Hunt Zone 2D, North Dakota

Far northeastern North Dakota in Cavalier and Pembina Counties. The Pembina River flows in from Manitoba, carving a dramatic gorge with elevation dropping from ~1,500 ft to ~1,000 ft before rising again — creating steep canyon walls and forested coulees. Large swaths of flat-to-rolling forested upland surround the gorge. The broader landscape is agricultural plains (corn, soybeans, sugar beets) interspersed with woodlots, shelterbelts, and wetlands typical of the eastern ND glacial lake plain. The Pembina Hills — a wooded escarpment running ~30 miles through Pembina and Cavalier Counties — are among the most heavily forested terrain in North Dakota.

Public land totals roughly 3% of the unit (~18,000 acres) but is concentrated in high-quality habitat. Key public parcels: Pembina Hills WMA (Cavalier County, ~4,863 acres across several units near Langdon); Charles V. Pulver WMA (Cavalier County, 1,690 acres); Wilbur Allen WMA (Cavalier County, ~680 acres); J.V. Wessels WMA (~3,000 acres, mostly aspen forest); Tetrault Woods State Forest (~400 acres south of Walhalla); Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area (1,237 acres, west of Walhalla along Pembina River, hunting permitted in designated areas during established seasons). No National Wildlife Refuges are located within Zone 2D itself. PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) parcels provide additional walk-in access on enrolled private land — the statewide PLOTS guide is available free at gf.nd.gov and identifies enrolled tracts with inverted yellow triangle signs. Given only ~3% public land, hunters should consult the North Dakota Hunting Atlas and PLOTS guide, and pursue private land permission for best access.

Vegetation is exceptionally diverse for North Dakota. The Pembina Hills and Pembina Gorge host over 480 vascular plant species — roughly one-third of all North Dakota flora. Upland forests: bur oak, quaking aspen, paper birch. Lowland riparian forest: American elm, basswood, ironwood, green ash. Spring-fed alder thickets are unique to the region. Agricultural matrix: row crops (corn, soybeans, sugar beets) provide high-calorie deer forage. CRP grasslands and wetland potholes provide additional cover and fawn habitat. The forest-to-cropland edge is prime whitetail habitat.

White-tailed deer in Zone 2D use the Pembina River corridor and tributary drainages as primary travel routes and thermal cover. Deer stage in agricultural fields (corn, soybean, sugar beet) and filter into wooded gorge country and shelterbelt strips during daylight. The wooded Pembina Hills escarpment concentrates deer movement between agricultural feeding areas and forested bedding habitat. The Canadian border location means some trans-boundary deer movement in late fall. Hunting pressure is described as high in public areas, pushing deer into remote gorge sections and private land during firearm season.

NDGF officially classifies Zone 2D as the 'Pembina Hills' management unit — distinct from the adjacent 'Red River' units (2A–2C) which cover the flat Red River Valley proper. Zone 2D is more rugged and wooded than typical eastern ND zones. The Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area is transitioning to North Dakota's 14th state park (opening 2026) and is open to deer hunting in designated areas during established seasons. Hunting pressure concentrates on public WMAs; hunters willing to put in map work and physical effort to reach remote gorge sections can find less-pressured deer. Physical fitness is advisable for gorge hunting. No mule deer are present — this is an exclusively white-tailed deer zone. The 2025 deer lottery issued 500 antlered (Type A) and 200 antlerless (Type B) gun licenses for Zone 2D. Draw odds for antlered tags in 2025 were approximately 28% (1,134 applicants for 500 licenses); antlerless demand was lower (~127 applicants for 300 available, essentially guaranteed). Statewide archery license. Statewide 2025 whitetail gun success rate was ~53% (antlered) and ~45% (antlerless).