nelson, Cavalier, Ramsey |
| Licenses, 2026 lottery | 700: 600 any antlered deer and 100 any antlerless deer |
| First-choice resident applicants, 2026 | 2,164 |
| Public land | 1.2% (24,020 acres) |
| PLOTS walk-in land | 42,094 acres; 332 tracts centered in the unit |
| Wildlife management areas | 21 (9,032 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 | Grafton, Park River, Minto, Cavalier and Niagara |
How many deer licenses does unit 2C get?
In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 700 licenses available in unit 2C (600 any antlered deer and 100 any antlerless deer). 2,164 residents named it as their first choice, and 11 of them drew. NDGF made 1,000 licenses available here in 2018 and 700 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 | 600 | 578 | 11 | 1,904 | 11 | 1% |
| 2026 | Any Antlerless Deer | 100 | 99 | 0 | 260 | 0 | 0% |
| 2025 | Any Antlered Deer | 600 | 460 | 134 | 1,959 | 134 | 7% |
| 2025 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 248 | 45 | 315 | 45 | 14% |
| 2024 | Any Antlered Deer | 800 | 474 | 314 | 1,991 | 313 | 16% |
| 2024 | Any Antlerless Deer | 500 | 255 | 243 | 350 | 243 | 69% |
| 2023 | Any Antlered Deer | 800 | 467 | 320 | 1,998 | 317 | 16% |
| 2023 | Any Antlerless Deer | 500 | 251 | 245 | 355 | 245 | 69% |
| 2022 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,100 | 481 | 641 | 2,117 | 638 | 30% |
| 2022 | Any Antlerless Deer | 600 | 259 | 355 | 302 | 282 | 93% |
| 2021 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,100 | 510 | 618 | 2,080 | 617 | 30% |
| 2021 | Any Antlerless Deer | 600 | 275 | 340 | 316 | 288 | 91% |
| 2020 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,000 | 504 | 510 | 2,189 | 510 | 23% |
| 2020 | Any Antlerless Deer | 600 | 271 | 339 | 330 | 298 | 90% |
| 2019 | Any Antlered Deer | 800 | 467 | 353 | 2,191 | 352 | 16% |
| 2019 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 251 | 50 | 337 | 50 | 15% |
| 2018 | Any Antlered Deer | 700 | 462 | 231 | 2,246 | 250 | 11% |
| 2018 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 249 | 48 | 339 | 52 | 15% |
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 2C in 2026?
Any Antlered Deer: 11 of 1,904 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 322 with no bonus points did; the first draws came at 1 point. Any Antlerless Deer: 0 of 260 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 74 with no bonus points did.
| Bonus points | Any Antlered Deer: drew / applied | Any Antlerless Deer: drew / applied |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 / 322 | 0 / 74 |
| 1 | 2 / 478 | 0 / 131 |
| 2 | 0 / 385 | 0 / 44 |
| 3 | 1 / 386 | 0 / 8 |
| 4 | 4 / 246 | 0 / 3 |
| 5 | 2 / 75 | none applied |
| 6 | 2 / 11 | none applied |
| 7 | 0 / 1 | none applied |
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 2C?
1.2% of unit 2C is public land: 24,020 of its 1,955,835 acres. The largest share is waterfowl production area, 11,799 acres. PLOTS adds 42,094 acres of private land open to walk-in hunting; 332 PLOTS tracts are centered inside the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of unit 2C |
|---|---|---|
| PLOTS (private land open to hunting) | 42,094 | 2.2% |
| Waterfowl production area | 11,799 | 0.6% |
| NDGF wildlife management area | 9,040 | 0.5% |
| State trust land | 1,400 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge (rules vary) | 1,361 | 0.1% |
| State park (rules vary) | 776 | under 0.1% |
| Corps of Engineers | 406 | under 0.1% |
| State forest | 12 | under 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 2 | under 0.1% |
Wildlife management areas in unit 2C: Prairie Chicken WMA (4,273 acres here), Joliet Ferry WMA (978 acres here), Wall WMA (479 acres here), Barron WMA (427 acres here), Shirek WMA (390 acres here), Charles C. Cook WMA (328 acres here), Dean C. Hildebrand WMA (282 acres here), Grand Forks County WMB WMA (182 acres here), South Walsh County WMB WMA (180 acres here), Billings WMA (168 acres here), Ed Bry WMA (163 acres here) and Duncklee WMA (161 acres here), and 9 smaller ones.
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. National wildlife refuges are open to hunting only where each refuge's rules allow.
Which counties does unit 2C cover?
Unit 2C takes in parts of 6 counties. Each county's page lists its PLOTS land and WMAs.
| County | Acres in unit 2C | Share of the unit |
|---|---|---|
| Walsh County | 827,949 | 42.3% |
| Pembina County | 436,948 | 22.3% |
| Grand Forks County | 408,110 | 20.9% |
| Nelson County | 155,589 | 8% |
| Cavalier County | 78,852 | 4% |
| Ramsey County | 47,874 | 2.4% |
Has chronic wasting disease been found in unit 2C?
NDGF's CWD prevalence map does not list unit 2C. Carcass transport rules still apply statewide.
Source: NDGF CWD prevalence by deer unit.
When is deer season in unit 2C 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 2C?
Highways through the unit: I-29 (about 151 miles inside it), US 81 (about 113 miles inside it), US 2 (about 75 miles inside it), ND 18 (about 73 miles inside it) and ND 17 (about 59 miles inside it). Towns inside: Grafton, Park River, Minto, Petersburg, St. Thomas, Fordville and 25 more. Just outside: Cavalier (on the line), Niagara (on the line), Emerado (on the line) and Lawton (on the line).
Which units border deer unit 2C?
Unit 2C 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 2D | 700 | 1,270 | 2.6% | 7,971 |
| Unit 2E | 500 | 1,417 | 2.5% | 45,869 |
Questions hunters ask
How many bonus points does it take to draw deer unit 2C?
11 of 1,904 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 322 with no bonus points did; the first draws came at 1 point. Those are NDGF's 2026 figures for any antlered deer licenses in unit 2C; the full table by point level is above. A coming year can differ.
How much public land is in deer unit 2C?
1.2% of unit 2C, 24,020 of its 1,955,835 acres, is public land by the state and federal maps NDGF publishes; the largest share is waterfowl production area at 11,799 acres. Another 42,094 acres are PLOTS, private land the owner has opened to walk-in hunting.
What towns are in deer unit 2C?
Grafton, Park River, Minto, Petersburg and St. Thomas are inside the unit, with 26 smaller places.
When is deer season in unit 2C in 2026?
The deer gun season runs November 6 to 22, 2026 in unit 2C, 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 2D Unit 2E Walsh County Pembina County Grand Forks County