Hunting, Fishing and Shooting

The vast prairies of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands are open for public recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting activities. Shooting includes firearms, archery, or any device that can cause harm or destruction. Therefore, all visitors are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the natural environment, ensure the health and safety of visitors, and promote a pleasant and rewarding outdoor recreation experience for all visitors.

The Safety and Outdoor Ethics page offers guidelines, information, resources, and safety tips to help you plan your visit.

Please contact the local Ranger District Station for more information.

Lake and Pond Fishing

There are many classic fishing opportunities on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Some streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are stocked yearly with various fish species. Anglers can try their luck on several panfish species, including bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie, white crappie, bullhead, and catfish. A few ponds are also known to have walleye and pike.

Some recreation areas offer exceptional fishing highlights, including:

Grand River National Grassland features the Blacktail Picnic Area and the Blacktail Trailhead, which features a rainbow trout fishing area. Fishing dam locations in the area are listed in the South Dakota National Grassland Fishing Booklet.
Little Missouri National Grassland's Sather Lake Campground & Recreation Area has a lake open for fishing year-round, including ice fishing in designated areas. Great fishing for crappie, trout, and bass.

Contact the local Ranger District Station for more information.

Ice Fishing

Many summer fishing locations can also be used as ice fishing locations in the winter.

Contact the local Ranger District Station for more information.

River and Stream Fishing

The Sheyenne National Grassland offers access to the Sheyenne River through four semi-primitive water trail access sites. Users are provided fishing, canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and hunting opportunities through these sites. The sites are accessible by motor vehicle, and two locations (Brome Field and East River) have picnic tables and bike racks. The water access is hand-launch only within the Sheyenne National Grassland Boundary. Small motors are allowed on the river. Please see the Sheyenne River Water Trail Brochure and Map for specific details.

North Dakota Game and Fish manages the Mirror Pool - Wildlife Management Area (WMA) water trail access site within the Sheyenne National Grassland Boundary. Please follow all NDGF regulations for use within the Mirror Pool WMA.

Please contact the Sheyenne Ranger District Station for more information.

Hunting

The Dakota Prairie Grasslands are open for public hunting under state rules and regulations.

Please research the specific state regulations:

North Dakota: North Dakota Game and Fish

South Dakota: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks.

Always monitor for restrictions on the Alerts and Fire Danger bar at the top of this page.
Refer to our Fire and the Safety and Outdoor Ethics pages for helpful guidance and resources.
Always stay on existing roads and trails.
All off-road travel is prohibited.
Constrict motorized travel to the major, improved-surface gravel roads during wet conditions. Vehicles cause ruts in soft ground and damage the ecosystem.
Pack in, Pack Out. Take all spent firearms shells or casings and anything else you bring to the grasslands. Keep America beautiful.

Tree Stands and Portable Blinds

Tree stands and potable blinds are allowed and may be placed for durations consistent with the periods provided by state regulations.

See ND Game and Fish Deer Hunting Guide: Trees must not be damaged by nailing, cutting of limbs, or use of screws in steps or spikes. Tree stands, steps, ground blinds not removed by January 31st are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the USDA Forest Service. Tree stands and ground blinds left unattended on National Forest System Lands require an identification tag displaying the owner's name, address, and telephone number.

See SD Game Fish and Parks Regulations: Portable tree stands, portable blinds, and climbing devices that do not utilize nails, wire, or bolts for attachment are allowed from August 1 - March 31, inclusive. The name and address OR Customer Identification Number of the owner or user must be on the exterior of an unoccupied portable blind and legible from the ground on a tree stand. Stands, steps, ground blinds not removed by March 31 are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the USDA Forest Service.

Hunting Over Bait

Hunting over bait on National Forest System lands is prohibited. Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of bait(s) for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for hunting. Baits include but are not limited to, grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay, or other natural or manufactured foods.

Prairie Dog Hunting

South Dakota:

Prairie dog hunting is open year-round. The Grand River Prairie Dog Handout (June 2025) maps the black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the Grand River Ranger District in Perkins and Corson Counties.

While hunting prairie dogs, please be aware that burrowing owls use prairie dog habitat. They are a species of conservation concern, and shooting this species is prohibited. See the Animals page for more information about burrowing owls.

The license required to hunt prairie dogs is a predator/varmint license or any current-year South Dakota hunting license, available for purchase online or at the Lemmon Pit Stop on Main Street in Lemmon, South Dakota. For more information or to purchase a license, please visit the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks site here.

North Dakota:

In North Dakota, prairie dog hunting is allowed year-round with no daily bag limits or seasonal restrictions. The Little Missouri National Grassland map is available here. Residents do not need a license to hunt unprotected species like prairie dogs on land they own or lease, while nonresidents need only a non-game license. For more information or to purchase a license, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish site here.

Note: Not every prairie dog colony has motorized access.

Motorized Vehicle Use

Unless restrictions are announced, Motorized Vehicle Use (except snowmobiles) is allowed on approved roads and trails in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Off-trail/cross-country driving is prohibited, except for limited administrative or management purposes. It applies to the Little Missouri, Sheyenne, Grand River, Cedar River National Grasslands, and Denbigh Experimental Forest.

Motor-vehicle use maps are available on the Visitor Maps and Guides page for the Sheyenne National Grasslands, Grand River National Grasslands, Cedar River National Grasslands, Denbigh Experimental Forest, and Souris Unit.

Maps

Our Visitor Maps and Guides page offers information about area maps, guides, resources, and publications that can help you plan your travel and recreation routes. Prairie Dog colony maps are also available.

Please contact the local Ranger District Station for more information.