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One of five sisters, Kendel Hofer, Williston, ND, had years of duck hunting under her belt before she could even lift a shotgun. Today, she can say she has bagged bucks by bow in North Dakota, elk hunted in Montana, brought down snow geese, and even watched her dad successfully hunt stag in New Zealand. Her grandfather, Charles Nehring, made hunting a family priority. Both he and his wife, Persis, were excellent shots, competition winning even for his part. Her grandmother encouraged the girls...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2024 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the northeastern portion of the state. Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 1, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F1, 2K1, 2K2, 2L, 3A4 and 3B2. Outside of this area, hunters can still have their animal tested by taking it to a Game and Fish district office, deer head collection site or by using a self-sampling kit. CWD is a slow-moving brain disease of deer, mo...
Since late August, wildlife biologists have been monitoring scattered reports of white-tailed deer found dead in a portion of southwestern North Dakota. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease was confirmed in a number of these cases. “EHD is a viral disease transmitted by biting gnats,” said Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian. “We see a low level of EHD most years. It typically stays fairly localized, but every so often it can intensify into a significant die-off. The combined outbreak in 2020 and 2021 was probably the worst in me...
The state Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail or “any” deer gun licenses in several units in western North Dakota the option of turning those licenses in for refunds. Casey Anderson, wildlife chief, said the decision is based on scattered reports of white-tailed deer mortality caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease that began in late August. Hunters with antlered whitetail, antlerless whitetail, any antlered and any antlerless licenses, are eligible for refunds in units 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 4B, 4C, and 4D. Hunters who ret...
State wildlife and outdoor recreation agency officials said a weekend of historic fires in western North Dakota delivered a stark reminder to hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts about the need to be acutely aware of dry conditions while recreating outdoors. While the need to be aware of the daily fire index is standard for hunters and state park visitors in North Dakota in fall, it’s especially true now considering the conditions and the fact that many hunters will be in the field for the pheasant season opener and hundreds of campers will v...
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) can be a great resource for work or play for many user groups across North Dakota. However, due to the high fire risk in many locations across the state, they can also be a cause of concern if precautions are not followed while operating. To protect people and property, NDSU Extension, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department are encouraging ATV and UTV owners to practice fire...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would like to hear from the public about their river recreation experience. A survey is available on the FWP website on the River Recreation Advisory Council page. The rising popularity of river activities in certain areas has led to challenges, such as conflicts among users and different types of recreation. Additionally, FWP has received feedback about congestion on waterways and at access sites. While most agree on the importance of protecting aquatic and terrestrial resources, opinions vary on the b...
MILES CITY – The good news is that a very popular dinosaur fossil that was a fixture alongside one of Makoshika State Park's hiking trails has not been stolen, vandalized or damaged; rather, it has been excavated by Museum of the Rockies. It's a bit of a shock to visitors who have become accustomed to seeing the hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur, vertebrae along the Diane Gabriel Trail. But its connection to the park will live on. The plan is for Museum of the Rockies to transport the fossil b...
Bodhi Farms near Bozeman is a boutique eco resort with nine luxe glamping tipis, permaculture farm and wild game farm to table restaurant in the Gallatin Mountains along Cottonwood Creek. The resort offers activities including yoga, messages, cooking classes and fly fishing excursions....
OMAHA, NB - The 2024 test flow from Fort Peck Dam was the first in a series of test flows intended to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion. The test flow began April 26 with an initial flow peak in early May and a second flow peak in late June. Following the second peak there still was no indication of spawning by the three female pallid sturgeon present downstream of the dam. Because there had been no indication of spawning behavior following completion of the second peak or from fish assessments via ultrasound conducted July 2-3, normal...
HELENA – Fire restrictions continue to spread to other Montana counties as the summer heat continues. Stage I fire restrictions went into effect Friday for Madison and Silver Bow counties. Stage I fire restrictions went into effect in Dawson County at Saturday, July 27. Stage I fire restrictions went into effect in Powell and Powder River counties on Monday, July 29. FWP-managed properties in Dawson County include: Johnson FAS, Intake Dam FAS, Makoshika State Park (fires still allowed in r...
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is proposing to renew a Management Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation at Intake Fishing Access Site (FAS) in Dawson County, Montana. The agreement is for the management and operations of Intake Fishing Access Site (FAS). The Intake FAS operated on a 50-year agreement and historically included two parcels: (1) The ‘Intake Area’ north of the river and (2) ‘Joe’s Island’, south of the river. The proposed new Management Agreement would be for 50 years and include the Intake Ar...
OMAHA, Neb. -- The 2024 flow test from Fort Peck Dam was the first in a series of test flows intended to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion. The 2024 flow test was comprised of the following: An attraction flow, which began April 26 and continued through early May, and was intended to encourage Pallid Sturgeon to enter that reach of the Missouri River. A retention flow of release rates lower than the attraction flow and designed to keep the fish in the designated river reach. Then, a second spawning peak release took place in late June...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is looking for public feedback on work from a citizen advisory council tasked with developing guiding principles for developing a new Mule Deer Management Plan. “We know how concerned people are with mule deer numbers across the state,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “Our focus is developing a new plan that will guide our efforts to manage herds well into the future. The council’s work is a critical first step for our planning process.” In early 2024, FWP solicited applications from Montana citizens to...
Live white suckers are not legal baitfish in North Dakota, except in the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers. Anglers can use live white suckers on the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers, and tributaries up to the first vehicular bridge; however, they are illegal elsewhere. Fathead minnows, sticklebacks and creek chubs are the only legal live baitfish outside of the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers. The transportation of live white suckers, other than in Richland, Cass, Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh and Pembina counties, is illegal. In addition, it is illegal for...
North Dakota state law requires youth ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft by themselves with at least a 10-horsepower motor must pass the state’s boating basics course. The course is available for home-study by contacting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300, or [email protected]. Two commercial providers also offer the course online, and links to those sites are on the boat and water safety education page on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. While the home-study course is free, there is a fee to t...
The 16th Annual Monster Catfish Roundup was held July 20 at the Sidney Bridge along the Yellowstone River....
MILES CITY – The 2024 paddlefish season for the yellow tag area of the Yellowstone and lower Missouri rivers ended June 30, short of the harvest cap of 1,000 fish. The overall harvest estimate was 782 paddlefish, and female paddlefish represented 43% of the total harvest. Harvest estimates for the past two seasons were 776 in 2023 and 769 fish in 2022, continuing the trend toward a more dispersed fishery since open river passage began with the new Intake Bypass Channel near Glendive. It was also an average year for tag sales, with a total of 2,...
Photographers interested in sending photos for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest must follow guidelines for submitting their work. Photographers should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/wildlife/watchable-photo-contest. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps both with ease of submitting photos for the photographer and managing those images for department staff. The contest is open and the deadline for sub...
Watford City, ND - This July, join Watford City Parks & Recreation for Park & Recreation Month, as we celebrate how Watford City is a stronger, more vibrant community because of parks and recreation. Watford City Parks & Recreation is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), by inviting our community to share their experiences and tell us how Parks and Recreation has positively impacted their life. Krystal Picklesimer, Watford City Parks & Recreation recreation manager, stated...
HELENA – Anglers planning to fish the Eastern Fishing District need to be aware of endangered pallid sturgeon. Anglers are encountering these fish more and more each year due, in part, to successful conservation and recovery efforts. "It is vital that anglers understand how to identify pallid sturgeon from shovelnose sturgeon," said Zach Shattuck, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks native species coordinator. "We like to remind anglers: 'if you don't know, let it go.'" Pallid sturgeon are a f...
There will be an in-person Montana Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education course held in Sidney in July. This is a combination class for both courses. Registration is currently open online at FWP.mt.gov. Orientation is on July 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the Richland County Extension Office, 1500 N. Central Ave., Sidney. Classes will be held on July 16-19 from 6-9 p.m., and field day will be on Saturday, July 20 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Attendance is required on all days. The field day is also open to a limited number of online students. Please register...
The next guide and outfitter written examination is Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than Aug. 9 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604. In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations, certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid, and employment by or contact with a licensed hunting outfitter. Hunting outfitter, e...
Launching, Loading Boats The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages boaters to plan accordingly when launching and loading a boat. Here are a few simple reminders to ensure a fluent transition at the ramp. Launching Don’t pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch. Prepare for launching in the parking area. Remove covers, load equipment, remove tie downs, attach lines and put in drain plug before backing onto the ramp When ready pull in line to launch. Wait your turn. Be courteous. Loading Don’t block the loading area wit...
