The full picture · 5 sources

North Dakota closes four hunting units to antlerless harvest as EHD threatens deer population

Updated Oct 21, 2:38 AM CT. Every fact below links to the source that reported it.

What the primary sources show

North Dakota closed four hunting units to antlerless whitetail harvest ahead of the 2026 deer gun season in response to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease. [Bismarck Tribune] [Bismarck Source]
The four closed units are 3C, 3E1, 3E2, and 3F2, located in southwestern and south-central parts of the state. [Bismarck Source]
Roughly 350 hunters will be unable to harvest antlerless deer from the closed units. [KFYR-TV]
Governor Kelly Armstrong and Game and Fish officials began planning protective measures in August to help the state recover its whitetail population. [KFYR-TV]

Will the four closed units remain closed in future hunting seasons, or is this a one-year measure?
What specific population recovery targets will determine whether the closures were successful?
What is the current white-tailed deer population estimate for the affected areas?

Bismarck Community Buzz (public group): Brief video announcement of Armstrong and Williams discussing the upcoming changes. Read it →
Bismarck Tribune: Formal announcement from the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish about the four-unit closure. Read it → · Paywall
KFYR-TV: Focuses on impact to hunters and includes interviews with local hunters supporting the decision, frames action as necessary short-term pain for long-term conservation. Read it → · Ads
KX News: Emphasizes the upcoming deer gun season start date and the refund option available to hunters. Read it → · Ads
Bismarck Source: Most comprehensive regulatory detail, lists all specific units affected and refund-eligible areas, explains EHD transmission by midges and symptom timeline. Read it →

701 News writes these summaries from the sources above and checks every sentence against them. Read the originals for the full reporting. Corrections