News and Updates

News Release Archives - June 2001

Service Approves Sandhill Crane Hunting East of Hwy 281 | Spring Grouse Census Tallied | Water Safety Starts with Life Jacket | Department Reports 2000 Waterfowl Harvest | Fall Turkey Applications Due July 3 | Delayed Mowing Benefits Ground-nesting Wildlife | Successful Year for 2000 Upland Game HuntersFall Turkey Season Set; Applications Available | Summer Weather Important to Upland Game Birds | Online Deer Applications Top 11,000 | Game and Fish Reports 2001 Spring Duck Index | Red River Valley Fair Gets "Wild" | Game Warden Exam Set for June 29

Service Approves Sandhill Crane Hunting East of Hwy 281 (6/27/01)
North Dakotans can hunt sandhill cranes east of U.S. Highway 281 for the first time this fall, following recent approval of a three-year trial season by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Season details aren't official yet, according to Mike Johnson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department waterfowl biologist, but the department is working to establish a framework. "We've been working for a number of years with the Central Flyway Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to get this area open for sandhill crane hunting," Johnson said.

The tentative plan divides the state into two zones. Zone 1 would be west of U.S. Highway 281. The daily bag limit for this area would be three birds and a season length of up to 58 days. Zone 2 would be east of U.S. Highway 281. The daily bag limit for Zone 2 would be two birds with a season length of up to 37 days.

Final season details will be available in late July, Johnson said, after the small game proclamation is signed by Governor Hoeven.

Sandhill cranes were first hunted in North Dakota in 1968 in Kidder and Stutsman counties, Johnson said, because that is where most of the cranes were staging. Since that time the crane season has expanded to all of the state west of U.S. Highway 281. "Crane hunting was not established east of U.S. Highway 281 because at the time the management plan was written there were few, if any, cranes in that part of the state," Johnson added. "It was also believed that any cranes that would be encountered there would be the larger and less abundant subspecies, the greater sandhill crane."

In recent years more and more cranes have been found east of U.S. Highway 281. Because of this, the department has been working to change the federal frameworks to allow crane hunting in this part of the state. Part of this work involved collecting a sample of cranes in this area, Johnson said. "During the past three years department personnel collected 114 cranes east of U.S. Highway 281," he added. "Only 40 percent of this sample were found to be greater sandhill cranes. Because of this, the increasing abundance of sandhills in this area, and the current status of the Mid-continent Sandhill Crane Population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Central Flyway Council and North Dakota have agreed that this new season is an appropriate management action."

Spring Grouse Census Tallied (6/27/01)
The 2001 spring sharp-tailed grouse census indicates a decrease in the number of male grouse recorded compared to last year, reports Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at Dickinson.

Statewide, observers counted 3,319 sharptails on spring dancing grounds this year compared to 4,273 in 2000, a decrease of 22 percent. The number of males observed in each district decreased from 11 percent to 35 percent. "Decreases were expected since the age ratio last fall from wing data was 1.32, the lowest since 1993 and far below maintenance level," Kobriger said.

Age ratio is the number of juveniles per adult in the fall harvest, as determined from wings sent in by hunters. An age ratio of 1.9 juveniles per adult is needed to maintain the sharptail population.

The long-term peak hatch week for sharptails has been June 12-18, Kobriger said. "The stormy, wet, cold weather experienced during that period was probably not conducive to good chick survival," he added. "Brood surveys begin the middle of July so by mid-August we should have a fairly good measure of the fall season."

Water Safety Starts with Life Jacket (6/27/01)
Recent hot, humid weather has spurred an interest in lake activities, and with the July 4 celebration approaching, many outdoor enthusiasts will take to the water. As a precaution, parents are urged to make sure children wear a properly-fitted life jacket, reminds Nancy Boldt, North Dakota Game and Fish Department boat and water safety coordinator.

North Dakota law requires all children ages 10 and younger to wear a personal flotation device while in boats of less than 27 feet in length. "The law also requires all personal watercraft users to wear a life jacket," Boldt said, "as well as anyone being towed on waterskis, surfboards or similar devices. Failure to wear a PFD is the main reason people lose their lives in boating accidents."

It is important youngsters wear an appropriately sized and properly fastened life jacket. When purchasing a PFD, take into consideration the most prevalent water activity. Waterskiers and tubers should wear a life jacket with four nylon straps rather than one with a zipper, Boldt said, because straps are stronger than zippers upon impact with water. Anglers or persons paddling a canoe should opt for a PFD that is comfortable enough to wear for an entire outing.

Good U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs for youngsters range from $4.99 to $24.99, with many in the $12-15 range.

Department Reports 2000 Waterfowl Harvest (6/27/01)
North Dakotas waterfowl hunters had another successful year in 2000, reports Mike Johnson, waterfowl biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The duck harvest was 358,400, down from 374,600 birds harvested in 1999, but still the third highest harvest since 1979. The average seasonal bag decreased from 6.1 ducks per hunter to 5.9. Mallards comprised 55 percent of the duck harvest and gadwall 13 percent.

Counties with highest duck harvests and their percentages in 2000: Nelson, 7.8; Stutsman, 7; Ramsey 6.2; McLean, 6; and Burleigh, 5.2.

Goose harvest was also high last year at 270,300 birds, only 400 less than 1999. The average goose bag remained the same at 4.4 geese per hunter. Canada geese made up 64 percent of the harvest, followed by 35 percent snow geese and one percent white-fronts.

Counties with the highest goose harvests were McLean, 8.9 percent; Stutsman, 6.8; Richland, 5.1; Burleigh, 5.1; and Nelson, 5.

A total of 61,000 waterfowl hunters took to the field last year, the same as in 1999. The number of resident hunters decreased from 39,000 to 36,000, while nonresident hunters increased from 22,000 to 25,000.

The average hunter spent four days each hunting ducks and geese.

The annual harvest of ducks and geese is determined by a mail survey of nearly 9,000 randomly selected small game and waterfowl hunters, Johnson said.

Fall Turkey Applications Due July 3 (6/27/01)
Applications for this fall's turkey season must be in the mail and postmarked before midnight July 3, reminds Carrie Whitney, licensing supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Lottery applications are available at game and fish offices, license vendors and county auditors. Persons can also submit a lottery application online at the game and fish internet website, gf.nd.gov/, or by calling 1-800-406-6409. Gratis applications are available only at game and fish and county auditors' offices.

Individuals mailing applications to the department are advised to mail early because some post offices use the following day's postmark for mail received after regular hours. The department's online application feature will be deactivated July 3 at midnight central standard time.

Delayed Mowing Benefits Ground-nesting Wildlife (6/20/01)
When people seek ideas on how they can help game birds and other ground-nesting wildlife during early summer, one recommendation the State Game and Fish Department makes is to delay mowing roadside ditches until after July 15, reports Andy Schollett, private lands biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

"It doesn't matter if it means cutting hay or mowing ditches," Schollett said, "waiting until July 15 will give species like pheasants, ducks and songbirds a chance to complete nesting and allow the young-of-the-year a chance to elude farm machinery."

After the storms and wet weather during early June, Schollett mentioned, some hens may have lost nests and will be initiating new nests soon. "This means they will need all the undisturbed areas for nesting they can get as their nesting chores go even later into the summer.

"Landowners who delay or wait to mow until mid-July may sacrifice a little quality in their hay," he added, "but the number of young game birds and songbirds that benefit is worth the trade-off."

Birds found to nest along rights-of-way include several species of ducks, shore birds, mourning doves, Hungarian partridge and pheasants. Federal regulations prohibit plowing and cropping of rights-of-way along any road on which federal funds have been expended.

Successful Year for 2000 Upland Game Hunters (6/20/01)
Partridge and grouse hunters had successful seasons last fall, as harvests for Hungarian partridge and sharp-tailed grouse increased 23 percent, and sage grouse increased an overwhelming 100 percent from 1999, according to Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Dickinson.

Last season's partridge harvest was 50,910, up from 41,452 in 1999. Number of hunters was up eight percent to 22,470, compared to 20,858 in 1999. Kill per hunter increased from 1.99 to 2.27.

Counties with highest partridge harvest percentage in 2000: Morton, 7.3; Hettinger, 5.7; Stark, 5.7; Stutsman, 4.2; and Grant, 4.1.

The 2000 sharp-tailed grouse harvest was 125,006, up from 101,564 in 1999. Number of hunters last year was 33,573, up from 33,425 in 1999. Kill per hunter increased from 3.04 to 3.72.

Counties with highest sharptail harvests and their percentages: Morton, 7.3; McKenzie, 5.9; Stutsman, 5.7; Grant, 5.1; and Mercer, 4.4.

Sage grouse hunters harvested 58 birds last year, up from 29 in 1999. Number of hunters increased to 108, up from 103 in 1999. Kill per hunter increased from .28 to .54.

Partridge and sharptail statistics are based on a small game questionnaire survey of 4,340 resident hunters. Sage grouse numbers are based on a postcard survey given to hunters during the sage grouse season.

Fall Turkey Season Set; Applications Available (6/13/01)
A total of 6,510 wild turkey licenses are available for the 2001 fall hunting season, an increase of 510 from last year, reports Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Additional changes in the fall turkey proclamation include three new units and two unit boundary changes.

New hunting units are Unit 3, comprised of portions of Ramsey, Benson, Towner and Pierce counties; Unit 31, Mountrail County; and Unit 41, portions of Richland and Sargent counties south of ND Highway 13.

Two units with boundary changes are Unit 51, reduced to only portions of Burke, Renville and Ward counties; and Unit 98, expanded to include all of Burleigh County and that part of McLean County west of US Highway 83.

Lottery applications are available at game and fish offices, license vendors and county auditors. Persons can also apply by calling 1-800-406-6409. A credit card is required. Gratis applications are available only at game and fish and county auditors' offices.

Persons can also print out an application, or submit a lottery application online at the game and fish Internet web site, gf.nd.gov/. Regular application fees apply and no service charge is added. Visa, Discover and MasterCard are accepted.

The application deadline is July 3. Applicants are urged to mail early because some post offices use the following day's postmark if mailed after regular hours. The department's online application feature will be deactivated July 3 at midnight central standard time.

Summer Weather Important to Upland Game Birds (6/13/01)
When people ask about game bird populations, most of the talk is centered on how the birds fared during the winter. Summer is just as important, but often isn't mentioned.

Recent heavy rains mixed with hail in some parts of North Dakota most likely produced some localized mortality on upland game birds, but biologists won't know the complete picture until they have a chance to survey birds over the coming months, reports Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Heavy, intense rainstorms will cause problems for ground-nesting birds, Kreil said, but he believes storms on June 9-10 occurred early enough in the nesting season to cause minimal harm. "Probably only 15 percent of the pheasant broods have been hatched," he said.

The next three weeks are important, Kreil noted. Cool temperatures and wet weather during the hatching and early brood-rearing period can significantly reduce reproductive success for upland game birds, especially pheasants and gray partridge. "Most people remember the summer of 1993 when the state experienced heavy rains and unseasonably cool temperatures in late June and early July," Kreil added. "The impact to upland game bird populations was devastating, especially gray partridge."

Waterfowl tend to handle these conditions better than upland game birds, Kreil mentioned. "We need to hope for warm, dry weather until mid-July."

Online Deer Applications Top 11,000 (6/13/01)
More than 10 percent of North Dakota's hopeful deer hunters used the convenience of the State Game and Fish Department's online application feature during the recent application period. While the number of total applicants isn't yet known, the department does know that 11,175 hunters applied online at the agency's web site, gf.nd.gov/, according to Randy Meissner, department information technology coordinator.

About 10 percent of prospective spring turkey, moose, elk and bighorn sheep hunters applied over the Internet, Meissner said, while the online deer application rate could reach 13 percent or more.

The game and fish department received a positive response from users, and only a few reports of technical problems. "We received numerous comments on how fast and easy it was to submit an application," Meissner said. "However, we did have to make a number of changes afterward with invalid social security and hunter education numbers. It is important people double-check everything before pressing submit. Once an application goes through, it gets processed as entered."

The online procedure will not be available for the second deer drawing, because those applications are mailed directly to everyone unsuccessful in the initial lottery. "It will be available for the third and fourth drawings, as well as fall turkey, swan and pronghorn," Meissner said.

With more and more people expected to apply online for future lottery license drawings, the department is already evaluating ways to make the system more user-friendly. "We are looking at a few possibilities with billing and e-mail notification," Meissner said, "as well as allowing applicants to go back to check their application."

Game and Fish Reports 2001 Spring Duck Index (6/1/01)
North Dakota has a record number of breeding mallards in 2001, according to the recent spring breeding duck survey conducted annually by the State Game and Fish Department.

Results of this spring's survey also indicate a 14 percent increase in the population index for all ducks from 2000, reports Mike Johnson, waterfowl biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The 54th annual spring survey, conducted May 14-19, showed an index of almost 4.3 million birds, 129 percent above the 1948-2000 average. The 2001 duck index is the second highest on record, compared to last year's index that was the fifth highest recorded.

Duck indices were up from 2000 for mallard, shoveler, pintail, canvasback and scaup. Mallards increased 42 percent, shovelers 49 percent, pintails 70 percent, canvasbacks eight percent and scaup 47 percent. All species were well above the 1948-2000 mean, and the mallard index exceeding the previous high in 1997 by 24 percent.

The survey is conducted by biologists driving more than 1,800 miles on eight routes spread across the state running from the Canadian to South Dakota border. "We count all ducks and water areas within 220 yards of roadway," Johnson said. "This large sample gives indices from which we can compare year-to-year changes and the long-term trends of habitat conditions and waterfowl numbers."

The 2001 water index increased 65 percent from 2000, and was 51 percent above the 1948-2000 average. "This spring's water index was the eighth highest since 1948," Johnson added. "A significant portion of the increase in water was in temporary and seasonal wetlands in the eastern part of the state."

Reports indicate that South Dakota has good duck numbers and Minnesota remains stable. The prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta are reported to be very dry, while the prairie/parklands may show more normal water conditions, Johnson said.

"The July brood survey will give us a better idea of duck production, and a better insight into what to expect this fall," Johnson said. "From what we have seen, production should be good."

Red River Valley Fair Gets "Wild" (6/1/01)
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will once again host thousands of visitors to its display at the Red River Valley Fair June 15-24. Visitors will be treated to an array of exhibits and useful information as the building will be staffed from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. daily, according to Doug Leier, department outreach biologist, West Fargo.

A major draw at the game and fish display is a live diorama of fish found in eastern North Dakota. "Catfish, walleye, sauger and other species will allow visitors to see just exactly what kind of fish are found in North Dakota waters," Leier said.

Department certified hunter safety instructors will be on hand to assist with a youth air rifle gallery from 6-8 p.m. June 15-17 and 22-23. "This will enable youth to learn about gun safety and test their marksmanship in a controlled environment," Leier said.

Various exhibits ranging from moose antlers and watchable wildlife to information on conservation and organizations will also fill the exhibit hall.

Game Warden Exam Set for June 29 (6/1/01)
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has scheduled an examination to select candidates for the position of district game warden. The test will be given at 10 a.m., June 29, at the department's main office in Bismarck.

Applicants must register to take the exam by submitting a letter of intent to chief game warden Ray Goetz, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095. Letters of intent must be submitted before 5 p.m., June 25.

Game warden applicants must be at least 21 years of age and in good physical condition. Work requires the ability to perform physically demanding tasks involving lifting and carrying large, heavy objects, walking and running over uneven terrain, and tolerating adverse weather and other environmental conditions.

Game wardens enforce game and fish laws and related regulations in an assigned district and other locations as determined by the department. Wardens normally work alone under varied conditions, some of which are adverse, at all hours of the day, night, and weekends. In addition to law enforcement duties, wardens assist with other programs such as hunter and boater safety education, as well as assisting other divisions in the department.

The position requires a bachelor's degree, preferably in criminal justice or one of the biological sciences. Applicants must be a licensed North Dakota peace officer, or be eligible to be licensed, and must possess a valid driver's license.

Highest scoring applicants on the exam will be selected for interview. Selection procedures include an evaluation of the application, a structured oral interview and reference checks, and psychological and medical examinations. Successful applicants are then placed on the list for future game warden openings.

The salary range for beginning game wardens is $2,203-3,671 per month. Travel allowance, uniforms, and other equipment are provided.

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