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News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department


News Releases


Introducing the ND Outdoors Podcast



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department launched a podcast, “North Dakota Outdoors.”

Join hosts Cayla Bendel, Department R3 coordinator, and Casey Anderson, Department wildlife division chief, to hear from Game and Fish staff, partner staff and other experts on an array of outdoors topics from fish and wildlife surveys and research, habitat programs, conservation policy, stories from the field, and more.

To listen, learn more or subscribe to receive text or email reminders each time an episode launches, visit the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. In addition, listeners can subscribe on a preferred podcasting platform.

 

Fall Turkey Deadline



North Dakota’s fall turkey application deadline is Sept. 7.

Fall turkey hunters, including gratis applicants, interested in applying can submit an online application through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply in the first lottery. Nonresidents can apply for remaining fall turkey licenses following the first lottery.

 

Hunters Be Mindful of Farmers, Ranchers



North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials are encouraging hunters to be respectful and cautious as farmers and ranchers are busy with field work this time of year.

Hunters should pull to the side of the road or find an approach when meeting combines, grain trucks or tractors pulling equipment.

Hunters should avoid parking along roadways or field approaches where vehicles could block travel by farm machinery, pick up trash and empty shells, and not clean game in the road ditch or approach.

Duck Brood Numbers Up Following Drought Year



State Game and Fish Department migratory bird biologists expect a fall flight of ducks from North Dakota similar to 2007, 2008 and 2017.

To bring that forecast closer to home, the fall flight is anticipated to be about 26% above last year’s fall flight, based on observations from the Department’s annual mid-July duck production survey.

According to Mike Szymanski, Department migratory game bird management supervisor, the Department’s 75th annual breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of 3.4 million ducks in the state. This year’s breeding duck index was the 23rd highest in the 75 years of the survey, up 16% from last year, and 38% above the long-term average.

The number of broods observed during the Department’s July brood survey was up 36% from 2021, and 5% above the 1965-2021 average index. The average brood size was 7.2 ducklings, up 11% from 2021. The long-term average is 7.0 ducklings per brood.

“Production appeared to be very late this year with many nests hatching throughout all of July and into August,” Szymanski said.

Following severe drought of 2021, wetland conditions across the state varied from good to excellent in May. Szymanski said the wetland index skyrocketed 616%, marking the largest single-year percentage increase on record.

Even so, he warned in early September that it was getting dry on the landscape.

“Wetland habitat conditions in the state have dried up substantially from a very wet spring and continued to dry through August,” Szymanski said. “Our September wetland survey will shed some light on just how much we’ve dried up.”

Game and Fish biologists will conduct a separate survey in mid-September to assess wetland conditions heading into the waterfowl hunting season.

Grouse, Partridge Seasons Open Sept. 10



North Dakota’s hunting seasons for grouse and partridge will open Sept. 10.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sharptails, ruffed grouse and Hungarian partridge each have a daily limit of three and a possession limit of 12.

All hunters, regardless of age, must have a general game and habitat license. In addition, hunters 16 and older need a small game license.

Grouse and partridge hunters should refer to North Dakota OUTDOORS August-September issue for an outlook on the fall hunting season, available online by the season opener on the state Game and Fish Department’s website gf.nd.gov.

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 conducive to accidental starting or spread of fires. County governments also have the authority to adopt penalties for violations of county restrictions related to burning bans. These restrictions apply regardless of the daily fire danger index and remain in place until each county’s commission rescinds the ban. Information on current fire danger indexes is available through ndresponse.gov.

For other season information and regulations, hunters should consult the North Dakota 2022-23 Hunting and Trapping Guide

Overnight Camping Restriction Lifted for Holiday



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday camping restriction on state wildlife management areas for the Labor Day holiday week.

The removal of the restriction will allow overnight camping Sept. 6-7 on those WMAs that otherwise have the two-day restriction in place.

A complete list, including other WMA regulations, is available on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

CWD Testing During Deer Bow, Elk, Moose Seasons



With the deer bow, elk, and moose seasons opening soon, North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials remind hunters there are options for getting their animals tested for chronic wasting disease.

Hunters can drop off heads at any of the following locations:

  • Belfield– North Dakota Department of Transportation shop; 898 8th St. NE
  • Bismarck– North Dakota Game and Fish Department Wildlife Health Lab; 3001 E. Main Ave
  • Devils Lake– North Dakota Game and Fish Department district office; 7928 45th St. NE
  • Dickinson– North Dakota Game and Fish Department district office; 225 30th Ave. SW
  • Fargo– North Dakota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab; 4035 19th Ave. N
  • Fort Yates– Prairie Knights Quik Mart; 7932 ND-24
  • Lonetree – North Dakota Game and Fish Department district office; 1851 23rd Ave. NE
  • Jamestown– North Dakota Game and Fish Department district office; 3320 E. Lakeside Road
  • Kenmare– Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge; 42000 520th St. NW
  • Killdeer– Dunn County shop; 300 Central Ave. S
  • Minot– State Fairgrounds; 2005 E. Burdick Expressway
  • Riverdale –North Dakota Game and Fish Department district office; 406 Dakota Ave
  • Watford City– McKenzie Ranger District office; 1905 S. Main Street
  • Williston– North Dakota Game and Fish Department district office; 5303 Front St. W

Self-sampling kits are also available to hunters who wish to have their animal tested but are unable to drop the head off at a collection site. The kits allow hunters to remove the lymph nodes and ship them to the Department's Wildlife Health Lab for testing. A sampling kit request form can be found on the Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

Also of note, whitetail or mule deer carcass or carcass parts taken from deer hunting units 3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3E2, 3F2, 4B and 4C in North Dakota; a moose from moose hunting units M10 and M11; or an elk from elk hunting units E2 and E6; may not be transported to a collection site outside of the unit. However, deer carcasses may be transported between adjoining CWD carcass restricted units, and moose carcasses between units M10 and M11.

Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 2



North Dakota’s deer bow season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon and continues through Jan. 1, 2023.

Bowhunters can buy a license online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or at vendors linked to the department’s online licensing system.

Hunters should plan accordingly and allow for time to receive their tag in the mail, as the tag will arrive by postal mail and not over the counter while the customer waits. This applies while purchasing a bow license at a license vendor, or at the Game and Fish Department’s main office in Bismarck. The bow tag will be mailed the next business day after the license is purchased.

All archery hunters must have a bow tag in possession before hunting.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands, ground blinds and game cameras on public hunting areas, including displaying an equipment registration number, or the owner's name, address and telephone number, on all equipment left unattended on Game and Fish wildlife management areas.

In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer hunting units 1, 2B, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F.

Hunters should refer to the 2022 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations. 

Hunters Reminded of Baiting Restrictions



It is unlawful to hunt big game over bait, or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, in deer units 1, 2B, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. 

The restriction is in place to help slow the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause long-term population declines if left unchecked. 

In addition, hunting big game over bait or baiting for any purpose is prohibited on all Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas. Hunting big game over bait is also prohibited on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands, and all North Dakota state trust, state park and state forest service lands.

More information on CWD can be found at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Big Game Transport Rules



Big game hunters should note requirements for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota, as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.

Hunters are prohibited from transporting into or within North Dakota the whole carcass of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family harvested outside of North Dakota. 

In addition, hunters harvesting a white-tailed deer or mule deer from deer hunting units 3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3E2, 3F2, 4B and 4C, a moose from moose hunting units M10 and M11, or an elk from elk hunting units E2 and E6, cannot transport the whole carcass outside the unit. However, hunters can transport the whole carcass between adjoining CWD carcass restricted units.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game wardens will be enforcing all CWD transportation laws.

Hunters are encouraged to plan accordingly and be prepared to quarter a carcass, cape out an animal, or clean a skull in the field, or find a taxidermist or meat locker within the unit or state to assist.

Game and Fish maintains several freezers throughout the region for submitting heads for CWD testing, beginning Sept. 1.

For questions about how to comply with this regulation, hunters should contact a district game warden or other department staff ahead of the planned hunt.

The following lower-risk portions of the carcass can be transported:

  • Meat boned out.
  • Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
  • Meat cut and wrapped either commercially or privately.
  • Hides with no heads attached.
  • Skull plates with antlers attached and no hide or brain tissue present.
  • Intact skulls with no visible brain or spinal cord tissue present that has the eyes, lower jaw, tongue, salivary glands, tonsils and lymph nodes removed.
  • Antlers separated from the skull plate.
  • Upper canine teeth, also known as buglers, whistlers or ivories.
  • Finished taxidermy heads.
  • Lymph nodes extracted from the head for CWD testing contained within a sealed, plastic bag.

There is an exception to the regulation that reads “a deer carcass or boned-out meat must be accompanied by the head to the final place of storage.” The exception is: Tag the deer as required, then take two photographs using a cellphone with location, date and time stamp turned on. One photograph of the entire animal at the kill site with tag attached, and a second photograph of a closeup of the tag so that the tag information is readable. If a hunter leaves the head in the field at the kill site, after taking photos and saving them, the ear or antler with the tag attached must be cut off and accompany the meat or carcass while in transport. The photographs of the tagged deer must be shown to any game warden or other law enforcement officer upon request.

Youth Outdoor Festival Sept. 1 in Minot



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot.

The event is Thursday, Sept. 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Game and Fish Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park on the grounds of the North Dakota State Fair.

Young outdoor enthusiasts will experience outdoor activities that relate to archery, fishing, waterfowl and upland game. Prizes will be awarded.

For more information, contact Game and Fish outreach biologist Greg Gullickson at 701-720-1640.

Federal Duck Stamp Required Sept. 1



A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older beginning Sept. 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots.

This year’s 2022-23 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, or at license vendors registered with the department’s licensing system. Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors but can still be purchased at many U.S. Postal Service offices.

The electronic stamp is a purchase item like any other hunting or fishing license. When the purchase is completed the electronic stamp is valid immediately. “Federal Duck Stamp” will be printed on the license certificate, along with an expiration date 45 days from the date of purchase. The physical stamp will be sent by postal mail.

The physical stamp is processed and sent by the official duck stamp vendor in Texas and should arrive to buyers well before the expiration date printed on the electronic license. The physical stamp must remain in possession of the hunter after the 45-day electronic stamp has expired. Individuals with questions regarding the status of their physical stamp can contact the federal duck stamp vendor customer service number at 800-852-4897.

The federal duck stamp has a fee of $25. An additional $2 fee is added to cover shipping and handling costs of the physical stamp.