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The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds deer hunters to find their license and check it for accuracy. Every year the Game and Fish Department’s licensing section receives last-minute inquiries from hunters who can’t find their license. When that happens, it’s difficult to try to get a replacement license in time for the season opener. Another reason to check the license now is to make sure the unit and species is what was intended. Deer hunters in need of a replacement license can print out a duplicate (replacement) license appli...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s law enforcement division recently conducted check stations on boats coming into the state in an effort to ensure compliance with aquatic nuisance species laws and regulations. Robert Timian, enforcement chief, said check stations on Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 2 revealed the majority of hunters and anglers are keeping their equipment free of unwanted species. “Our main focus was directed toward duck hunters trailering boats,” Timian said. “All total, there were less than a handful of individ...
Motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways, especially this time of year, because juvenile animals are dispersing from their home ranges. October through early December is the peak period for deer-vehicle accidents. Motorists are advised to slow down and exercise caution after dark to reduce the likelihood of encounters with deer along roadways. Most deer-vehicle accidents occur primarily at dawn and dusk when deer are most often moving around. Motorists should be aware of warning signs signaling deer are in the area. When you see...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks checked more than 36,000 private and commercial boats this season under a state law that requires all motorists hauling watercraft—from trailers with motorboats or inflatable rafts to canoes and kayaks perched atop cars and pick-up trucks—to stop at inspection stations. FWP operated inspection stations and roving crews from late May to early September at well-marked roadway locations and at boating and fishing events throughout the state to help curb the risk of aquatic invasive species from attaining a foo...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking orders for its North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar, the source for all hunting season and application dates for 2016. Along with outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, it also includes sunrise-sunset times and moon phases. To order, send $3 for each, plus $1 postage, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095. Be sure to include a three-line return address with your order, or the post office may not deliver...
The State Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2015 hunting season, by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis from 17 units in North Dakota. In addition, all moose and elk harvested in the state are eligible for testing. Samples from hunter-harvested deer taken in the western portion of the state will be tested from units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3B1, 3B2, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. Every head sampled must have either the deer tag attached, or...
Montana State Parks announced today that it is seeking public comment on the Hell Creek State Park Draft Master Site/Management Plan. Public Comments are due by Wed., Nov. 25, 2015 at 5 p.m. Hell Creek State Park is an important recreation area located on the Fort Peck Reservoir, near Jordan, MT. The area is heavily used for camping, fishing, and recreation on the reservoir. As the popularity of the park has grown, so has the demand on natural resources, infrastructure and agency management. Montana State Parks developed the draft...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is reminding deer hunters to keep in mind the Sportsmen Against Hunger program this fall. While this year’s deer proclamation allows only one deer gun license per hunter, families with more than one license might want to consider donating a deer to this worthy cause. In addition, hunters with an archery and muzzleloader license can help as well. The list of participating processors is available on the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov, and the Sportsmen Against Hunger link at the North D...
Every year the North Dakota Game and Fish Department receives questions from deer hunters who want to clarify rules and regulations. Some common questions are listed below. Hunters with further questions are encouraged to call the Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays, or access the department’s website, gf.nd.gov. What licenses do I need for deer gun season? A fishing, hunting, and furbearer certificate, the general game and habitat stamp or a combination license, and the deer license. Gratis license hol...
North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden Keenan Snyder is seeking information on several illegal-taking-of-wildlife incidents over the last month in the Williston and Watford City areas. Anyone with information on the following incidents is asked to call the Report All Poachers telephone number at 800-472-2121, or contact Snyder at 701-770-1072. RAP is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any of these individuals. Sept. 10 – a headless whitetail buck was found at Demicks Lake. S...
In Montana, a weekend like none other awaits. After purchasing hunting licenses, applying for permits months ago, and laying plans over hot coffee and topography maps, young and old are filled with the anticipation that only comes with the opening day of Montana’s general deer and elk hunting season. Beginning Sat., Oct. 24 and continuing until the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29, hunters in Montana will head afield with friends and family in pursuit of tradition as much as deer and elk. “There’s really nothing to compare it to,” said Jeff H...
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) commends the Fish and Game Commission for their recent adoption of guidelines establishing elk shoulder season hunts in Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) released the proposed guidelines for public comment earlier this summer. The shoulder season comes after efforts to establish a late season, antlerless elk hunt were vetoed in the 2015 legislature. A ‘shoulder season’ is defined as any firearm season printed in the hunting regulations that occur outside the 5-week general firearm sea...
North Dakota Game And Fish Department Fisheries Biologists Have Evaluated Fish Spawning And Stocking Success Across The State. Fisheries management section leader Scott Gangl said Lake Sakakawea produced good catches of Walleye and Yearling Perch. “We had a good hatch on Perch in 2014, and our guys were still seeing a lot of those in the nets this year,” Gangl said. “Our Walleye catch was above average with a combination of stocking and natural reproduction. Smelt numbers aren’t compiled yet, but other forage fish remain fairly stable when co...
Public lands in Montana will become free of commercial and recreational traps, if an initiative approved by the Attorney General’s office qualifies for the November 2016 general election and is approved by a majority of voters. The Secretary of State approved signature gathering Oct. 7. Proponents must get a minimum of 24,175 qualified signatures from 34 house districts in the state of Montana by June 17, 2016. According to the official state language the Montana Trap-Free Public Lands Act (MTFPL): Generally prohibits the use of traps and snare...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds deer hunters to find their license and check it for accuracy. Every year the Game and Fish Department’s licensing section receives last-minute inquiries from hunters who can’t find their license. When that happens, it’s difficult to try to get a replacement license in time for the season opener. Another reason to check the license now is to make sure the unit and species is what was intended. Deer hunters in need of a replacement license can print out a duplicate (replacement) license appli...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks used several sources of funding to provide needed repairs to the Fox Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) outside of Lambert. The repairs were deemed necessary after recent high water years damaged many of the existing structures and dikes. “Fox Lake WMA was in desperate need of repair after the 2011 spring and summer flooding events,’ said Ryan Williamson, FWP area biologist. “The high water severely damaged most of the dikes on the property.” The repairs and improvement completed this past summer include upgradi...
Results from this summer’s bighorn sheep survey indicate North Dakota’s bighorn population has increased from last year, despite the ongoing presence of pneumonia. North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game biologist Brett Wiedmann said the July-August survey showed a minimum of 304 bighorn sheep, an increase of 6 percent from 2014. Results revealed 87 rams, 159 ewes and 58 lambs. The department’s survey does not include approximately 30 bighorn sheep that live in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. “This year’s slight in...
Hunters who witnessed a drop in mule deer numbers in many areas of Montana a few years ago will see improving populations this year as favorable weather and habitat conditions kicked in in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, in many areas of the state, fawn recruitment has been excellent and populations are doing well. Even if you didn’t draw a special permit this year, remember Montana offers numerous opportunities to hunt for deer with just a general hunting license. Montana’s archery season for deer will close Oct. 18. The general deer season ope...
Montana antelope populations are continuing to recover and grow from previous years’ winter kills and low fawn numbers in central and eastern Montana. This year, there are even a few more special licenses available reflecting that improving status. Successful antelope-license applicants may recognize increased fawn production in many areas as populations respond to this year’s favorable weather and habitat conditions. Montana’s antelope archery season will close Oct. 9. The general rifle season for antelope will run Oct.10-Nov. 8. As alway...
Montana’s millions of acres of state trust lands offer prime opportunities for hunters across the state. With the 2015 hunting season now under way, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) asks that hunters and other recreationists get acquainted with the regulations for accessing trust lands before they take to the field. Hunters and anglers 12 years of age and older must possess a valid Montana Conservation License to hunt or fish on trust lands. For other types of non-commercial or non-concentrated uses, a s...
North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season is Oct. 3-4. Legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger may hunt roosters statewide. Resident youth hunters, regardless of age, must possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and general game and habitat license. Nonresident youth hunters from states that provide a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents qualify for North Dakota resident licenses. Otherwise, nonresident youth hunters must purchase a nonresident small game license. Shooting hours a...
The 43,275 deer gun licenses that were allocated by proclamation for the 2015 hunting season have all been issued, according to Randy Meissner, licensing manager for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Meissner said according to state law, the number of deer gun licenses issued, including those licenses issued as gratis, cannot exceed the number of licenses authorized by the governor’s proclamation. The deer gun season opens Friday, Nov. 6 at noon central time. Archery licenses can still be purchased through the end of the bow season o...
Montana’s Fish & Wildlife Commission will hold a work session on Sept. 18 in Helena to further discuss proposed hunting season guidelines aimed at reducing some elk populations. The proposed elk “shoulder season” guidelines would allow state wildlife managers to develop hunting seasons before and after Montana’s general hunting seasons to improve elk-harvest management in specific locales. Commissioners will also discuss proposed changes to administrative rules that address game damage. The work session will begin at 11 a.m. at FWP Headqua...
Montana’s young hunters will have the states’ waterfowl and pheasants to themselves Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27. Legally licensed hunters ages 10-15 may hunt ducks, geese, coots mergansers and ring-necked pheasants statewide on these two special days set aside for youngsters. The two-day youth hunt is open to legally licensed 12-15 year olds who have completed hunter education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age; and properly certified and legally licensed apprentice hunters 10-15 years of age who are...
As hunting seasons and other fall outdoor activities get underway, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters, anglers and other enthusiasts to be aware of the daily fire danger index. Recent high daytime temperatures combined with typical dry late-summer ground conditions, could mean an elevated fire danger index that influences outdoor activities throughout the fall. Hunters are urged to keep up with the daily rural fire danger index, issued by the National Weather Service, to alert the public to conditions that may be...
