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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...
North Dakota’s swan lottery has been held and more than 100 licenses remain. Only hunters who do not have a swan license for the 2015 season can apply, as regulations limit hunters to one license per year. Beginning Sept. 9, all remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Resident and nonresident hunters will be able to apply online, or print out an application to mail, at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Hunters may also request an application by calling the department’s Bismarck office at 701...
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality reminds people that the annual fall open burning restrictions became effective on Sept. 1. The restrictions are put in place to determine when it is safe to burn from an air quality perspective and where burning may cause health impacts. There may be additional burning restrictions put in place by local, state or tribal authorities to prevent wildfires. Burners in all locations must also contact these local authorities before starting fires any time of year to provide notification of the burn and...
Friday, Sept. 18 at noon signals the start of a nine-and-a-half-day deer hunting season for youth ages 12-15. Licensed residents ages 12 &13, and 11-year-olds who turn age 12 in 2015, are allowed to hunt statewide, but only for antlerless white-tailed deer. Resident deer gun hunters age 14 or 15, and 13-year-olds who turn age 14 in 2015, with a “youth season” license, can hunt statewide for any deer, except antlerless mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. In addition, a special license is required to hunt antlered mule dee...
A 93-acre land transaction brokered by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation opens the door to approximately 6,000 acres of previously difficult-to-reach public land just in time for Montana’s big game hunting season. “Access to our public lands is a key component to RMEF’s mission and is important to sportsmen and women as well as all Americans who seek to enjoy the outdoors,” said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation. “This particular project permanently secures access to huge tracts of public land that are home to elk, m...
Montana’s Fish & Wildlife Commission recently confirmed that some youth who take advantage of the state’s new “apprentice hunter” law will have the opportunity to participate in Montana’s special youth hunts. The apprentice hunter law which was enacted earlier this year by the state Legislature, allows youth 10-17 years of age to obtain a certification to purchase some Montana hunting licenses before completing a hunter education course. Apprentice hunters, however, are required to be accompanied by an adult mentor. Montana’s special you...
With several hunting seasons opening in the coming weeks, hunters are asked to look for the perfect photo opportunity that might just land on the cover of the 2016 Private Land Open To Sportsmen guide. From end-of-day hunting shots, to scenic action or landscape shots, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department wants to feature hunter photos on the 2016 PLOTS cover and elsewhere that showcase North Dakota’s strong hunting heritage. The department’s free PLOTS guide, which highlights walk-in hunting areas across the state, was first pub...
North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 4 at noon, and bow hunters are reminded that deer bow licenses and accompanying tags are only available through electronic purchase. Bow hunters can buy a license online at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov; by calling 800-406-6409; or at license vendors in counties that are linked to the Game and Fish Department’s online licensing system. Hunters who purchase bow licenses at an online vendor will receive a tag at the time of purchase; otherwise, hunters who pur...
Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands. The governor’s proclamation relating to chronic wasting disease also includes a provision that prohibits hunting big game over bait on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and al...
The number of anglers buying fishing licenses in North Dakota during the 2014-15 season established a new record in license sales for the third consecutive year. Statistics compiled by the State Game and Fish Department revealed more than 222,000 fishing licenses were sold last year, an increase of 3,000 from 2013-14. Resident license sales were down slightly from last year’s record, but the number of nonresident licenses issued grew by 5,000, establishing a new mark of nearly 65,000. More than 201,000 anglers actively participated, and ice f...
