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Adults and children looking to take a hunter education class in 2015 are reminded to enroll at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. Hunter education coordinator John Mazur said the majority of classes were held by the end of May. However, he said classes will still be added throughout the year as they become finalized. “Our volunteer instructors will be adding classes, but not nearly as many as we move toward the fall,” Mazur said. “That’s why it is important to monitor our website and to act quickly when a class sui...
Recent hunter education graduates and their families are invited to attend the Brownells/National Rifle Association Day Camp at the Moffit Gun Range on Saturday, July 25. The shooting sports activity runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and includes rifle, shotgun, pistol, muzzleloading and archery target shooting, hunting and safety information and demonstrations. All equipment is provided, along with a free lunch and door prizes. For more information on the day camp contact Jack Kavaney at 701-220-8564, email Missouri Valley Shooting Sports...
North Dakota’s spring pheasant population index is up 10 percent from last year, according to the State Game and Fish Department’s 2015 spring crowing count survey. Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor, said the number of roosters heard crowing this spring was up statewide, with increases ranging from about 2 to 12 percent in the primary regions holding pheasants. “A much improved production year for pheasants in spring 2014, coupled with the mild winter, produced a healthy breeding population this spring,” Kohn said. While the spring n...
Statistics from the 2015 spring sharp-tailed grouse census indicate a 22 percent increase in the number of male grouse counted compared to last year. Statewide, 4,346 sharptails were observed on spring dancing grounds this year compared to 3,551 in 2014. Male grouse recorded per square mile increased from 3.4 to 4.2. More than 1,000 square miles were covered. Aaron Robinson, upland game biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Dickinson, said the outlook for the 2015 hunting season is still premature as lek counts are a...
North Dakota’s 2015 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 410 licenses available in three open units, according to Jeb Williams, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department. Along with unit 4-A, which was the only open unit in 2014, units 3B and 4C will hold a limited number of licenses. A total of 250 licenses are available in 4-A, 100 in 3B and 60 in 4C. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn. Similar to last year, the three units will have a season that is split into an early “bow-only” portion, and a later gun/bow season. The b...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of 3.6 million birds, down 25 percent from last year, primarily due to weather conditions that resulted in an early migration. Migratory game bird supervisor Mike Szymanski said the spring migration was well ahead of normal due to open fields and warm temperatures. “Early migrants such as mallards, pintails and northern shovelers didn’t stay long due to the dry conditions,” Szymanski said. Survey results indicated all species decreas...
North Dakota’s spring ruffed grouse survey indicated a 44 percent population increase statewide compared to 2014, according to Stan Kohn, upland game bird supervisor for the State Game and Fish Department. The number of male grouse heard drumming in the Pembina Hills was up 86 percent from last year, while the Turtle Mountains had a 35 percent increase. No drumming males were heard in McHenry County (J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge), where they have not been heard since 2006. The statewide average number of ruffed grouse drums heard p...
Individuals interested in taking the district game warden or warden pilot exams scheduled for July 17 are reminded to register no later than July 13, by submitting an online application through the North Dakota State Job Openings website. The tests are scheduled for 10 a.m. at the department’s main office in Bismarck. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a bachelor’s degree, have a valid driver’s license and a current North Dakota peace officer license, or be eligible to be licensed. Candidates must have excellent inter...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will host thousands of visitors to its Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park July 17-25 at the State Fair in Minot. Visitors will be treated to an array of activities, exhibits and useful information as the park will be open from 1-7 p.m. daily. Pathways to Hunting, Fishing, Trapping and Archery are major attractions where each outdoor activity is taught to interested kids and adults. Of course, the opportunity to catch a fish brings excitement to the littlest angler. Outreach biologist Greg Gullickson...
The State Game and Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday no camping restriction during the week of July 4 on those wildlife management areas in western North Dakota and along Lake Sakakawea that prohibit camping during those two days of the week. In addition to the other five days of the week, this waiver will allow overnight camping June 30 and July 1 at North Lemmon Lake in Adams County; Bull Creek in Billings County; Alkali Creek and Spring Creek in Bowman County; Smishek Lake and Short Creek Dam in Burke County; Harris M. Baukol...
The State Game and Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday no camping restriction during the week of July 4 on those wildlife management areas in western North Dakota and along Lake Sakakawea that prohibit camping during those two days of the week. In addition to the other five days of the week, this waiver will allow overnight camping June 30 and July 1 at North Lemmon Lake in Adams County; Bull Creek in Billings County; Alkali Creek and Spring Creek in Bowman County; Smishek Lake and Short Creek Dam in Burke County; Harris M. Baukol...
The deadline for submitting photos to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest is Sept. 30. The contest has categories for nongame and game species, as well as plants/insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category determined by the number of qualified entries. Contest entries are limited to digital files submitted on disk or via email. Contestants are limited to no more than five entries. Photos must have been taken in North Dakota. By s...
Failure to wear a personal floatation device is the main reason people lose their lives in water recreation accidents. North Dakota Game and Fish Department boat and water safety coordinator Nancy Boldt said safety begins with wearing a personal flotation device, and knowing what’s below the surface of the water. “Water recreationists need to be alert and safe,” Boldt said. “Swimmers need to know the water’s depth, as serious injuries can occur from diving into water. Large objects hidden below the water’s surface can lead to significant...
North Dakota anglers are reminded they can fish for free June 6-7. That is the weekend North Dakota residents may fish without a license. All other fishing regulations apply. Refer to the 2014-16 North Dakota Fishing Guide for season information, online at http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/fishing-regulations-guide....
Muscle tissue and eggs from 30 paddlefish snagged this spring have come back clear of any lingering effects from an oil spill in the Yellowstone River in Montana last January. State Game and Fish Department fisheries chief Greg Power said Game and Fish and North Star Caviar, a nonprofit group that processes paddlefish eggs into caviar for sale, sent the samples to a lab for analysis to find out whether there was any contamination from 30,000 gallons of crude oil that entered the Yellowstone River near Glendive following a pipeline break in...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department emphasizes a simple message to well-intentioned humans who want to pick up and rescue what appear to be orphaned baby animals – don’t touch them. Whether it is a young fawn, duckling, cottontail rabbit or a songbird, it is better to just leave them alone. More often than not young animals are not abandoned or deserted, and the mother is probably watching nearby. Young wildlife are purposely placed into seclusion by their mothers to protect them from predators. Anytime a young wild animal has human conta...
North Dakota’s 2015 deer season is set, with 43,275 licenses available to hunters this fall, 4,725 fewer than last year, and the lowest number since 1978. Jeb Williams, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department, said deer populations remain well below management objectives in most units, and continuing a conservative management approach is needed to help with recovery efforts. Any-antlerless (down 2,650 from last year) and any-antlered (down 1,150) licenses make up the majority of the reduction, while antlerless whitetail (down 8...
Outdoor water recreationists are once again reminded to help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota. State Game and Fish Department ANS coordinator Fred Ryckman applauds the efforts of those who keep North Dakota waters free of unwanted species. “I commend the commitment shown by the vast majority of our boaters and anglers who understand how important it is to keep our lakes and rivers free of ANS, by doing their part to ensure our waters do not become infested,” Ryckman said. “But at the same time,...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tracked 23 outdoors-related bills during the 2015 legislative session, 12 of which were passed by both chambers and signed into law. The following bills take effect this year, unless otherwise noted. House Bill 1081 – Makes available to the Outdoor Adventure Foundation up to two spring turkey, one any-elk, one any-moose, seven deer and two pronghorn licenses for youth who have been diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening illness. In addition, provides for a study, during the 2015-16 interim, of N...
Boat owners are reminded that children ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft this summer must first take the state’s boating basics course. State law requires youngsters ages 12-15 to pass the course before they operate a boat or personal watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor. In addition, major insurance companies give adult boat owners who pass the course a premium discount on boat insurance. The course is available for home-study from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office. Two com...
Year two of a four-year walleye tagging study on the Missouri River and Lake Oahe is complete, and returns are providing biologists with valuable information. Paul Bailey, North Dakota Game and Fish Department south central district fisheries supervisor, said nearly 17,000 fish were tagged in 2013 and 2014, the first two years of the study, and more than 3,000 tag numbers were turned in by anglers. “The study is designed to assess walleye movements, mortality and what proportion of the walleye population is harvested annually by anglers,” Bai...
North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season opens May 1, and the season is scheduled to continue through the end of May. However, depending on the overall harvest, an early in-season closure may occur with a 24-hour notice issued by the state Game and Fish Department. Paddlefish tags are available over-the-counter-only in Bismarck at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s main office; in Williston at the Williams County auditor’s office, Scenic Sports and Wal-Mart; and in Dickinson at Runnings Farm and Fleet. Snaggers should be aware that ma...
Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civil organizations are urged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a State Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters. The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organizational events and projects, with an average grant of $1,550. Grant funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, c...
Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civil organizations are urged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a State Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters. The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organizational events and projects, with an average grant of $1,550. Grant funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, c...
North Dakota’s spring light goose season opens Feb. 21 and continues through May 17. Residents can hunt during the spring season by having last fall’s 2014-15 bird licenses. Otherwise, hunters will need to purchase either a 2015-16 combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Nonresidents, regardless of age, need a 2015 spring light goose season license. The cost is $50 and the license is good statewide. Nonresidents who hunt the spring season remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring season doe...
