News Release Archives- July 2004

Season structures, bag limits and other restrictions are similar to 2003. The only exceptions are a change in the dates for the sage grouse season, and the addition of an experimental prairie grouse season in two areas of eastern North Dakota.

"These changes have been the subject of discussion at game and fish advisory board meetings over the past 18 months," Kreil said. "The public has overwhelmingly supported both of these changes."

The sage grouse season has been moved to a later date in September to reduce the amount of hunting pressure on adult females. "Harvest records indicate the later the season the less hunting mortality occurs on adult females," Kreil said.

For the first time since 1945, North Dakotans will have an opportunity to harvest prairie chickens. A nine-day hunting season is scheduled for Oct. 9-17 in Grand Forks County and another area in southeastern North Dakota. "These areas have been closed to the hunting of both prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse for many years," Kreil said.

In accordance with state law, nonresidents are not allowed to hunt on game and fish department wildlife management areas or Conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) Areas from Oct. 9-15.

Season structures for nonresident waterfowl hunters will be the same as in 2003, Kreil said. Nonresident waterfowl hunting licenses will only be issued through the department's Bismarck office, web site (gf.nd.gov/), and instant licensing telephone number (800-406-6409).

Other nonresident waterfowl licensing details include:

• No limit on the number of nonresident waterfowl licenses available for the 2004 season.
• The state is again divided into three zones with the boundaries the same as in 2003.
• Nonresident waterfowl hunters are restricted to a maximum of 14 days, of which no more than one seven-day period may be used in Zone 1 or Zone 2.
• Zone 1 or 2 hunters who wish to use the full 14 consecutive days must use the other seven days in zone 3.
• Nonresidents cannot hunt both zones 1 and 2 during the season.
• Zone 3 hunters can hunt in that zone the entire 14 days.
• Nonresidents who only hunt waterfowl in North Dakota for one week and want to maximize their hunting opportunities can choose to run their two 7-day periods at the same time. To do this, hunters must choose either zone 1 or 2, and select zone 3 for the same 7-day period. By designating both of these options for the same week the 14 day total is met.

As in 2003, should federal frameworks allow for an early waterfowl opener, the first seven days will be open to residents only. This and other details will be finalized as usual in the waterfowl amendment to the small game and furbearer proclamation following final federal framework decisions.

Hunters should refer to the North Dakota 2004-2005 Small Game and Furbearer Guide (available early August) for more details on small game and furbearer seasons. Waterfowl regulations will be finalized in mid August, with regulations available the end of the month.

Licenses remain for the following units: Unit 03, portions of Benson, Towner, Pierce and Ramsey counties, 92 licenses; Unit 04, portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties south of Interstate 94, 159; Unit 06, Bowman County, 32; Unit 13, Dunn County, 334; Unit 15, Emmons County, 50; Unit 17, portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties north of Interstate 94, 704; Unit 19, Grant and Sioux counties and a portion of Morton County, 128; Unit 21, Hettinger and Adams counties, 48; Unit 25, McHenry County and portions of Pierce and Ward counties, 124; Unit 27, McKenzie County, 560; Unit 31, Mountrail County, 43; Unit 44, Slope County, 66; Unit 45, Stark County, 65; Unit 51, Burke County and portions of Renville, Bottineau and Ward counties, 131; and Unit 99, Mercer and Oliver counties, 29.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply. Individuals can apply online, or print out an application for mailing, at the game and fish internet web site gf.nd.gov/. Applications are also available from the department's Bismarck office and county auditors. There is no limit to the number of licenses a person can receive.

North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. Persons can apply at the game and fish internet web site gf.nd.gov/ and submit a lottery application online, or to print out an application for mailing. Regular license fees apply and no service charge is added.

Applications are also available from game and fish offices, county auditors and license vendors, or by calling 1-800-406-6409. A service fee is added for license applications made over the phone.

The statewide tundra swan hunting season is Oct. 2 - Dec. 12. A total of 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will be issued a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl license is valid.

Individuals are encouraged to apply online at gf.nd.gov/. Applications are also available at county auditors, license vendors and game and fish offices, or by calling 1-800-406-6409.

Persons 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 at gf.nd.gov/ will be deactivated Aug. 4 at midnight.

Pronghorn Season Proposed, Applications Available 072104
North Dakota's pronghorn population is on the increase and that means more licenses are recommended for hunters this fall, according to Bruce Stillings, big game biologist for the State Game and Fish Department, Dickinson.

The statewide pronghorn estimate increased from slightly under 10,000 in 2003 to nearly 12,000 this year. "The increase was due in large part to more animals in the Slope management region," Stillings said.

Because of the population increase, game and fish is proposing 2,510 pronghorn licenses in 2004, 880 more than last year. A total of 17 gun and bow hunting units are under consideration, one more than last year. In addition, doe/fawn licenses are recommended in nine units this year, up from only two units in 2003.

Boundary changes are suggested for two units. Hunting unit 6A was reduced in size from 2003 to include only the area south of N.D. Highway 21 and the Cannonball River, and east of N.D. highways 8 and 12 to the Missouri River. Unit 11A is a new hunting unit and covers land south of Interstate 94, east of N.D. Highway 8 to the Missouri River, and north of N.D. Highway 21 and the Cannonball River.

Prospective hunters are encouraged to apply online, or print out an application to mail, at the game and fish internet web site, gf.nd.gov/. Regular license fees apply and no service charge is added.

Applications are also available from game and fish offices, county auditors and license vendors, or by calling 1-800-406-6409. A service fee is added for license applications made over the phone.

Deadline for submitting applications is Wednesday, Aug. 4. Mailed applications must be postmarked before midnight. Hand-delivered applications are due at the department's Bismarck office by 5 p.m. Applications should be mailed early because some post offices use the following day's postmark if received after office hours.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible for pronghorn gun licenses. Archery season is open to residents and nonresidents. Gun season dates are Oct. 1 (noon) - Oct. 17. Pronghorn bow season runs Sept. 3 (noon) - Oct. 10.

An experimental prairie grouse hunting season will be held Oct. 9-17 in two hunting zones, one in Grand Forks County and the other in southeastern North Dakota. Fifty permits will be awarded to resident hunters in each zone. The season limit is two prairie grouse, which may be a combination of sharp-tailed grouse or prairie chicken.

To apply, hunters need to send a postcard, addressed to Prairie Chicken Application - containing their name, address and phone number - to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, N.D. 58501.

Deadline for applying is Aug. 11. Applicants must be legally licensed to hunt. Successful applicants will be notified through the mail.

The new restriction takes place immediately at the OWLS Pond, which is located directly west of the department's main office. Pathway Pond, located at the north end of the state fairgrounds, becomes catch-and-release only immediately after conclusion of the state fair on July 31. Signs will be posted at both entrances.

"Since they are such small ponds they can't withstand the substantial harvest," Steinwand said. "And because natural reproduction of fish species stocked in the ponds doesn't occur, they essentially are stock-and-take lakes."

When the ponds were first built they were catch-and-release only, because the intent was to provide a fishing opportunity for everyone to enjoy, Steinwand said. "About four years ago we lifted the catch-and-release restriction because we felt the pressure and harvest wasn't substantial enough to warrant such a restriction," he added. "Additionally, some of the fish weren't making it through the hard winters. So rather than let the resource be wasted we felt we should let anglers harvest and use them."

In the past few years, department officials noticed a change in harvest by anglers using the ponds. "We don't have the resources to stock the lakes on a daily or even monthly basis. So in order to provide a quality fishing experience for all who fish these lakes, we decided to make them catch-and-release only," Steinwand said. "This will mandate the return to the water of any fish caught, making it available for the next angler that comes along."

Birding, wildlife and nature are all featured in a variety of workshops and seminars including nature landscaping, wildflower identification, birding by ear, butterfly identification, edible wild plants, raptor identification, shorebirds, and live birds of prey. Hands-on activities for youngsters are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 7.

Guided bird walks and tours of Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge and Sullys Hill National Game Preserve are also offered during the festival.

The festival is free and open to the public. For more information and to pre-register for classes, tours and workshops contact Sullys Hill Wildlife Refuge Society, PO Box 286, Fort Totten, N.D. 58335; 701-766-4272; fwssully@stellarnet.com; www.sullyshillbirdfest.com.

Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is located southwest of Devils Lake near Fort Totten, North Dakota. It has long been recognized as one of state's natural treasures, having been set aside as a national park by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, and continuing in that capacity until 1931 when it was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Features include a 4.5 mile auto tour through a big game enclosure and a 1.5 mile self-guided nature trail running through wooded terrain.

Unsuccessful applicants in the first drawing will be mailed a blue application with a July 28 deadline. Hunters who have not yet applied, or who want to apply for a second, third or fourth license, have to submit a third lottery ivory-colored application by August 11.

The 2004 deer hunting proclamation allows hunters to purchase an unrestricted number of additional antlerless licenses in specific units as long as licenses are available. After the third lottery application procedure, any remaining licenses will be issued on a first come, first serve basis for hunters who want more than four deer gun licenses.

Hunters can use additional doe licenses during the archery season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzle-loader; or during the muzzle-loader season with a muzzle-loader. These licenses must be used for antlerless deer only, and hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

Interested hunters can print out an application, or submit a lottery application online beginning July 15 at the game and fish internet web site, gf.nd.gov/. Applications are also available from North Dakota Game and Fish offices, county auditors and license vendors.

Mailed applications must be postmarked by midnight of the respective deadline. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The leftover license fee for nonresident hunters is $55. The regular deer gun season starts at noon Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 21.

The workshop is directed toward women at least 18 years old who want to learn more about outdoor activities.

Eighteen different seminars are offered, each of which lasts more than three hours. Sessions contain 45 minutes of lecture with the remainder dedicated to hands-on instruction. Participants are limited to four sessions, and each session has room for 12 women.

Classes offered include basic and advanced fishing and hunting skills, bird identification, plant identification, canoeing, predator calling, field dressing a deer, handling and cooking game, decoy carving, GPS and waterfowl identification.

Participants will stay in dorms and must provide their own bedding and towels. All camp facilities are handicap accessible. Equipment will be provided unless noted in course description.

"The purpose of the museum is to honor those officers who have given their lives to protect our natural resources, and to educate the public on the need for conservation and resource protection," said Richard Knapp, game warden supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Jamestown.

Museum Day activities begin with a dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. July 21 at the International Peace Gardens - located on N.D. Highway 3 at the border between Dunseith, North Dakota and Boissevain, Manitoba. The ceremony is followed by a 5k torch run/walk sponsored by the Federal Wildlife Officers Association. Those who do not participate in the torch run will be entertained by Pierre Bottineau, an early frontiersman from the area. The North Dakota Game Wardens Association will conclude the day's events with a barbecue beginning at 4 p.m. All proceeds go toward the museum project.

Celebration events are prepared based on reservations. Interested individuals who wish to participate in the ceremony and barbecue should complete a registration form at www.gamewardenmuseum.org, or call Dwayne Strate at 204-734-3429.

Museum Day is sponsored by the North Dakota Game Wardens Association, and is being held in conjunction with the NAWEOA Conference in Winnipeg. The North Dakota Game Wardens Association is the largest contributor to the museum, raising more than $150,000 through its moose license raffle.

The department has several tagged-fish projects ongoing across the state this summer. While each project has a different purpose, they all rely on angler cooperation to produce meaningful results, according to Jeff Hendrickson, fisheries biologist at the game and fish district office in Riverdale.

Anglers should access the game and fish web site and click on the fishing link, scroll down to "report a tagged fish" and simply enter the information requested. Report forms are also available at all game and fish offices.

The online procedure speeds up the entire process, Hendrickson said. "All computer-generated questions are complete when submitted," he added. "Sometimes the handwritten forms are not legible or are incomplete, and then we have to try to contact the angler to finish the report."

Fish tags come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Anglers who catch a tagged fish are asked to record the type of fish, tag number, when and where it was caught, who caught it, and if the fish was kept or released. Any specific information is considered confidential.