State Forest Rules

All State Forests are open to the general public. There are no developed campgrounds on the Sheyenne River, Tetrault Woods or Mouse River State Forests. Backcountry camping is allowed on all State forests. Developed campgrounds are located in the Turtle Mountain and Homen State Forests. All developed campgrounds are primitive with vault toilets, drinking water, grills and picnic tables. There are no electric or water hookups or public telephones. Equestrian camping is allowed only at the Twisted Oaks Equestrian Campground in the Turtle Mountain State Forest. Campgrounds and day-use areas are open year-round to the public. Staff patrol year-round, and patrol daily from May 1 through early October.

Visitors must obey all posted signs and are subject to all federal, state and local laws.

Camping:

No fee is required for day use or backcountry camping where all supplies are carried in and all trash is carried out. Registration and a fee are required of all overnight campers staying at Twisted Oaks, Strawberry Lake, Hahn’s Bay, and Pelican Lake. The campgrounds are open only to registered campers between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
All campsites and picnic areas are available on a first come basis (no reservations)
Camping fees are $20.00 per night in developed campgrounds.
Equestrian fees are $20.00 plus $6 per horse per night at the Twisted Oaks Equestrian Campground.
In designated campgrounds, quiet hours are from 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Camping in excess of 14 days and leaving equipment or campsites unattended for more than 24 hours is prohibited.
Any vehicle, equipment or camping supplies left unattended for more than 24 hours may be confiscated by the North Dakota Forest Service and held for a period of 30 days. At the end of this period said property may be disposed of by the North Dakota Forest Service.
Glass beverage containers are prohibited on all shorelines, docks, and boat ramps. All containers must be disposed of properly in trash containers.
Firewood is available for a nominal fee in the developed campgrounds. The North Dakota Forest Service encourages the use of locally-sourced firewood to help slow the spread of invasive trees pests.

Pets:

Pets are allowed provided they are kept on a leash or controlled at all times. In mowed or maintained areas, owners must clean up after their pets.

Organized Group Activities:

Organized group activities (special events) for State Forest Recreation Areas (day use areas and campgrounds) must submit an organized group activity request form 30 days prior to the planned event. For more information contact Mitch Thompson (701.228.3700, Mitchell.thompson@ndsu.edu).

Fires/Fireworks:

Lighting of fires is allowed in cooking grills and campground rings. Leaving fires unattended is prohibited.
Lighting of any fire on the State Forests is subject to state and local restrictions during periods of high fire danger.
Fires must be completely extinguished before leaving.
The lighting of fireworks is prohibited on all State Forests unless authorized by the State Forester.

Hunting & Firearms:

Hunting is permitted, pursuant to designated hunting seasons and regulations set by the ND Game and Fish Department, on all State Forests except within 800 feet of the campgrounds and day use areas. All hunters are subject to federal, state and local laws governing hunting and the use of firearms.
Target practice and sighting of firearms is prohibited on all State forests. All firearm use is subject to federal, state, and local laws.

Tree Stands:

No person may construct or use a permanent tree stand or permanent steps to a tree stand
on any State Forest. Construction of permanent hunting blinds is prohibited on State
Forest lands.
Portable tree stands and portable steps, screw-in steps, and natural tree stand may be used. Portable tree stands and portable steps are defined as those which are held to the tree with ropes, straps, cables, chains, or bars. Screw-in steps are those that are screwed into the tree by hand without the aid of any tools. Ladder type stands which lean against the tree are portable stands. A notched board placed in a tree crotch is a portable stand. Natural stands include crotches, trunks, down trees, etc., where no platform is used.
Tree stands do not preempt hunting rights in the vicinity of the tree stand.
Tree stands and steps may not be put up before August 20th of the year, and they shall be taken down by January 10th of the following year. Stands and steps not removed by the 10th of January are subject to removal and confiscation by the North Dakota Forest Service.

Baiting:

According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department regulations: It is unlawful for an individual to hunt big game over bait, or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, in deer hunting units 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2. Placing of bait for any purpose is prohibited on all Department wildlife management areas. 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 the purpose of hunting. Baits include but are not limited to grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay, or any other natural or manufactured foods. The designation does not apply to the use of scents and lures,
water, food plots, standing crops or livestock feeds used in standard practices. Hunting over bait is also not allowed on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas; U.S. Forest Service national grasslands; and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.
A person may use bait to lure and take furbearers when engaged in lawful trapping
activities.

Motorized Vehicles:

The use of all motorized vehicles is restricted to constructed roads, and parking areas unless otherwise posted. Motorized equipment must obey all posted speed limits and regulations.
Multi-use trails may be posted as not open to motorized vehicles; however these trails are open to snowmobiles as long as there is a minimum of 4 inches of packed snow and unless otherwise posted.

Use of Watercrafts:

Watercrafts may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours without the permission of the State Forester. All watercrafts are subject to the regulations for watercrafts and watercraft use as set by federal and state laws.
Gas motors are prohibited on Strawberry Lake in the Turtle Mountain State Forest, Bottineau County.
Watercrafts are restricted to idle speed only on Pelican Lake in the Homen State Forest (Bottineau County).

Removal and Destruction of Property:

Removal of any object, natural or created, such as plants, animals (except those acquired through hunting or fishing), and signs are prohibited without the permission of the State Forester.
Commercial removal of trees including removal for firewood is prohibited without the permission of the State Forester.
Gathering of dead and downed wood for use in campfires is permitted.
Berries and fruit may be picked for non-commercial use except where posting prohibits the activity.
State Forest property may not be destroyed or defaced.

Dumping:

Dumping or throwing of any trash or refuse except in authorized containers is prohibited.
Disposal of personal garbage in State Forest containers by individuals other than those recreating on the State Forests is prohibited.
Abandonment of vehicles or other personal property is prohibited.
Camper holding tanks shall not be dumped within State Forest boundaries.

Private Property & Structures:

No person or organization shall construct or maintain any building, cabin, dock, fence, beehive, billboard, sign or other structure without the permission of the State Forester.

Cropping, Haying, & Commercial Enterprises:

No person shall conduct any cropping, haying, or other commercial enterprise including guide service for a fee on the State Forests without the permission of the State Forester.
Posting signs, distributing literature, advertising, soliciting or transacting any business or commercial enterprise on the State Forest is prohibited without permission of the State Forester.

Animal Trespass:

Livestock (domesticated cattle, goats, sheep, etc.) shall not be permitted on any State Forest except as provided for by a grazing permit issued by the State Forester.

Agency Work:

Not obeying Forest Service personnel, using profanity or injury to personnel is prohibited. Violators will be subject to immediate eviction from the State Forest, as well as, subject to prosecution under other federal and state laws. State Forest rules and regulations shall not apply to activities sponsored by or performed by authorized personnel.