Hunt Zone 3B1, North Dakota

Zone 3B1 encompasses approximately 2,180 square miles centered on the Missouri River as it flows generally west to east before impounding at Lake Sakakawea on the unit's eastern boundary. Elevations range from roughly 1,900 to 2,500 feet. The defining terrain feature is the Missouri River breaks: steep, eroded coulees and drainages cutting down to the river from surrounding mixed-grass prairie benches. Spring-fed creek bottoms branch off the main river channel and hold dense riparian cover. The public access areas feature steep inclines that physically discourage casual hunters. County roads and state highways provide reasonable approach access, but reaching the best hunting pockets requires significant foot travel into the breaks.

Approximately 18–19% of the unit is publicly accessible. Key areas include: Audubon WMA (McLean County, 10,776 acres), Wolf Creek WMA (McLean County, 5,127 acres), Deepwater Creek WMA (McLean County, 2,463 acres), de Trobriand WMA (McLean County, 2,644 acres), Douglas Creek WMA (McLean County, 2,813 acres), Riverdale WMA (McLean County, 3,076 acres), Painted Woods WMA (McLean County, 1,011 acres), Hille WMA (Mercer County, 3,083 acres), North Beulah Mine WMA (Mercer County, 1,861 acres), Harmony Lake WMA (Mercer County, 635 acres), Missouri Breaks WMA (Mercer County, 477 acres), Graner Bottoms WMA (Morton County, 3,645 acres), Schmidt Bottoms WMA (Morton County, 1,318 acres), Little Heart Bottoms WMA (Morton County, 666 acres), Morton County WMA (638 acres). USFWS waterfowl production areas are scattered throughout the region. PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) parcels provide additional walk-in access on private land enrolled annually — locations vary year to year and are mapped in the NDGF Hunting Atlas. State Trust Lands offer additional walk-in access and also vary by year.

The Missouri River bottomlands are dominated by thick cottonwood with scattered green ash and willow in the creek bottoms; occasional evergreen patches occur. Prairie uplands consist of mixed-grass prairie. The surrounding agricultural landscape (grain crops, sunflowers, small grains) provides supplemental food sources drawing deer out of cover during low-light periods. The broken terrain of the river breaks creates a mosaic of grass, shrub, and woody cover that holds deer throughout the season.

Deer in Zone 3B1 use the Missouri River corridor as a movement highway, traveling between agricultural fields on the prairie uplands and the dense riparian cover in the breaks. Mule deer concentrate south of the Missouri River in the rougher terrain. White-tailed deer use the cottonwood and willow creek bottoms year-round and move into agricultural edges during early season. Large mule deer bucks have been documented and harvested in the southern portions of the unit. During the rut (early-to-mid November, coinciding with the gun season), bucks are mobile across the breaks looking for does. CWD was detected in one mule deer in this unit during 2024 surveillance; enhanced monitoring is ongoing.

Zone 3B1 is a weighted-lottery draw unit — no over-the-counter gun tags. Apply by early June deadline. The unit contained 450 antlered (Type A, any species) and 400 antlerless (Type B, any species) gun licenses in 2026, with no species-specific mule deer or whitetail tags. Archery is open to all license types with no unit restrictions. The steep break terrain is a significant filter: hunters willing to hike and pack out deer gain access to largely unpressured animals. One CWD-positive mule deer was detected in 2024; follow NDGF sampling and carcass transport rules. Statewide 2025 mule deer gun success rate was 82%; whitetail antlered gun success was 53%. No unit-level harvest data is published by NDGF.