Deer unit 2L, North Dakota: licenses, lottery and hunting land
North Dakota deer unit 2L covers 820 square miles in NDGF's Sheyenne-James region, across Benson, Ramsey, Nelson and Eddy counties. In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 50 licenses available in unit 2L (50 any antlered deer). 351 residents named it as their first choice, and none of them drew. 2.1% of the unit is public land, mostly state trust land, and 6,854 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)Bureau of ReclamationState trust landState park (rules vary)PLOTS (private land open to hunting)Unit 2LNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| NDGF region | Sheyenne-James |
|---|---|
| Size | 525,010 acres (820 square miles) |
| Counties | Benson, Ramsey, Nelson, Eddy |
| Licenses, 2026 lottery | 50: 50 any antlered deer |
| First-choice resident applicants, 2026 | 351 |
| Public land | 2.1% (11,129 acres) |
| PLOTS walk-in land | 6,854 acres; 38 tracts centered in the unit |
| Wildlife management areas | 5 (1,620 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 | Devils Lake, Tolna, Warwick, Sheyenne and Lakota |
How many deer licenses does unit 2L get?
In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 50 licenses available in unit 2L (50 any antlered deer). 351 residents named it as their first choice, and none of them drew. NDGF made 600 licenses available here in 2018 and 50 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 | 50 | 49 | 0 | 351 | 0 | 0% |
| 2025 | Any Antlered Deer | 100 | 100 | 0 | 459 | 0 | 0% |
| 2024 | Any Antlered Deer | 200 | 67 | 131 | 493 | 131 | 27% |
| 2024 | Any Antlerless Deer | 100 | 36 | 62 | 81 | 62 | 77% |
| 2023 | Any Antlered Deer | 300 | 67 | 228 | 481 | 227 | 47% |
| 2023 | Any Antlerless Deer | 200 | 36 | 162 | 85 | 82 | 96% |
| 2022 | Any Antlered Deer | 400 | 79 | 324 | 495 | 324 | 65% |
| 2022 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 42 | 261 | 74 | 72 | 97% |
| 2021 | Any Antlered Deer | 300 | 83 | 219 | 488 | 219 | 45% |
| 2021 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 45 | 258 | 68 | 68 | 100% |
| 2020 | Any Antlered Deer | 400 | 74 | 327 | 527 | 327 | 62% |
| 2020 | Any Antlerless Deer | 400 | 40 | 361 | 97 | 97 | 100% |
| 2019 | Any Antlered Deer | 400 | 72 | 329 | 490 | 329 | 67% |
| 2019 | Any Antlerless Deer | 400 | 39 | 362 | 92 | 92 | 100% |
| 2018 | Any Antlered Deer | 300 | 75 | 222 | 492 | 225 | 46% |
| 2018 | Any Antlerless Deer | 300 | 41 | 256 | 94 | 92 | 98% |
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 2L in 2026?
Any Antlered Deer: 0 of 351 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 32 with no bonus points did.
| Bonus points | Any Antlered Deer: drew / applied |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 / 32 |
| 1 | 0 / 132 |
| 2 | 0 / 118 |
| 3 | 0 / 54 |
| 4 | 0 / 11 |
| 5 | 0 / 2 |
| 7 | 0 / 1 |
| 10 | 0 / 1 |
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 2L?
2.1% of unit 2L is public land: 11,129 of its 525,010 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 4,707 acres. PLOTS adds 6,854 acres of private land open to walk-in hunting; 38 PLOTS tracts are centered inside the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of unit 2L |
|---|---|---|
| PLOTS (private land open to hunting) | 6,854 | 1.3% |
| State trust land | 4,707 | 0.9% |
| Waterfowl production area | 3,101 | 0.6% |
| National wildlife refuge (rules vary) | 1,657 | 0.3% |
| NDGF wildlife management area | 1,622 | 0.3% |
| State park (rules vary) | 960 | 0.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 42 | under 0.1% |
Wildlife management areas in unit 2L: Black Swan WMA (685 acres here), Hoghaug Wildlife Sanctuary WMA (591 acres here), Engel's Point WMA (188 acres here), Warsing Dam WMA (84 acres here) and Pelican Township WMA (72 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. National wildlife refuges are open to hunting only where each refuge's rules allow.
Which counties does unit 2L cover?
Unit 2L takes in parts of 4 counties. Each county's page lists its PLOTS land and WMAs.
| County | Acres in unit 2L | Share of the unit |
|---|---|---|
| Benson County | 261,364 | 49.8% |
| Ramsey County | 148,601 | 28.3% |
| Nelson County | 93,364 | 17.8% |
| Eddy County | 21,681 | 4.1% |
Has chronic wasting disease been found in unit 2L?
NDGF's CWD prevalence map does not list unit 2L. Carcass transport rules still apply statewide.
Source: NDGF CWD prevalence by deer unit.
When is deer season in unit 2L 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 2L?
Highways through the unit: US 2 (about 48 miles inside it), ND 20 (about 32 miles inside it), US 281 (about 28 miles inside it), ND 19 (about 22 miles inside it) and ND 57 (about 13 miles inside it). Towns inside: Devils Lake, Tolna, Warwick, Minnewaukan, Pekin and Fort Totten. Just outside: Sheyenne (on the line), Lakota (on the line), Crary (2 miles) and Brinsmade (2 miles).
Which units border deer unit 2L?
Unit 2L touches 4 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 2E | 500 | 1,417 | 2.5% | 45,869 |
| Unit 2F1 | 900 | 1,630 | 2.8% | 21,379 |
| Unit 2K2 | 1,400 | 2,793 | 4% | 64,114 |
Questions hunters ask
How many bonus points does it take to draw deer unit 2L?
0 of 351 resident first-choice applicants drew; 0 of the 32 with no bonus points did. Those are NDGF's 2026 figures for any antlered deer licenses in unit 2L; the full table by point level is above. A coming year can differ.
How much public land is in deer unit 2L?
2.1% of unit 2L, 11,129 of its 525,010 acres, is public land by the state and federal maps NDGF publishes; the largest share is state trust land at 4,707 acres. Another 6,854 acres are PLOTS, private land the owner has opened to walk-in hunting.
What towns are in deer unit 2L?
Devils Lake, Tolna, Warwick, Minnewaukan and Pekin are inside the unit, with 1 smaller places.
When is deer season in unit 2L in 2026?
The deer gun season runs November 6 to 22, 2026 in unit 2L, 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 2E Unit 2F1 Unit 2K2 Benson County Ramsey County Nelson County