I can help you out some....I dont hunt....but I do live in the Grand Forks ND/MN area....and have in-laws who live in the town of Bottineau. As well I have travelled enough in the area to know about topography. The areas you talk about....
Pembina valley Gorge is a narrow area west of Walhalla ND... see the link below from the USGS abou the Pembina River
http://nd.water.usgs.gov/photos/reso...binariver.html
Outside of the immediate river valley....the land is farm land with groups of trees. Deer like the farm fields to feed...but outisde of the pembina river valley itself the area is way more open than tree covered.
Bottineau itself is in a flat area with cropland all surrounding it (except to the north) as if you go north and littlte east you will run into Turtle Mountains which is heavily forested. See this link again from the ND USGS site
http://www.state.nd.us/ndgs/ndnotes/ndn15-h.htm
Hunting is very popular in the entire area...so your business could work out. Dont know what you are looking for in particular but hope above helps some.
Winters are on average a bit colder than northern Maine....but not too much different. There is less snowfall...averages in that area would be 50-60 inches...highest in the Turtle Mountains.
Dan