Deer unit 3F2, North Dakota: licenses, lottery and hunting land
North Dakota deer unit 3F2 covers 2,879 square miles in NDGF's Slope region, across Sioux, Grant, Adams and Hettinger counties and others. In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 2,800 licenses available in unit 3F2 (300 antlered whitetail deer, 200 antlerless whitetail deer, 1,300 any antlered deer and 1,000 any antlerless deer). 1,641 residents named it as their first choice, and 1,368 of them drew; counting second choices, the resident drawing issued 1,876. 4.9% of the unit is public land, mostly state trust land, and 59,129 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 areaNational grasslandBLMCorps of EngineersState trust landPLOTS (private land open to hunting)Unit 3F2Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| NDGF region | Slope |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,842,513 acres (2,879 square miles) |
| Counties | Sioux, Grant, Adams, Hettinger, Morton, Emmons |
| Licenses, 2026 lottery | 2,800: 300 antlered whitetail deer, 200 antlerless whitetail deer, 1,300 any antlered deer and 1,000 any antlerless deer |
| First-choice resident applicants, 2026 | 1,641 |
| Public land | 4.9% (89,887 acres) |
| PLOTS walk-in land | 59,129 acres; 150 tracts centered in the unit |
| Wildlife management areas | 5 (1,083 acres) |
| CWD (NDGF map) | Detected; first found 2009 |
| Deer gun season, 2026 | November 6 to 22, 2026 |
| Towns in and near it | Leith, New Leipzig, Elgin, Solen and Mott |
How many deer licenses does unit 3F2 get?
In the 2026 deer gun lottery NDGF made 2,800 licenses available in unit 3F2 (300 antlered whitetail deer, 200 antlerless whitetail deer, 1,300 any antlered deer and 1,000 any antlerless deer). 1,641 residents named it as their first choice, and 1,368 of them drew; counting second choices, the resident drawing issued 1,876. NDGF made 3,350 licenses available here in 2018 and 2,800 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 | Antlered Whitetail Deer | 300 | 30 | 266 | 73 | 73 | 100% |
| 2026 | Antlerless Whitetail Deer | 200 | 15 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| 2026 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,300 | 128 | 1,157 | 1,427 | 1,157 | 81% |
| 2026 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,000 | 70 | 430 | 138 | 135 | 98% |
| 2025 | Antlered Whitetail Deer | 400 | 35 | 360 | 92 | 92 | 100% |
| 2025 | Antlerless Whitetail Deer | 400 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 100% |
| 2025 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,300 | 112 | 1,171 | 1,454 | 1,171 | 81% |
| 2025 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,500 | 62 | 408 | 149 | 149 | 100% |
| 2024 | Antlered Whitetail Deer | 850 | 62 | 532 | 118 | 118 | 100% |
| 2024 | Antlerless Whitetail Deer | 850 | 31 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| 2024 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,300 | 95 | 1,190 | 1,397 | 1,190 | 85% |
| 2024 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,450 | 53 | 329 | 137 | 137 | 100% |
| 2023 | Antlered Whitetail Deer | 850 | 62 | 778 | 134 | 134 | 100% |
| 2023 | Antlerless Whitetail Deer | 850 | 31 | 35 | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| 2023 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,300 | 95 | 1,190 | 1,310 | 1,190 | 91% |
| 2023 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,450 | 53 | 499 | 136 | 136 | 100% |
| 2022 | Antlered White-tailed Deer | 850 | 75 | 704 | 181 | 181 | 100% |
| 2022 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | 850 | 38 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| 2022 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,300 | 114 | 1,178 | 1,289 | 1,178 | 91% |
| 2022 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,450 | 64 | 309 | 129 | 129 | 100% |
| 2021 | Antlered Whitetail Deer | 850 | 80 | 765 | 216 | 216 | 100% |
| 2021 | Antlerless Whitetail Deer | 850 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 100% |
| 2021 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,150 | 108 | 1,035 | 1,270 | 1,035 | 81% |
| 2021 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,450 | 64 | 288 | 133 | 132 | 99% |
| 2020 | Antlered Whitetail Deer | 850 | 88 | 661 | 262 | 262 | 100% |
| 2020 | Antlerless Whitetail Deer | 850 | 41 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 100% |
| 2020 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,100 | 114 | 979 | 1,313 | 979 | 75% |
| 2020 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,400 | 68 | 305 | 142 | 141 | 99% |
| 2019 | Antlered White-tailed Deer | 850 | 91 | 755 | 316 | 314 | 99% |
| 2019 | Antlerless White-tailed Deer | 850 | 42 | 60 | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| 2019 | Any Antlered Deer | 1,000 | 108 | 888 | 1,295 | 888 | 69% |
| 2019 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,300 | 65 | 486 | 133 | 132 | 99% |
| 2018 | Antlered Whitetail | 800 | 108 | 684 | 363 | 363 | 100% |
| 2018 | Antlerless Whitetail | 800 | 50 | 742 | 13 | 13 | 100% |
| 2018 | Any Antlered Deer | 750 | 102 | 641 | 1,285 | 645 | 50% |
| 2018 | Any Antlerless Deer | 1,000 | 63 | 927 | 135 | 133 | 99% |
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 3F2 in 2026?
Antlered Whitetail Deer: All 73 resident first-choice applicants drew, at every point level. Antlerless Whitetail Deer: All 3 resident first-choice applicants drew, at every point level. Any Antlered Deer: 1,157 of 1,427 resident first-choice applicants drew; 834 of the 1,092 with no bonus points did; everyone with 3 points or more drew. Any Antlerless Deer: 135 of 138 resident first-choice applicants drew; 119 of the 122 with no bonus points did; everyone with 1 point or more drew.
| Bonus points | Antlered Whitetail Deer: drew / applied | Antlerless Whitetail Deer: drew / applied | Any Antlered Deer: drew / applied | Any Antlerless Deer: drew / applied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 63 / 63 | 3 / 3 | 834 / 1,092 | 119 / 122 |
| 1 | 8 / 8 | none applied | 272 / 283 | 14 / 14 |
| 2 | 1 / 1 | none applied | 29 / 30 | 1 / 1 |
| 3 | none applied | none applied | 11 / 11 | none applied |
| 4 | none applied | none applied | 8 / 8 | 1 / 1 |
| 5 | 1 / 1 | none applied | 2 / 2 | none applied |
| 7 | none applied | none applied | 1 / 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 3F2?
4.9% of unit 3F2 is public land: 89,887 of its 1,842,513 acres. The largest share is state trust land, 59,127 acres. PLOTS adds 59,129 acres of private land open to walk-in hunting; 150 PLOTS tracts are centered inside the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of unit 3F2 |
|---|---|---|
| PLOTS (private land open to hunting) | 59,129 | 3.2% |
| State trust land | 59,127 | 3.2% |
| Corps of Engineers | 22,477 | 1.2% |
| National grassland | 6,721 | 0.4% |
| NDGF wildlife management area | 1,084 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 478 | under 0.1% |
Wildlife management areas in unit 3F2: Schotzko WMA (480 acres here), Froelich Dam WMA (297 acres here), Three Buttes WMA (162 acres here), North Lemmon Lake WMA (108 acres here) and Dog Town WMA (36 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 3F2 cover?
Unit 3F2 takes in parts of 6 counties. Each county's page lists its PLOTS land and WMAs.
| County | Acres in unit 3F2 | Share of the unit |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux County | 700,459 | 38% |
| Grant County | 642,993 | 34.9% |
| Adams County | 259,097 | 14.1% |
| Hettinger County | 154,190 | 8.4% |
| Morton County | 83,842 | 4.6% |
| Emmons County | 1,742 | 0.1% |
Has chronic wasting disease been found in unit 3F2?
Yes. NDGF's CWD prevalence map lists unit 3F2: mule deer: first detected 2009, 15 positive of 298 sampled in the last four years (5%) and whitetail deer: first detected 2013, 5 positive of 260 sampled in the last four years (1.9%).
Source: NDGF CWD prevalence by deer unit.
When is deer season in unit 3F2 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 3F2?
Highways through the unit: ND 21 (about 72 miles inside it), ND 24 (about 36 miles inside it), ND 49 (about 36 miles inside it), ND 6 (about 35 miles inside it) and ND 31 (about 34 miles inside it). Towns inside: Leith, New Leipzig, Elgin, Flasher, Selfridge, Fort Yates and 4 more. Just outside: Solen (on the line), Mott (on the line), Carson (on the line) and Haynes (on the line).
Which units border deer unit 3F2?
Unit 3F2 touches 4 other deer units. Their 2026 licenses and land, for comparison:
| Unit | Licenses, 2026 | First-choice applicants | Public land | PLOTS acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 3C | 800 | 1,431 | 8.5% | 17,444 |
| Unit 3E1 | 1,450 | 1,704 | 2.7% | 44,150 |
| Unit 3E2 | 1,650 | 1,653 | 2.5% | 14,010 |
| Unit 3F1 | 1,300 | 897 | 3.2% | 31,026 |
Questions hunters ask
How many bonus points does it take to draw deer unit 3F2?
1,157 of 1,427 resident first-choice applicants drew; 834 of the 1,092 with no bonus points did; everyone with 3 points or more drew. Those are NDGF's 2026 figures for any antlered deer licenses in unit 3F2; the full table by point level is above. A coming year can differ.
How much public land is in deer unit 3F2?
4.9% of unit 3F2, 89,887 of its 1,842,513 acres, is public land by the state and federal maps NDGF publishes; the largest share is state trust land at 59,127 acres. Another 59,129 acres are PLOTS, private land the owner has opened to walk-in hunting.
What towns are in deer unit 3F2?
Leith, New Leipzig, Elgin, Flasher and Selfridge are inside the unit, with 5 smaller places.
When is deer season in unit 3F2 in 2026?
The deer gun season runs November 6 to 22, 2026 in unit 3F2, 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 3C Unit 3E1 Unit 3E2 Unit 3F1 Sioux County Grant County Adams County