Blog · October 14, 2026 · North Dakota
McLean County Hunting Map, North Dakota: a scouting guide
Parcel lines and public-land maps work together near White Shield.
Main page: McLean County, ND GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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Planning a hunt near Elbowoods? Think of the McLean County hunting map as two layers: public areas from North Dakota Game and Fish Department and private lines from the county. In this McLean County guide: state sources for public ground, using the parcel viewer for boundaries, and how to ask for permission.
Getting started with the McLean County hunting map
If the land is near Mercer, North Dakota Game and Fish Department publishes the public-land maps, along with seasons and regulations.
Pulling up a parcel
Lots and tracts near Roseglen can be looked up on the McLean County Portico map, a viewer that needs no account. If you only know roughly where the land is, follow the nearest road on the aerial and click the parcel itself, which applies near White Shield as much as anywhere. In and around Lake Sakakawea, the parcel card usually lists the owner of record, assessed acreage, the parcel number and often a sale date.
What the map can't tell you
Near Washburn, listed acreage is an assessed number; just a licensed surveyor sets the real lines on the ground. For a tract near Mandan, records update in batches, so a deed recorded last month may not show yet.
Land on the county line
The county touches Burleigh County, Dunn County, McHenry County, Mercer County, and Mountrail County, and each of those keeps its own parcel map. Ground near White Shield that runs to the line can be split in two county records, so open the neighboring map before you assume the acreage. On ground around Coleharbor, the Platbookmapper state page links every bordering county map for North Dakota.
Private land and parcel lines
Private boundaries come from the McLean County Portico map, so you can see who owns the land near Missouri River.
Asking for permission
On ground around Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, offer details: who you are, when you'd hunt and how to reach you, and respect a no.
Who handles what
Recorded documents for a parcel near Roseglen sit in the index kept by the County Recorder, usually searchable by name or document number. Building or septic questions for a lot near Coleharbor need the planning or permitting office, depending on whether the land is inside town limits.
A quick look at the area
Washburn is the county seat, which is where the courthouse records live. Other places on the map include Benedict, Butte, Coleharbor, and Garrison, each with its own cluster of lots. About 9,832 people live in McLean County (Census Bureau estimate, 2023) across about 2,110 square miles. McLean County dates to 1883, so old deeds can run back a long way. Landmarks such as Lake Sakakawea, Missouri River, and Audubon National Wildlife Refuge help you orient on the aerial.
Deeds, plats and who keeps them
For anything that matters, request the recorded deed through the County Recorder; the parcel line is a drawing of it, for land near Mercer included. In and around White Shield, bring the document number from the tax record and the lookup takes minutes.
Good habits afield
Respect livestock and crops around Butte, and carry the owner's contact info; owners remember good guests.
Field tips
The parcel map usually runs in a mobile browser, useful out on a road near Washburn, though signal can drop in rural spots. A saved image of the lot near Elbowoods and its lines is a good backup.
Staying legal
Seasons, licenses and trespass laws are set by the state, and know your state's trespass rules wherever you hunt near Elbowoods.
Sections, lots and bearings
North Dakota is laid out under the Public Land Survey System, which means a tract near Coleharbor is described by section, township and range. A standard section is about one square mile, roughly 640 acres, and a township holds 36 of them, though real sections near Lake Sakakawea vary in size. Write down the legal description for the tract near Washburn for any title or survey request.
Reading terrain
On the aerial around Roseglen, travel corridors and edges stand out; match each spot to its parcel.
Questions about the McLean County hunting map
Do hunting apps show parcel lines near White Shield?
Closer to Lake Sakakawea, app data usually comes from county parcel layers.
How do I find public hunting areas near White Shield?
For a home near Benedict, North Dakota Game and Fish Department publishes maps of public hunting areas.
Where do I buy a hunting license in McLean County?
For acreage around Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, licenses are sold through North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
How should I ask to hunt land near Missouri River?
For a parcel near Garrison, a short letter or visit before the season works best; respect a no.
Can I use the viewer in the field near Audubon National Wildlife Refuge?
If the land is near Coleharbor, most viewers run in a mobile browser; screenshots help offline.
Open the official McLean County, ND parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.