North Dakota PLOTS

If you’re interested in hunting in North Dakota but have never lived there, don’t know any landowners, or lack direct access to hunting grounds, the PLOTS program is designed for you. It serves as a starting point, providing access to private land for walk-in hunting. Mule Deer Foundations Matt Fenoff has hunted PLOTS for years. One story comes to mind.

“The first year I moved to North Dakota I hadn’t a clue where to start hunting. I stumbled on a PLOTS map and found some areas to hunt for a late season doe tag. My friend and I were both able to fill our tags. Although I now have a network of private landowners I could get permission from. I still regularly hunt PLOTS because the habitat is too dang good to pass up.

North Dakota has over 800,000 acres of Private Land Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS).

The PLOTS program is a voluntary agreement between private landowners and the Game and Fish Department. It allows public access for hunting on their land. The 2024 North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen Guide is your map. This guide covers approximately 836,000 acres designated for PLOTS. Hunters are encouraged to utilize mobile apps (OnX) to locate and understand the boundaries of these tracts.

The PLOTS guide includes maps that highlight these walk-in hunting areas. PLOTS areas are marked in the field by inverted triangular yellow signs, as well as other public lands.

PLOTS is made possible in part by the landowners and in part by creative partnerships. These Partnerships include Pheasants Forever, Outdoor Heritage Fund, Ducks Unlimited, and the Mule Deer Foundation.

Here are some important reminders to keep in mind:

– Treat PLOTS areas as if they were your own property.

– Dispose of all trash and empty shells properly.

– Avoid blocking field entrances or gates with your vehicle.

– Clean game away from ditches and access points.

– Keep a safe distance from livestock.

If you come across an area marked as a PLOTS tract but it lacks the designated yellow triangular signs, it’s best to error on the side of caution and refrain from entering.

Good Luck!

Good luck this fall. Send pictures or stories from the field to Web@muledeer.org to be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article, or any of our articles helped you become a better conservation steward, join the Mule Deer Foundation. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/

Trevor J Hubbs https://www.instagram.com/trevorhubbs/

Trevor is the Communications Manager for the Mule Deer Foundation. He grew up hunting and fishing the eastern edge of the Ozark mountains for quail, ducks, and bucks. Trevor is a contributor for “Fur, Fish, and Game”, Lethal Minds Journal, Strung Magazine, and Feathers and Whiskey, among others.