Autumn Adventures: Hunting & More in Beulah

The City of Beulah offers outdoor recreation all year long. As summer ends and autumn begins, so do alternative outdoor activities. Archery, hiking, and fishing are year-round options. Autumn is a time when swimming ends and hunting begins.  

According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, there are hunting sub-seasons  depending on your “critter of preference.” As an example, Governor Burgum proclaimed the 2024 sub-seasons for the deer range:

• Deer Bow - August 30, 2024 - January 5, 2025
• Youth Deer - September 13 - 22, 2024
• Deer Gun - November 8 - 24, 2024
• Deer Muzzleloader - November 29 - December 15, 2024

To find out when your “critter of preference” sub-season begins, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Dept’s Tentative 2024 Season Opening Dates. Please note, “Dates become official when approved by the governor’s proclamation.”

Mercer County, A Hunter’s Haven 

Mercer County is a hunter’s haven offering vast open fields and prairies. With so many Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) for your hunting pleasure, the acreage is abundant:

• Golden Valley - 160 acres
• Hille - 3,083 acres
• Beaver Creek - 285 acres
• Harmony Lake - 635 acres
• Missouri Breaks - 477 acres
• Norman and Lucille Schaefer - 313 acres
• North Beulah Mine - 1,861 acres (a portion closed to the public for safety reasons)

The southern migration period is from September through November. With migratory birds flying south for the winter, Beulah hunters have prime pickings and tangible targets during hunting season. Look at this informative video about waterfowl hunting on our Facebook page.  

Being an abstract version of hunting, the winter season does not stop fishing fun. Spear/ice fishing is available thanks to Beulah Bay, Wolf Creek, and Hazen Bay being entrances into Lake Sakakawea. When the bite is hot, spear/ice fishing on the lake can yield a mixed bag of walleye, pike, trout, salmon, catfish, and smallmouth bass. Watch this video about ice fishing in North Dakota, specifically at Lake Sakakawea.

Along with waterfowl hunting and spear/ice fishing, Beulah offers hunting for:

• Big Game (Moose, Mule, Deer)
• Furbearers (River Otter, Bobcat, Coyote)
• Upland and Small Game (Tree Squirrels, Wild Turkey)

Beulah’s Winter Recreation

Understanding hunting isn’t for everyone, Beulah has something for you! Residents will attest, “Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean we stay inside.” As they prepare their homes for inside warmth against the outside cold, they look forward to the winter recreation Beulah offers.

Cross-country skiing is high on the list of winter fun, thanks to the Midwest packing a massive amount of snow. Cross-country skiing is a fun event as a solo venture, family adventure, or first date. Rent your skis at Energy Wellness Center, then slide the slopes at Riverside Park. If you prefer a more secluded, tamed time on the ice, Prairie Hills Park offers free ice skating to indulge your inner hockey player, dreaming figure skater, and alternative exerciser.

Beulah is for Everyone

Beulah residents enjoy the variety of outdoor recreation that is season-dependent. While summer is always a favorite, there is no decrease in outdoor options year-round. Visit us and experience what residents already know: The more time you spend in this small town near the Missouri River, the more you will learn that it’s an adventurous place to visit and live!