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Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project faces another hurdle with public comment on the Intake Diversion Dam Fish Project Environmental Impact Statement. The draft EIS is now available through Reclamation’s Lower Yellowstone Project Website: http://www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/loweryellowstone/index.html. The public comment period will open on Friday, June 3, when the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The public comment period will run for 45 days, ending on July 18. Two public meetings a...
Orientation and walk in registration for the fall 2016 Bow Hunter Education class will be June 9, 2016 at Eastern Ag Research Center, 1501 North Central Ave. from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Online registration is available at https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/71402. This is a free class and late registrations will not be accepted. Orientation and all classes must be attended. No exceptions. To be eligible to take this class you must be 12 years old by Jan. 16, 2017. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be present on the first...
A fish kill affecting adult rainbow smelt is ongoing in portions of the upper half of Lake Sakakawea, according to Dave Fryda, Missouri River System fisheries supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Fryda said the cause of the die-off has been documented numerous times in North Dakota in the past. “The vast majority of the dead and dying smelt have physical signs of Columnaris bacteria,” said Fryda. “We’ve recovered infected fish from White Earth Bay downstream to Deepwater Bay and Van Hook Arm.” Columnaris bacteria are prese...
Walleyes Unlimited of Montana, Mondak Chapter donates $2,542 to help support the Gartside Fishing Access Site Enhancement Project through the 2015 Sidney Leadership Class. Development of this project was created and spearheaded by Duane Bieber, Michele Seadeek and Anil Kara with the oversight of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The Gartside Reservoir is located within Richland County south of Sidney, MT. The 44 acres of public and leased land has provided recreational options for many years. It offers a wide variety of activities from...
Paddlefish anglers with a yellow harvest tag that are anxious to fish on the Yellowstone River or Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Reservoir in 2016 need to be aware of two issues. First, for anglers with a yellow paddlefish harvest tag, opening day of paddlefish season is Sunday May 15; however the first harvest day is Tuesday May 17. This oddity of opening day results from designated Catch and Release days (Sunday, Monday, and Thursday) and mandatory Catch and Harvest days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Thus, in 2016, the...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department closed the state’s 2016 regular paddlefish snagging season, effective at 9 p.m. Central Daylight Time, on Monday, May 9. Snaggers are reminded that Sunday and Monday are snag-and-release only. The 2016-18 fishing proclamation allows for the Game and Fish director to close the snagging season early if it appears the harvest will exceed 1,000 paddlefish. “Snaggers this year have been extremely successful,” said Greg Power, fisheries chief. “In addition, similar to last year, a high proportion of this ye...
North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel recently stocked more than 40 local fisheries with catchable trout, catfish and pike. Approximately 23,000 11-inch rainbow trout, 800 adult catfish, 750 5-pound pike and 600 1- to 5-pound cutthroat trout were recently stocked in rural and city ponds and lakes. Fisheries production and development section leader Jerry Weigel said while the state’s fisheries are at historic highs, many are not as easily accessible to youngsters, older adults and disabled anglers. “These stockings put cat...
Before hitting the river, paddlefish anglers should be aware of a new requirement this year. Anglers harvesting a paddlefish anywhere in Montana are now required to report their harvest within 48 hours. Anglers not reporting a harvested paddlefish will not be eligible to purchase a paddlefish tag the following year. Options for reporting a harvested paddlefish include on-site where the fish was harvested (like the fish cleaning station at Intake Fishing Access Site) or a phone hotline. Those wishing to report their harvest by phone must call 1-...
A paddlefish tag is required to participate in North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season, which opens May. 1 and 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. Snag-and-release of all paddlefish is required on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays; therefore, the first two days of the 2016 snagging season will be snag-and-release only. Mandatory harvest of all snagged paddlefish is required on T...
A total of 39,470 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 26,700 deer during the 2015 deer rifle hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the State Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish made available 43,275 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 68 percent, with each hunter spending an average of 4.3 days in the field. Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 70 percent, and antlerless whitetail was 64 percent. Mule deer buck success was 86 percent. No mule deer doe licenses were issued...
“To ensure compliance with recent changes in USACE regulations for recreation use fees, changes were made to the campsite reservation and fee collection process, resulting in an easier process for visitors and staff. We’ve had lots of requests to be able to make reservations for either Wolf Creek or East Totten Trail Campgrounds and now our visitors will have that opportunity,” said Nathan Busche, a Natural Resource Specialist at Lake Sakakawea. The recreation season will run from May 15 to September 15. Reservations for all sites must be ma...
FORT PECK, MT - Fee changes and new amenities are coming to the Fort Peck Lake camp sites operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Reservations for the Downstream Campground sites must be made through Reserve America by going online to Recreation.gov or by calling the toll free reservation line at 1-877-444-6777. Downstream sites can be reserved as late as two days in advance or as early as six months in advance. Several sites will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis. Read More at: http://www.nwo.usace....
It’s not too late to submit your application for 2016 pheasant releases through Montana’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program. Landowners interested in raising and releasing ring-necked pheasants have until Jan. 15, 2016 to submit an application. Under Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Upland Game Bird Release Program, landowners may apply annually for up to five consecutive years to establish pheasants. Landowners may either raise their own pheasants with the appropriate state permits or contact a pheasant raiser to provide pheasants for rel...
It’s time for landowners in a select list of counties to enroll in the state-sponsored “Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters.” The voluntary program offers extra incentives aimed at further conserving productive game bird habitat enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program. Nearly 44,000 acres have been enrolled in Open Fields since 2012. The $5-per acre incentive, offered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, is available to private landowners who have a minimum of two years left on their federal...
Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float. A popular question this time of year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left unattended, it must be able to float; if it’s not able to float, it must be removed when the angler leaves the ice. Other fish house regulations include: Fish houses do not require a license. Occupied structures do not require identification. Howev...
It’s not too late to submit your application for 2016 pheasant releases through Montana’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program. Landowners interested in raising and releasing ring-necked pheasants have until Jan. 15, 2016 to submit an application. Under Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Upland Game Bird Release Program, landowners may apply annually for up to five consecutive years to establish pheasants. Landowners may either raise their own pheasants with the appropriate state permits or contact a pheasant raiser to provide pheasants for rel...
The Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect coyote hunters and trappers with landowners who are dealing with coyotes in their areas, is open for the winter. A partnership between the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the Coyote Catalog can be a good way for hunters and trappers to locate new places to go, according to Game and Fish Director Terry Steinwand. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring encourages landowners, especially farmers and ranchers who have problems with...
To help North Dakota hunters prepare for hunting seasons in 2016, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates for the coming year. Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2016 include: Spring Turkey - April 9 Dove - September 1 Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Mountain Lion - September 2 Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse, Squirrel - September 10 Youth Deer - September 16 Youth Waterfowl - September 17 Early Resident Waterfowl - September 24 Regular W...
North Dakota anglers are encouraged to refer to the 2014-16 North Dakota Fishing Guide or the State Game and Fish Department’s website for winter fishing regulations. In addition, anglers can visit the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov, for an extensive list of fishing questions and answers. Some winter fishing regulations include: A maximum of four poles is legal for ice fishing. However, when fishing a water body where both open water and ice occur at the same time, an angler is allowed a maximum of four poles, of which no more than two p...
North Dakota waterfowl hunters are reminded the statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 6. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 12 and continues through Jan. 3, 2016. In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 24, except for the Missouri River Zone, which closes Jan. 1, 2016. Light goose hunting closes statewide Jan. 3, 2016. Archery deer, fall turkey, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, partridge, pheasant and tree squirrel hunting seasons continue through Jan. 3, 2016....
North Dakota continues to produce a record number of anglers, and many are anxious to get on the ice and enjoy a favorite pastime. With that in mind, winter anglers are reminded to consider ice conditions before traveling onto and across North Dakota waters. State Game and Fish Department enforcement Chief Robert Timian said this winter should provide plenty of opportunities for anglers, as long as Mother Nature cooperates. “Access to area lakes shouldn’t be an issue with the lack of snow, but that can change in a hurry,” Timian said. “As o...
Students interested in taking a hunter education class in 2016 should visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov for a statewide list of courses. Many classes will be added over the next several weeks, and the rest will be added throughout the year as they are finalized. To register, click on the online services tab, and “online course enrollment” under the hunter education heading. Classes are listed by city, and can also be sorted by start date. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class,...
Mountain lion hunting during the early season in Zone 1 closed Nov. 22 with six of 14 cats taken. The late season in Zone 1, with a quota of seven, runs Nov. 23 through March 31, 2016, or until the quota is filled. In addition to other legal methods, the late season allows mountain lions to be pursued with dogs. The late season quota in Zone 1 filled early last year, so hunters are advised to check for updates by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov. Zone 1 includes land south of ND Highway 1804 from the...
Montana’s Fish & Wildlife Commission will meet Nov. 12 in Helena. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Montana WILD Education Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave. Commissioners will take final action on 2016 fishing regulations; elk hunting shoulder seasons pilot projects beginning in late November in up to seven hunting districts; duck-hunting zone adjustments in Montana’s portion of the Central Flyway; and an addition to the Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area near Ennis. On land matters, commissioners will be asked...
Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to attend a North Dakota Game and Fish Department fall advisory board meeting in their area. These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. The governor appoints eight Game and Fish Department advisors, each representing a multi-county section of the state, to serve as a liaison between the department and public. Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service must...
