News and Updates
News Release Archives - December 2000
Game and Fish Recognizes Employee Efforts | Hendrickson Named G&F Employee of the Year | Schwan Named Wildlife Officer of the Year | North Dakota Voters Approve Wildlife | Measure; Other States Vote on Wildlife Initiatives | Fall Mule Deer Counts Encouraging | Game and Fish Issues Ice-Safety Warnings for Aerated-Lakes
Game and Fish Recognizes Employee Efforts (12/20/00)
North Dakota Game and Fish Department director Dean Hildebrand recently honored a number of employees with performance-based and long-term service awards. Hildebrand presented the following awards at the department's annual staff meeting in Bismarck Dec. 8:
- Steve Dyke, conservation supervisor, Bismarck, received the Special Projects award for his work on the Audubon mitigation issue. According to Hildebrand, Dyke's efforts to coordinate the Bureau of Reclamation's purchase of more than 2,000 acres of quality mitigation tracts is a substantial and significant accomplishment. "The complicated process of purchasing habitat tracts for mitigation lands inundated by the construction of Lake Audubon has been a challenge and could have failed at any number of points," Hildebrand added. "Steve's ability to coordinate with department and Bureau of Reclamation staff resulted in the identification and prioritization of key tracts. This project will provide natural resource and public recreation benefits for this and future generations." The Special Projects award is given to a staff member for completing a new project which is on its way to being highly successful.
- Paul Schadewald, chief of administrative services, Jerry Gulke and Randy Meissner, data processing coordinators, Bismarck, were presented the Innovations award, recognizing staff for implementing a process to improve department goals and objectives. They received the award for their efforts in the department's online licensing system. Hildebrand noted more than 10,000 individuals have utilized this system since April, generating nearly $750,000 in license sales. "We expect much greater use of this service by hunters and anglers in 2001," Hildebrand added. "Onliners now have instantaneous access to purchase and print hunting and fishing licenses except lottery issued tags." Starting in 2001, applications for all special licenses issued by lottery, such as deer gun and muzzleloader, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, turkey, pronghorn, and swan, will be available online.
- Kelly Wike, accounting/budget specialist, Bismarck, received the Solid Foundation award, presented to an employee who demonstrates exemplary work in the administrative, technical, or support field. Wike's quality work was recognized, among other duties, for his work in the department's cost tracking system. "He has adjusted to the major changes that are part of our cost tracking system," Hildebrand added. "His cooperative attitude and good nature have made a challenging project much less difficult."
- Doug Leier, outreach biologist, Fargo, received the Public Outreach award, presented to an employee for showing a significant effort, ability, or accomplishment in interacting with the public while promoting the department's programs. "Doug has developed excellent relationships with numerous city leaders and legislators, and provided programs to civic clubs and conservation organizations, farmers and ranchers, school teachers and others numbering more than 5,000 individuals," Hildebrand said. "Leier has also taken a proactive role in developing close ties with the media, allowing the department two weekly radio spots on KFGO and a column in several weekly newspapers in the Red River Valley."
Employees who received long-term service awards:
- 20 years service: Arvid Anderson, assistant wildlife management biologist, Riverdale; Jerry Gulke, data processing coordinator, Bismarck; Morgan Johnson, wildlife technician, Bismarck; Doug Olson, district game warden, Hazen.
- 25 years service: Carl Edgerly, accountant, Bismarck; Stan Kohn, migratory game bird biologist, Bismarck; Gene Van Eeckhout, fisheries biologist, Jamestown.
- 30 years service: Terry Kreiter, chief accountant, Bismarck; Ron Maier, district game warden, Linton; Ted Upgren, Missions in Woodland Habitat director, Bismarck.
- 35 years service: Wilmer Pich, boat and water safety coordinator, Bismarck
- 40 years service: Marlys Berg, accountant technician, Bismarck.
Hendrickson Named G&F Employee of the Year (12/13/00)
Jeff Hendrickson, fisheries biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Riverdale, received the Director's Award for 2000 during the department's annual meeting and awards banquet held last week in Bismarck.
Dean Hildebrand, department director, said Hendrickson's relentless work, advice and recommendations have proven to be invaluable for the best fishery in the state and the Upper Midwest. "When Jeff first started, Lake Sakakawea was in a poor state of affairs," Hildebrand added. "Drought had adversely affected the big lake and water levels were down, coldwater habitat was minimal, and the Missouri River system fishery, although good, was being seriously threatened.
"Jeff assisted in a long-range management plan; he compiled information and developed a well thought out strategy for stocking walleye in areas of Sakakawea where natural reproduction was limited or non-existent," continued Hildebrand. "Without this plan, the walleye fishery would not be what it is today. Additionally, he is responsible for developing what has become a popular and successful cutthroat trout fishery in the Garrison Tailrace."
Hendrickson's accomplishments are many, Hildebrand noted, and the one truly invaluable asset he has is to quickly and accurately provide reliable biological information whenever it is requested. "His recommendations for regulations have been based on good biology," he said. "We've never had to say we're sorry because a regulation didn't work. His predictions have been accurate and strategies have been sound."
Hendrickson graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor of science degree in fisheries and wildlife biology and obtained a master's degree in zoology from North Dakota State University. He started his career with the department in 1991.
Schwan Named Wildlife Officer of the Year (12/13/00)
Brent Schwan, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden at Watford City, is North Dakota's 2000 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Schwan was honored last week by the Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.
In the nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Ray Goetz noted Schwan's dedication to his job, professional image and attitude, and overall relationship with the public. "Warden Schwan has been extremely active in the Warden Outreach Program, where wardens visit fifth grade classrooms in their district," Goetz added. "His area contains a high number of schools, and the percent of participation of these schools in this program is one of the highest in the state."
Goetz also noted that Schwan's district is rich in mule deer, elk and white-tailed deer and contains some of the most impressive habitat in North Dakota. "Warden Schwan has taken command of the needs and challenges in this area," Goetz added. "He has developed a high professional profile in his approach to the law enforcement challenges and has been very successful in solving very difficult and important cases. Prosecution of big game poaching incidents are a high profile concern for the public in this area of the state."
Schwan graduated from Dickinson State University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and accounting. He began his career with the department in 1993 and has been stationed in Fargo and Watford City.
Each of North Dakota's four game warden supervisors annually nominates a warden for the Shikar-Safari award. Supervisors, the chief game warden, and the game and fish director make the final selection.
North Dakota Voters Approve Wildlife Measure; Other States Vote on Wildlife Initiatives (12/6/00)
North Dakota outdoor enthusiasts overwhelmingly passed a constitutional measure to protect fishing, hunting and trapping by a margin of 80 percent to 20 percent.
The measure, which was put on the ballot by the 1999 State Legislature, reads "Hunting, trapping, and fishing, and the taking of game and fish, are a valued part of our heritage, and will be forever preserved for the people and managed by law and regulation for the public good."
Five other states had wildlife-related ballot initiatives on the November ballot. Results show trappers won in Oregon but lost in Washington; Virginia voters approved constitutional protection for hunting; and voters rejected protection for sportsmen in Alaska and Arizona.
Oregon -- Measure 97. Voters defeated an initiative that would have banned trapping by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent.
Washington -- Initiative 713. Voters banned trapping by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin.
Virginia -- Question 2. Voters approved a measure similar to North Dakota's, protecting such outdoors activities as hunting and fishing. It was supported by 61 percent of the voters.
Alaska -- Measure 1. Sportsmen and sportswomen attempted to pass a measure which would have banned wildlife issues from the ballot. Voters rejected the measure 64 percent to 36 percent. In a related issue, voters approved Measure 6, which reinstituted a ban on airborne wolf controls 53 percent to 47 percent. Voters passed a similar ban in 1996, but sportsmen successfully persuaded legislators to overturn the ban allowing wildlife managers to adequately protect other wildlife from a growing wolf population.
Arizona -- Proposition 102. A measure that would have required wildlife issues on an election ballot to receive a two-thirds majority of votes to be passed into law was soundly defeated 38 percent to 62 percent.
Fall Mule Deer Counts Encouraging (12/6/00)Mother Nature played a role during the annual fall mule deer reproduction survey, as North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists could evaluate only slightly more than half of the usual study areas during the October survey.
"Weather during this year's survey was marginal at best," said Mike Oehler, big game biologist, Dickinson, "allowing us to survey only 14 out of a possible 24 study areas."
Observers who accompanied pilots in fixed-wing planes counted 905 mule deer. "If we consider just the study areas that were surveyed in both 1999 and 2000," Oehler said, "we counted 869 mule deer this year and 451 during the 1999 survey, a 93 percent increase in deer observed."
The fawn-to-doe ratio was about the same as in 1999 throughout the badlands' mule deer range, indicating stable recruitment, Oehler said. "What we are seeing is more deer on the landscape," he added, "but the apparent rate at which young are being recruited into the population is similar between years."
Data also suggests there may be more males in the mule deer population this year. "Our 2000 survey supports that notion," Oehler added. "Of the three management units surveyed, one had significantly more males than in 1999, a second was greater, but marginally non-significant, and no difference for the third unit.
"These are positive trends that we are observing for our mule deer population," Oehler continued, "and hopefully the weather will continue to shine on our herd."
Game and Fish Issues Ice-Safety Warnings for Aerated-Lakes (12/6/00)
A number of lakes around the state will have aeration systems operating this winter. Because these systems create weak and dangerous ice, Terry Steinwand, fisheries chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, warns anglers and others planning to go onto aerated lakes to be mindful of the danger.
"Aeration systems are installed in some lakes in an effort to reduce fish kills in winter," Steinwand said. "The danger created by aerators results from continuous flow of water which prevents water from freezing and inhibits formation of strong ice. Anyone planning to go on the ice at these lakes should be aware of the particular hazards posed by these systems."
Aeration systems will be operated by the game and fish department, various wildlife clubs, park boards, and other organizations. Those lakes with game and fish department aerators will be marked with warning signs at commonly-used lake entry points.
Most aeration systems, whether they belong to the department or other entities, will operate throughout the winter.
| LAKE/RESERVOIR | COUNTY | NEARBY CITY |
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant Lake | Dickey | Ellendale |
| Lake Hoskins | McIntosh | Ashley |
| Green Lake | McIntosh | Wishek |
| Dickinson Dike | Stark | Dickinson |
| LAKE/RESERVOIR | COUNTY | NEARBY CITY |
|---|---|---|
| Long Lake | Bottineau | Bottineau |
| Brush Lake | McLean | Mercer |
| Strawberry Lake | McLean | Ruso |
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