Hunt Zone 2H, North Dakota

Zone 2H occupies the Missouri Coteau, a glacially deposited plateau rising 200–650 feet above the surrounding Drift Prairie. The western portion of the unit is predominantly flat to gently rolling agricultural cropland (wheat, corn, sunflowers, soybeans) transitioning into the more rugged eastern escarpment where the plateau rises sharply and breaks into ravines, draws, and shelterbelts. Knob-and-kettle topography supports thousands of prairie potholes and seasonal wetlands — classic duck and deer country. Elevation ranges from roughly 1,900 to 2,200 feet. The county towns of Ashley (McIntosh County) and Elgin (Grant County) serve as hunter base camps.

Public land access is limited — approximately 3.7% of the unit is publicly accessible. Key public land categories: (1) NDGF Wildlife Management Areas: Ashley, Camp Lake, Coldwater Lake, Green Lake, Kisselberry, Lehr, Clear Lake, and McIntosh County WMAs in McIntosh Co.; Logan County WMA in Logan Co.; Badger Bay, Beaver Creek, Mike J. Hurkes, and Hague WMAs in Emmons Co.; Froelich Dam WMA in Sioux Co.; and Otter Creek and Three Buttes WMAs in Grant Co. (2) PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen): voluntary private-land access program — NDGF signs and publicizes enrolled acres; PLOTS guide available at gf.nd.gov; yellow inverted-triangle markers in the field. Statewide ~836,000 PLOTS acres enrolled. (3) CRP Access Program: NDGF pays $10/acre/year to landowners who open CRP ground to public walk-in hunting. (4) No national grasslands within Zone 2H; the nearest national grassland (Little Missouri) is to the northwest in the Badlands zone. USFWS NWRs exist on the Missouri Coteau but are primarily waterfowl production areas — some allow deer hunting; check individual NWR regulations.

Mixed-grass prairie, native grassland, and agricultural cropland dominate the landscape. Wooded draws and shelterbelts (planted rows of trees separating farm fields) provide essential thermal cover and bedding for deer. Prairie potholes and seasonal wetlands create edge habitat attractive to deer year-round. CRP grass strips adjacent to crop fields are prime staging areas for deer moving to evening feeding. The pothole-rich landscape means hunters focusing on travel corridors between water, cover, and crop fields will find deer.

White-tailed deer dominate Zone 2H. Deer use agricultural fields (corn and sunflower stubble) for feeding and move between feeding areas and shelterbelts, CRP strips, and wetland margins for bedding and cover. The eastern escarpment draws and ravines create natural travel corridors. Mule deer are present but uncommon, generally found closer to the Missouri River breaks along the western edge of the unit. Peak rut movement typically coincides with the November 6–22 gun season, giving hunters prime timing for catching bucks on their feet. Waterfowl hunting pressure on wetlands during the same period can push deer toward less-disturbed upland areas.

Zone 2H is a lottery-draw unit — hunters must apply by the early June deadline (typically June 3) through the NDGF online system at gf.nd.gov. The 2026 allocation is 800 Type A (any antlered) and 300 Type B (any antlerless) licenses. Statewide 2025 gun season success was 57% overall (whitetail antlered 53%, whitetail antlerless 45%). Hunting pressure is moderate relative to eastern ND river-bottom units but higher than far-western Badlands units. The west side of the unit is flat farmland with good deer numbers but very little public land, requiring landowner permission or PLOTS access. The east side (plateau escarpment) has more public WMA land and more diverse terrain. Ashley, ND is the recommended base camp town with available lodging. The 2026 deer gun season runs November 6 (noon) through November 22. Archery season runs September 4 through January 3. Muzzleloader season runs November 27 through December 13.