News Release Archives- April 2005

The session ended April 23, and 33 of 58 bills affecting the department made it through the house and senate and were signed into law by Gov. John Hoeven.

The new laws take effect Aug. 1, 2005. More information on the hunting and fishing bills is available on the game and fish website, gf.nd.gov/.

"The original plan was to have it lowered 10-12 feet by July 1, but a contractor started work early and should have it down by May 5," Elstad said.

The department's Save Our Lakes program, in conjunction with the Morton County Parks Department, will begin work on the dam July 1, with a completion date scheduled for the end of September.

The SOL project includes removing sediment, resloping 50 percent of the shoreline, building up to 17 earthen fishing piers and installing a walking path along the northeast corner and west side of the lake.

"Access to the lake is going to be difficult as far as fishing is concerned," Elstad said, "but if a person doesn't mind getting muddy, fish will be confined to a smaller area."

Crown Butte is about eight miles west of Mandan along Interstate 94. The 30-acre lake is part of an 84-acre state wildlife management area.

Egeland and Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator, are spearheading a project for recreation areas to have life jackets available for boaters, anglers and jet skiers who have either forgotten, misplaced or just don't have enough life jackets along for an outing.

A life jacket loan kit will be sent to sites interested in the program. Each kit includes nine Type III personal flotation devices, consisting of three infant, three 30-50 pound and three 50-90 pound life jackets.

"The package of loaner PFDs is free, and sites cannot charge to loan out the life jackets," Egeland said. "Public and private entities can apply for the kits, but they are for only lake and river areas, not swimming pools."

Recreation areas interested in becoming part of the program should contact Egeland soon as a limited number of kits are available. He can be reached at 795-3811, or send an email to megeland@state.nd.us.

Ochs Point, approximately 1,000 acres, and Neu's Point, nearly 500 acres, will be managed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and open to public access.

The dedication is from 2-4 p.m. at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Visitor Center, located 20 miles southwest of Williston at the Fort Buford State Historical Site.

A number of conservation organizations collaborated in this project. Project partners include Tim Neu, Ed and Ann Ochs, Tom and Susan Ochs, McKenzie County Commission, Conservation Fund, American Foundation for Wildlife, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, Northern Great Plains Joint Venture, United Sportsmen of North Dakota, Friends of Fort Union, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., North Dakota Game Warden Association, Pheasants Forever, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, North Dakota Wild Turkey Federation and North American Wetlands Conservation Council.

For more information about the dedication contact the Natural Resources Trust at 223-8501.

"Now is the time to register, as nearly 70 percent of the classes take place by the end of May," said Jim Carter, hunter education coordinator.

Access the game and fish home page at gf.nd.gov/, click on the online services tab, and "hunter education." Classes are listed by city, and can also be sorted by start date. To register for a class, click on "enroll" next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required.

"There is still space available in the larger communities, but classes are filling up quickly," Carter said. "If a class is already full and nothing else is available in the local area, hunter ed applicants might have to look in other communities in the county."

There are some classes listed on the website where online enrollment is not an option. In this instance, registration is required by calling the telephone number listed next to the hunter education instructor's name.

Those who do not have access to the internet and want to sign up for a class can call the hunter education division in Bismarck at 328-6615. Registration at retail stores is no longer available.

Persons born after 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license in North Dakota.

Snaggers participating during the snag-and-release-only days will need to have in possession a current season, unused paddlefish snagging tag. Since all fish must be released, the use or possession of gaffs is prohibited on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The following tips can help snaggers ensure a released paddlefish has the best chance of survival.

• Keep the paddlefish in water at all times when handling and removing the treble hook.
• Remove the treble hook gently. A pair of needle-nose pliers can help eliminate problems and speed up the hook removal process.
• Do not sit/kneel on the fish or put fingers in its gills. Be careful of the gills - do not touch, etc. if at all possible.  
• If the fish is deeply hooked, cut the line as close to the fish as possible. Do not yank the treble hook out. Most fish survive with hooks left in them.
• Release the paddlefish immediately, never removing it from the water. To revive a fish, hold it upright in the water and move it back and forth gently so that water is forced over the gill filaments.
• If a picture is taken, it should be of the fish in the water or holding the fish immediately above the water in a horizontal position. Do not take the fish out of the river and hold it upright or lay it on the shoreline.
• On occasion, a paddlefish with a jaw tag is snagged. In these incidences, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department prefers snaggers not try to read and report jaw tag information as any additional stress on the paddlefish is not encouraged.

"It doesn't matter if you are just beginning or are an experienced birder," Williams said.  "Anyone interested in birding will enjoy the field trip."

The outing is open to the first 25 people who call and register. Participants will be going to McKenzie Slough, Long Lake and the Kimball Bottoms area. " North Dakota has a lot of unique bird species," Williams said, "and one doesn't have to venture very far with the good birding spots around the Bismarck area."

Participants for the field trip are asked to bring binoculars, a bird book and a snack, and need to meet at the department at 7 a.m., and can expect to return around noon. The trip is free and transportation will be provided.

Persons interested in signing up for the field trip should contact Williams at 328-6332.

As outdoor activity increases in the spring, so does the risk of wildfires, according to Greg Link, assistant wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. "An increase in human outdoor activity combined with dead ground vegetation and high winds make this time of year highly susceptible to wildfires," Link said.

With 90 percent of wildfires in North Dakota caused by people, it is always important to use common sense and exercise caution while outdoors. "It is also a good idea to carry a cell phone in the vehicle, along with shovels, fire extinguishers, extra water and heavy fabric for putting out fires," Link added. "But don't fight a fire if it is out of control. Instead, contact the fire department immediately."

Because of highly variable weather patterns, North Dakota experiences a distinct spring fire season every year. With that in mind, Link suggests paying attention to the fire danger index, and to follow the appropriate measures.

The daily fire danger index is issued by the National Weather Service to alert the public to conditions that may be conducive to accidental starting or spread of fires. The index can change from day to day depending on temperature, wind and precipitation forecasts. If the index reaches the VERY HIGH or EXTREME category, people should refrain from burning outdoors.

The rangeland fire danger index is issued by the National Weather Service, and is available from local law enforcement agencies, or by accessing the game and fish internet website, gf.nd.gov/.

The snagging season is scheduled to run through May 31, with legal snagging hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. One tag per snagger will be issued. A harvest cap of 1,000 fish may result in the season closing prior to May 31.

Snag-and-release of all paddlefish will be required on Mondays and Tuesdays. Those planning to participate during the snag-and-release-only days will need to have in their possession a current season, unused paddlefish snagging tag. Since all fish on the two catch-and-release days must be released, the use or possession of gaffs is prohibited on Mondays and Tuesdays.

During the other five days of the week, mandatory harvest of all snagged paddlefish is required. The use or possession of a gaff within one half mile in either direction of the Highway 200 bridge on the Yellowstone River is illegal at any time during the snagging season.

Snagging is legal in all areas of the Yellowstone River in North Dakota, and in that area of the Missouri River lying west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the Montana border, excluding that portion from the pipeline crossing (river mile 1,577) downstream to the upper end of the Lewis and Clark Wildlife Management Area (river mile 1,565).

Maps of the open and closed areas are available at all paddlefish tag vendors, and can be accessed on the game and fish website. 

Cost of a paddlefish tag is $3 for residents and $7.50 for nonresidents. Refer to the 2004-2006 North Dakota Fishing Guide for additional information.

Moose, Elk and Bighorn Sheep Lotteries Held 041305
North Dakota's 2005 moose, elk and bighorn sheep lotteries have been held and hopeful applicants can learn their fate by logging on to the State Game and Fish Department's website, gf.nd.gov/.

Individual results can be obtained by accessing "lottery results" in the online services section. Species type and personal information are required.

Notices will be mailed out to successful applicants by the end of April.

Oahe WMA covers more than 16,000 acres along Lake Oahe south of Bismarck-Mandan, in portions of Burleigh, Emmons and Morton counties. Game and fish personnel posted signs at all entrances.

"We've had problems with fire in this area in the past, and we are beginning another spring with a shortage of moisture," Link said. "Add those two factors to an already high traffic area, and the possibility of a fire starting and getting out of control increases."

Wildfires have occurred frequently in the spring on Oahe WMA. In April 2003, a wildfire, started by an unattended campfire, burned 6,500 acres and challenged volunteer firefighting crews for nearly a week. "These river bottom lands are popular and heavily used by outdoor enthusiasts," Link said. "Because these lands carry heavy and contiguous fuel loads prior to green-up, they have greater susceptibility for wildfires.

"We realize the burn ban may be a minor inconvenience to campers and anglers fishing from shore," Link continued. "However, we need to be cautious and reduce the potential of wildfires."

The current registration, which runs from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2007, is a green decal. All boat registrations with a red decal expired Dec. 31, 2004.

Boat registrations can be renewed online at the department's website, gf.nd.gov/. To renew a boat registration, click on the "register a boat" link on the left side of the homepage.

Renewal notices for the current three-year period were mailed in December. Boat owners who have not received a renewal notice, or have misplaced it, should contact the game and fish department at 701-328-6300.

"If your school, Girl Scout, Boy Scout or 4-H club participates in cleaning up these public lands during April and May, each participant will receive a specifically designed conservation patch," said Jeb Williams, game and fish outreach biologist.

Last winter the department sponsored a contest for students ages 6-18 to design a North Dakota Earth Day Patch. Winners in the three age categories were Katie Baumgartner of Strasburg (6-9), Alexa Anderson of Fargo (10-13), and Angela Morford of Bismarck (14-18). Anderson's design was chosen the overall winner, and will be used on this year's Earth Day patch.

Groups taking part in clean-up activities should take the following precautions to ensure safety: keep young people away from highways, lakes and rivers; and only allow older participants to pick up broken glass.

"It is our hope that this project brings awareness to the importance of keeping clean habitats for our fish and wildlife resources," Williams said.

Interested participants are asked to call Bill Jensen (328-6637) or Jeb Williams (328-6332) to receive a reporting form for their project.

Last year nearly 1,100 conservation-minded individuals participated in Earth Day clean-up activities in April and May on state-owned and managed lands in North Dakota.

In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations; certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid; and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.

Hunting outfitter eligibility requirements include the guide qualifications, as well as an individual must have held a hunting guide license for two years; and must have proof of liability insurance.

Interested individuals are required to pre-register by calling 328-6604.

The design is not obligated to meet U.S. Coast Guard approval requirements. The necessary elements should include wearability, reliability, innovation and cost. A retail price of under $25-30 is encouraged.

Entries should be sent to BoatU.S. Foundation, Life Jacket Design Competition, 880 S. Picket St., Alexandria, VA 22304.

For more information access the BoatU.S. Foundation website at boatus.com/foundation/lifejacketdesign.