Archers in Kansas have the rut exclusively to themselves. Many of the state’s top bucks -- like this odd-racked non-typical arrowed by the author some seasons back -- fall during the mating frenzy. Photo by Marc Murrell.

Some outdoorsmen like to talk about the so-called “good ol’ days” when it comes to some of their favorite outdoor pursuits. Some species, such as quail and jack rabbits, were abundant throughout much of their range then, but populations recently have declined. Although the news for hunters who chase that sort of game isn’t good, some other species are bright spots in a sometimes worrying landscape -- and one of those is deer.

If you’re a deer hunter, the good ol’ days might be just around the corner. And the good news for the bowhunter is that you get first crack at your state’s deer herd in most of the Great Plains states.

Here’s a state-by-state run-down of what you can expect when the season opens in your hunting area.

NORTH DAKOTA
Although North Dakota doesn’t have the deer-hunting reputation of its Great Plains neighbors to the south, many big bucks are taken in the northernmost state in our region. Archery hunters have plenty of potential for success on both whitetails and mule deer.

“It’s good,” said Bill Jensen, big-game biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department of the deer population. “We’re fairly stable now overall.”

Whitetails are found statewide; mule deer primarily roam in the western portion of the state, but some do extend to the Missouri River. “Mule deer probably generate more interest than whitetails,” Jensen said. “I think it’s the novelty of hunting a different species.”

Bowhunters can take advantage of a number of huge public hunting areas. “There are 1.2 million acres of national grasslands in the west and another 1 million acres or more in the Private Land Open to Sportsman program,” offered Jensen. “And then state-owned lands open to hunting. We’re about 95 percent privately owned, but guys can do well on some of these public lands.”

North Dakota’s deer management program focuses on opportunity rather than on trophies. But the Badlands area provides some great potential for mule deer hunters, and, said Jensen, big whitetail bucks could come from just about anywhere.

In 2007, the success rate for 2,500 non-resident and about 17,000 resident archers ran from 40 to 45 percent, with a similar number of archers killing roughly 8,500 deer in 2006. “And of that total there are probably 800 to 1,000 mule deer included,” Jensen offered.

Archery hunting is limited to one license per person, which allows the taking of an antlered deer anywhere in the state. The resident cost is $20, non-residents $200. All archery hunters must have a hunting certificate ($2 for non-residents, $1 for residents) and a general game and habitat license or combination license ($13 and $32, respectively). If any antlerless permits are left over after the lottery drawing, archery hunters can purchase and use them -- armed with any legal weapon -- during any legal season in the unit dictated by the license.

North Dakota has been testing for chronic wasting disease for years but has yet to have a positive test.

Whitetail permits are available over the counter, but archery hunters wanting any-deer licenses must purchase them on a first-come, first-served basis beginning in early March each year.

North Dakota’s archery deer season runs approximately from Labor Day Weekend to the first weekend in January, stated Jensen. “Our bowhunters should have a good season and I hope they have a safe hunt,” he concluded.