North Dakota’s river otter trapping season is closed. The statewide season’s predetermined harvest limit of 25 has been reached.
Only North Dakota residents were eligible to participate, with a season limit of one otter per trapper.
Special Allocation Lottery App Deadline
Nonprofit organizations eligible to receive big game hunting licenses in 2024 must have the application submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department no later than Jan. 1.
North Dakota state law provides direction for the Game and Fish director to allocate big game hunting licenses to eligible organizations. Under this directive, up to two elk, moose and pronghorn licenses, and 10 white-tailed deer licenses, can be issued to organizations for fundraising.
Eligible organizations must be exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3), and must provide proof from the Internal Revenue Service to that effect. In addition, organizations must be active and in good standing with the office of the North Dakota Secretary of State.
Successful lottery applicants must agree to donate at least 10% of the net proceeds of any license fundraiser to a conservation-related project, such as hunting access, conservation education, habitat development or shooting range management.
The program was created to assist educational organizations in developing urban pollinator gardens. Elementary, middle, and high schools, special education schools, colleges, and educational clubs are eligible to apply. Limited spots are available.
Coyote Catalog Available
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Department of Agriculture are again opening the Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect hunters and trappers with landowners dealing with coyotes in their areas.
Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their name on the database.
Throughout winter, hunters or trappers may receive information on participating landowners, and should contact landowners to make arrangements.
Landowners experiencing coyote depredation of livestock should first contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.
The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March 31.
For more information, contact Ryan Herigstad at Game and Fish, 701-595-4463 or rherigstad@nd.gov; or Michelle Mielke, at the Department of Agriculture, 701-328-2233 or mmielke@nd.gov.
Mountain Lion Zone 1 Late Season Opens
North Dakota’s early mountain lion season in Zone 1 closed Nov. 26, and the late season, when hunters can pursue lions with dogs, is open.
During the early season, hunters took six cats from a harvest limit of eight. Under the season structure, a conditional season could open five days after the late season closes for hunters to pursue the additional two mountain lions that were not taken.
The late season in Zone 1 is scheduled to run through March 31, 2024, or until the harvest limit is reached. The late season harvest limit is seven total lions or three female lions, whichever comes first.
Hunters are advised to check the status of the late season by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
Zone 1 includes land in western North Dakota south of ND Highway 1804 from the Montana border to the point where ND Highway 1804 lies directly across Lake Sakakawea from ND Highway 8, crossing Lake Sakakawea, then south along ND Highway 8 to ND Highway 200, then west on ND Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 85, then south on U.S. Highway 85 to the South Dakota border.
The mountain lion season in Zone 2, which is the rest of the state outside Zone 1, has no harvest limit and is open through March 31, 2024.
The mountain lion season is open only to North Dakota residents. Hunters need a furbearer or combination license to participate.
Late Season Hunting Dates
The statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 3. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 9 and continues through Dec. 31.
In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 16 in the eastern zone, Dec. 21 in the western zone and Dec. 29 in the Missouri River zone. Light goose hunting closes statewide Dec. 29.
Archery deer, fall turkey, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, partridge and pheasant hunting seasons continue through Jan. 7.
The season for tree squirrels closes Feb. 29.
Salmon Spawn Completed
Fisheries crews completed their annual salmon spawning operation on the Missouri River System, collecting 944,000 eggs.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department Missouri River System fisheries supervisor Russ Kinzler said this year was more of a challenge to collect eggs.
“The spawn started about a week later than normal and then the cold weather at the end of October shut down egg collections before the spawning crew could meet the goal of 1 million eggs,” Kinzler said.
The eggs collected should be enough to stock the 300,000 smolts planned for Lake Sakakawea in 2024.
This year all the eggs were collected from Lake Sakakawea, unlike past years when some eggs were taken from fish in the Missouri River. The average size of female salmon was 4.4 pounds, which is about half a pound smaller than last year. The largest salmon was 8.5 pounds.
Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in North Dakota, Game and Fish personnel capture the fish and transport them to Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery where they are relieved of their eggs.
Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend about 6 months in the hatchery before being stocked in Lake Sakakawea.
Hunters Cautioned of Ground Conditions
With North Dakota’s deer gun season opening soon, the state’s countryside will see an influx of hunters traveling rural backroads to fill their tags.
Knowing that, the Game and Fish Department encourages hunters to assess travel routes during the upcoming season as recent precipitation has created some soggy road and soft ground conditions across the state.
Driving on soft, muddy roads and trails is strongly discouraged. In addition, hunters are advised to seek permission before attempting any off-road travel on private lands.
Watford City Advisory Board Meeting Rescheduled
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s advisory board meeting in Watford City has been rescheduled for Nov. 14. All other details remain the same.
The meeting had been set for late October but was postponed due to inclement weather.
District 1 – Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties Date: November 14 – 7 p.m. Location: McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club, 2306 121X Ave NW, Watford City Host: Pheasants Forever Contact: Beau Wisness, 701-421-8814 Advisory board member: Beau Wisness, Keene
Administrative Rules Hearing Set Dec. 12
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will hold a public hearing to address proposed rules changes to Title 30 of the North Dakota Administrative Code. The hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the agency's main office in Bismarck.
The purpose and an explanation of the proposed rule changes are listed below.
Chapter 30-03-01.1. Section 30-03-01.1-02. Bait Definitions. An amendment to remove rainbow smelt from this section.
Chapter 30-03-01.1. Section 30-03-01.1-12. Equipment for taking legal live aquatic bait. An amendment to update equipment used for taking legal live aquatic bait.
Chapter 30-03-05. Section 30-03-05-03. Use of proceeds. REPEAL
Chapter 30-03-05. Section 30-03-05-04. Application. Amendment to update the application process for fishing contests.
Chapter 30-03-05. Section 30-03-05-05. Fishing contest rules and regulations. Amendment to update exceptions to nongame fish, and to rules and regulations regarding the donation of fish fillets.
Chapter 30-03-05. Section 30-03-05-06. Reasons for denying permits. REPEAL
Chapter 30-03-06. Section 30-03-06-01. Equipment. An amendment to update aquatic nuisance species equipment violations for not following ANS procedures for draining and cleaning a vessel.
Chapter 30-03-06. Section 30-03-06-05. Water prohibited. Amendment to prohibit water imported from another state.
Chapter 30-03-06. Section 30-03-06-07. Penalty. Amendment to add a $250 fee for a person guilty of a noncriminal offense who violates subsection 3 of North Dakota Administrative Code section 30-03-06-05.
Chapter 30-04-02. Section 30-04-02-11. Camping. Amendment to add fish management areas.
Chapter 30-05-01. Section 30-05-01-02. Boat safety equipment. Amendment to update length of boats regarding bells and whistles and amendment to update requirements for lighting.
Chapter 30-05-01. Section 30-05-01-05. Accident Reports. Amendment to update boating accident report, time requirement to file, and how to access the report.
The proposed rules may be reviewed at the Game and Fish Department’s office at 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095, or website gf.nd.gov. A copy of the proposed rules may be requested in writing from the above address, or by calling 701-328-6305, or emailing ndgf@nd.gov. Written or oral comments on the proposed rules sent to the above mailing or email address, or telephone number and received by Dec. 23, 2023, will be fully considered.
Anyone planning to attend the public hearing and needs special facilities or assistance relating to a disability should contact the Department at the above address or phone number at least seven days before the public hearing.
Deer Hunters Should be Aware of Early Ice
North Dakota’s deer gun season opens Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. Central time, and the state Game and Fish Department cautions deer hunters to be wary of ice conditions.
In some parts of the state, there are already smaller and mid-sized waters that show the appearance of safe ice. Even though deer might be able to make it across, it doesn’t mean hunters can.
Ice can form overnight, causing unstable conditions. Ice thickness is not consistent, as it can vary significantly within a few inches. Hunters walking the edge of a cattail slough will not find the same ice thickness in the middle, as the edges firm up faster than farther out from shore.
Hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers.
A few reminders:
Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, and hides cracks, weak and open water areas.
Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department