News Release Archives- May 2005

"The law really didn't change, we just cleaned up the language a little bit by applying more specific standards," said Robert Timian, law enforcement chief for the State Game and Fish Department.

Previously, the BUI regulation was more generic - it was illegal to operate a motorboat or vessel while intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotic drug, barbiturate or marijuana. "There was the possibility of some loop holes," Timian said. "Now everything is clearly stated."

Senate Bill 2141, signed into law by Gov. John Hoeven, went into effect May 1, and makes it illegal for someone to operate a motorboat or vessel, or manipulate water skis, a surfboard or similar device, if any of the following apply:

• A person has a blood alcohol concentration level of at least .10 at the time of a chemical test.
• A person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
• A person is under the influence of any drug or substance or combination of drugs or substances to a degree which renders that person incapable of safely operating a motorboat or vessel.
• A person is under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drugs or substances to a degree which renders that person incapable of safely operating a motorboat or vessel.

In addition, the bill also changes the administrative penalty for offenses that result in suspension of privileges during the boating season. Previously, a 90-day suspension for boating under the influence could have been administered at any time during the year. With SB 2141, the penalty now must be served between May 1 and October 1.

"For the suspension to have any meaning, it should occur at the time of the year when you can actually operate a boat," Timian said.

If the person is unable to serve the full prohibition within the time period in any given year, Timian said, the person must serve the remaining portion of the suspension during the same time period in the subsequent year.

These defenses, however, are sometimes not enough to protect fawns from wild predators or well-intentioned humans who "rescue" the animals from their tallgrass hideaways because they appear to have been abandoned by their mothers. In most cases - be it white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits or some other species - the young haven't been deserted, and mom is likely watching discretely nearby, waiting for intruders to move on.

It's illegal to take wild animals home, and captive animals later returned to the wild, biologists say, will struggle to survive because they do not possess learned survival skills. The best advice - and this goes for all wild baby animals - is to not touch them.

Most of the time, young animals found alone are not abandoned, reports Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department outreach biologist. "Young wildlife are purposely placed into seclusion by their mothers to protect them from predators."

A doe will often move her young twice a day for about the first month of life, trying to stay one step ahead of predators. She will also visit a couple times a day to nurse. These visits are short, reducing the chance of her young being discovered.

A fawn that is touched, biologists say, will be taken back by its mother. But a fawn that is removed by humans from the wild faces a bleak future. "While we understand and are sympathetic to one's feelings on this issue," Williams added, "the best advice we can offer is to let Mother Nature work."

Female rabbits make a nest by scraping out a shallow depression in the ground, lining it with grasses and fur. Young are born naked, blind and nearly helpless. But they develop rapidly, enabling mom to move from the nest to eat. So, if you stumble upon a hideout of cute bunnies, move on because mom, like the whitetail doe, will be back.

The same care should be afforded to neighborhood-nesting songbirds. If a young falls, or is pushed from its nest, it should be left alone. Biologists say the only time a person should pick up a baby songbird is if it's found on their doorstep. Then it should be moved nearby to suitable habitat.

Handling wildlife is risky as wild animals can transmit a variety of diseases to humans, and aggressive actions are typical of mothers protecting their offspring.

Motorists are also reminded to watch for deer along roadways. June and November are the peak months for deer-vehicle accidents because young animals are dispersing from their home ranges. With deer more active during these months, the potential for car-deer collisions increases.

Things happen in the wild for a reason. Young are purposefully isolated from their caregivers to be given a better chance to dodge animals that want to eat them. And sometimes, despite the best nature-made camouflage and nearly odorless beginnings, the cute are found.

"We met our goal, but it was one of our longest seasons because of the weather," Weigel said. "The walleye spawn was especially difficult because of cold, windy days."

The weather cooperated for the northern pike take, as the spawning run occurred relatively fast because of warm days in April. "Eggs were equally split between Lake Ashtabula and Devils Lake," Weigel said, "and the quality was good."

After hatching, fry were stocked in hatchery production ponds, and will be distributed as fingerlings to waters around the state by the end of May.

Even though fisheries crews surpassed their goal by collecting 48 million walleye eggs, weather conditions from late April to mid-May didn't make it easy. "It was not a good run because of poor weather conditions," Weigel said. "There was never a calm day. Our crews were constantly fighting cold temperatures and windy conditions."

Crews were able to take 27 million eggs from Lake Sakakawea, and 21 million from Devils Lake. "Working conditions led to few eggs, which is why we had to be out there almost a month to achieve our goal," Weigel said. "Water temperatures dropped more than 10 degrees in a week, and when you have a water temperature of 39 degrees the first week in May, it really works against the walleye spawn."

Despite the weather, fisheries crews were able to come to the aid of another state by taking extra eggs. " Pennsylvania put out a request for help because they had a difficult year and couldn't meet their stocking needs," Weigel said. "They have been such a great partner, providing us with fingerling tiger muskie for a number of years."

It's not unusual for other states to put in a call to North Dakota for help, Weigel said. "We are the last of the lower 48 states to take walleye eggs," he added. "We have developed good relationships with other states. The help goes both ways."

That is the weekend North Dakota residents may fish without a license, except for paddlefish. All other fishing regulations apply.

Refer to the 2004-06 North Dakota Fishing Guide for season information.

The funding is used by the department to support conservation programs such as fish and wildlife monitoring, habitat improvement, acquisition of land for habitat conservation and species protection, research, education, and other programs. The money also helps pay for hunter safety, aquatic education, and fish and wildlife-related recreation projects. The funds are apportioned by a formula under two federal assistance programs: Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration. Federal assistance funds pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of each project while the states contribute at least 25 percent.

Hunters and anglers might not realize the importance of excise taxes generated from the sale of hunting and fishing equipment - including firearms, ammunition and fishing rods, said Dean Hildebrand, Game and Fish director. "The funding provided by those who hunt and fish protects our resources," Hildebrand said. "This ensures that future generations can experience the wonders of fishing and hunting many of us have taken for granted. Habitat creation and protection provides the foundation for all things wild and free. We can't make this happen without the help of those who use our precious natural resources."

The total 2005 Wildlife Restoration apportionment for all state and territorial agencies is more than $235 million, with more than $46 million dedicated to hunter education and shooting range programs. Sport fish restoration support for 2005 totals nearly $295 million.

Wildlife Restoration funds are made available to states based on land area (land plus inland waters, such as lakes and large rivers) and the number of hunting license holders in each state. Distribution of hunter education funds is based on the relative population of each state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributes sport fish restoration funds to the states based on the land and water area (land plus inland water, plus the Great Lakes and marine coastal areas) and the number of fishing license holders in each state.

Wildlife Restoration is guided by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. States use Wildlife Restoration Program funds to manage wildlife populations and habitat; conduct research, surveys and inventories; and to administer hunter education programs.

Sport Fish Restoration is guided by the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on sport fishing equipment and tackle, trolling motors, motorboat and small engine fuels, and pleasure boats. States use Sport Fish Restoration Program funds to stock fish; acquire and improve sport fish habitat; provide aquatic resource education opportunities; conduct fisheries research; and build boat ramps, fishing piers and other facilities necessary to provide recreational boating access.

Holiday and weekend traffic can lead to crowded boat ramps, and boaters are urged to exercise patience and plan accordingly when taking a boat to the lake this summer. "A few necessary steps can make launching and loading boats a smooth process," according to Nancy Boldt, North Dakota Game and Fish Department boat and water safety coordinator.

The department received a number of complaints last year about overly aggressive behavior at boat ramps, Boldt said. "It could become an even bigger problem this year because there are fewer ramps available at certain lakes," Boldt added. "The big thing is, if you see someone struggling with their boat, help."

When launching a boat, don't pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch. Prepare the boat in the parking area by removing covers, loading equipment, removing tie downs, and attaching lines. When ready, pull into line and wait your turn. Have one person handle the boat and one take care of the tow vehicle to speed up the process. Launch on the designated side of the ramp.

When it is time to load the boat, know which side of the ramp is designated for loading. Don't block the loading area with your boat until your tow vehicle is ready to load. Wait until you are clear of the launch area to unload gear. As soon as your trailer is in the water, load and secure your boat to the trailer. Remove the boat and trailer from the water as quickly as possible. Get clear of the ramp, and pull into the parking area to finish securing your boat and unload gear.

Biologists counted 2,883 mule deer in 24 study areas, according to Bruce Stillings, department big game biologist, Dickinson. Density of mule deer per square mile was 9.9, up from 8.4 in 2004. The density of mule deer in 2005 was also higher than the long-term average of six mule deer per square mile.

Biologists surveyed 291 square miles during the spring count. The 2005 spring mule deer index is reflective of last year's good production, a mild winter in mule deer territory, and a conservative, yet responsible harvest strategy, Stillings said.

Last fall, 2,272 rifle hunters harvested 1,865 pronghorns, an 82 percent success rate. Hunters harvested 1,361 bucks and 504 does.

Pronghorn hunters spent an average of two days in the field last fall. Seventeen gun hunting units were open.
A total of 1,331 archery hunters tagged 213 pronghorns, a 16 percent success rate.

Last year's total is above the average annual swan harvest of 636. The highest number of swans taken was 870 in 1997, compared to a low of 191 in 1988, when fewer tags were available.

While the game and fish department allocates 2,200 licenses, only 2,061 were issued last year. An estimated 1,564 hunters actually participated - 902 were residents and 662 were from out-of-state. The average number of days afield was four days per hunter. Hunter success was 46 percent.

The five counties with the highest number of swans taken were McLean, Pierce, Divide, McHenry and Burleigh.

The 2004-06 fishing proclamation allows for the Director of the Game and Fish Department to close the snagging season, with a 60-hour public notice, if it appears more than 1,000 paddlefish will be harvested. If the season had remained open through the intended closing date of May 31, the harvest cap of 1,000 fish may have been exceeded substantially, putting additional pressure on the existing population.

Once again, low Missouri and Yellowstone River flows in May have kept the fish in North Dakota and have made them extremely vulnerable to harvest. The season was also shortened in 2001, 2002 and 2004 due to high harvest of paddlefish, in large part due to the low river flows.

Paddlefish snagging is a unique opportunity in North Dakota. Most participants want to see it continue and support the early closure in order to have future opportunity to participate in this activity, said Terry Steinwand, chief of the fisheries division.

Test results for CWD on more than 1,900 wild deer and 26 elk collected from hunters during the 2004 hunting season are negative, according to Greg Link, department assistant wildlife chief.

Samples for CWD testing were sent to the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab last December, and game and fish officials were notified of the results Wednesday. "This is good news," Link said. "However, continued vigilance is the key to managing this disease and we won't be letting our guard down. We're already in the process of setting up next hunting season's sampling effort."

Samples from hunter-harvested deer were taken from animals last fall in six of the eight CWD surveillance units in the state. The six units cover most of the state, except for a couple of units in the southeast where sampling in previous years achieved the statistical quota. "The efforts from hunters, fur buyers, meat processors, our staff and other agencies have been tremendous," Link said. "We're very appreciative of their cooperation and assistance."

The goal of the Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program is to obtain a statistically significant sample (458 animals) in each surveillance unit within a two-year period, Link said. "Over the last three years, the entire state has been sampled," he added. "In all but one surveillance unit in northeastern North Dakota, we've obtained and tested enough samples to say with a high degree of confidence that CWD is likely not present."

Since 2002, more than 4,000 deer and 80 elk have tested negative for CWD. To date, CWD has not been diagnosed in wild or farmed deer or elk in North Dakota.

"We will continue to be aggressive in our monitoring efforts and support for CWD research," Link said, while noting the department will continue to monitor and collect suspect deer and elk, including road-killed animals, throughout the year.

Chronic wasting disease affects the nervous system of white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

Applications are being accepted for the 11th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop held Aug. 19-21 at Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau. The cost is $120 with an Aug. 1 registration deadline. Enrollment is limited to 100 participants.

The workshop is directed at women at least 18 years old who want to learn more about outdoor activities, according to Nancy Boldt, BOW program director.

The workshop offers 27 different seminars, each of which lasts more than three hours. Classes are held outdoors, and each session contains 45 minutes of lecture with the remainder dedicated to hands-on instruction. "Each session has room for 12 women," Boldt said, "so each person gets a lot of help and technical assistance."

Participants are limited to four sessions. New classes offered this workshop include birds and their nests, beginning bow hunting, big game 101 and introduction to rifles.

Participants can also choose from mainstays such as fishing and fly-fishing classes, bird identification, plant identification, canoeing, predator calling, decoy carving, GPS adventure, archery, handling and cooking game, shotgunning and black powder.

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.

To receive an information brochure and enrollment form, contact Nancy Boldt, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 or call 701-328-6312, email: nboldt@state.nd.us, or visit the game and fish web site at gf.nd.gov/.

Workshop sponsors include North Dakota Parks and Recreation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Safe Boating Week is an annual week-long event emphasizing the need for boaters to wear a personal flotation device, more commonly called life jackets. Failure to wear a PFD is the main reason people lose their lives in boating accidents.

Nationwide, each year on average 700 people die in boating-related accidents. Nearly 70 percent are caused by drowning, and eight out of 10 victims were not wearing a life jacket. North Dakota reported four fatalities last year, and none of the victims were wearing a life jacket.

North Dakota law requires PFDs in the following circumstances:

• On watercraft less than 16 feet in length, one wearable PFD must be on board for each person.
• Anyone being towed on water-skis, surfboard, or a similar device must wear a PFD.
• No person may operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft without each person on board wearing a PFD.
• Watercraft 16 feet or longer must have one wearable PFD for each person on board, and one throwable flotation device.
• On any vessel less than 27 feet in length, all persons 10 years of age or younger must wear an appropriately sized and properly fastened Coast Guard approved PFD.

Boaters are reminded to test life jackets for serviceability and fit. All straps and buckles must be intact and there should be no rips or tears in the fabric. Test life jackets by wearing them in the water. A properly fitted life jacket should keep the wearer's face and mouth out of the water and enable him or her to float without effort.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the North Dakota Safety Council for several years to present boat and water safety classes and other events such as "Kids In Boats" programs, displays, media spots, public service announcements, seminars, classroom sessions and one-on-one discussion of safety topics.

To find out if a safety event is coming to your area, or to get additional information on Safe Boating Week, contact the game and fish department (701-328-6300), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (701-654-7411), or the N.D. Safety Council (701-223-6372).

This year's Safe Boating Week campaign is sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard.

These high-tech colored maps, including Devils Lake, and newly added mid-sized reservoirs such as Heart Butte and Jamestown Reservoir, are featured in " Lake Contour Maps" under the "Map Services/GIS" link.

New maps are available in large and small sizes. Large maps show contour lines, man-made features such as boat ramps, roads and camping areas, and surrounding terrain taken from aerial photographs. Small maps show the same details except surrounding terrain.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print maps. Maps are saved in PDF format.

Not all of the contour maps available on the web site are high-tech. Another 70 are of the older version - black-and-white maps that lack special features of the new maps. Fisheries personnel continue to map these lakes to make updated versions.  

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation constructed the pier, with primary funding provided through a grant from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The Bureau of Reclamation and Northern Lights Council of Boy Scouts of America also were major contributors.

Additional support was provided by Zachmeier Manufacturing of Mandan, Elgin Lions Club, AMVETS Post 9 in Bismarck, Lewis and Clark Wildlife Club, American Foundation for Wildlife's Lake Tschida Fishing Tournament, Hettinger Rod and Gun Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2237 in Bismarck and 2451 in Mandan, Bismarck-Mandan Elk Lodge 1199 and the American Foundation for Wildlife's Charitable Gaming in Glen Ullin.

Lake Tschida, also known as Heart Butte Reservoir, is located 15 miles south of Glen Ullin in Grant County.

Biologists counted 225 males this spring, up from 144 in 2004. The all-time high number of male sage grouse counted on leks in the southwest was 542 birds in 1953, compared to a low mark of 111 in 1996.

The survey was conducted on 15 active strutting grounds, compared to 19 last year. "The poor weather this year was probably the reason we were unable to locate some of the small grounds," said Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor, Dickinson.

North Dakota 's sage grouse season had typically opened the Monday after the sharp-tailed grouse opener in early to mid-September. In 2004, the sage grouse season was 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. No specific dates for this fall's sage grouse season have been set at this time.

Sage grouse are North Dakota's largest native upland game bird. They are found in extreme southwestern North Dakota, in Bowman and Slope counties.

The department is recommending a similar number of white-tailed deer licenses, and an increase in the number of mule deer licenses. The figure submitted to Gov. John Hoeven's office for approval is 145,600 licenses, an increase of 350 from 2004.

Several mild winters and the resulting increase in reproductive success have raised the state's white-tailed deer population above management objectives in many units in eastern and northern North Dakota.

"This aggressive approach has been implemented to reduce deer numbers to unit management goals," Kreil said. "Progress toward reducing or stabilizing deer numbers was evident this past year, particularly in the northwest and in some units in southeastern North Dakota."

Only the northwestern portion of the state will see significantly lower license numbers, Kreil said, due to a decline in deer numbers resulting from several years of high harvest on does and more typical winters.

The mule deer population in the badlands is at management goals, allowing the department to recommend an increase in licenses from 2004. "Population and reproductive surveys indicate an increase in overall mule deer numbers," Kreil said.

In addition, the portion of the state west of the Missouri River and south of Interstate 94 (excluding the badlands) has experienced significant growth in the number of both mule deer and white-tailed deer. Therefore, licenses have been increased accordingly to reduce population levels to management goals.

The overall reduced number of regular season white-tailed deer licenses also resulted in a slight decrease in the number of available muzzle-loader licenses.

The number of licenses proposed for 2005 includes 7,700 for mule deer, an increase of 1,325 from last year; 2,758 for muzzle-loader, down 20 from last year; and 340 restricted youth antlered mule deer, an increase of 30 from last year.

Unit 2B will have the same regulation as last year. Early season antlerless license holders who do not fill their license in the early season, can also hunt the last three days of the late season in that unit. Hunters with a license for an antlered deer in unit 2B may hunt only during the early or late season dates applicable to their license.

North Dakota residents who are on active duty with the National Guard or Reserve and are stationed outside of the state during the 2005 deer gun lottery process, and miss the initial lottery, are eligible to purchase one white-tailed deer gun license of either sex in a unit of their choice.

Likewise, North Dakota residents who were unable to participate in the 2004 deer gun season because they were on active duty with the National Guard or Reserve and were stationed outside the state are also eligible to purchase one deer gun license for a white-tailed deer of their choice in a unit of their choice.

Deer hunters should also note that baiting is prohibited on all state-owned or managed wildlife management areas.

Online applications for regular deer gun, youth and muzzle-loader seasons will be available May 11 for prospective hunters to apply through the game and fish internet web site, while paper applications will be available to vendors throughout the state by May 18. The application deadline is June 8.

Applicants can access the department's web site at gf.nd.gov/ to submit a lottery application online, or to print an application for mailing. Regular license fees apply and no service charge is added.

Fisheries Development Plans Announced for 2005 050405
More than $1 million in North Dakota Game and Fish Department funds and another $500,000 from local communities have been earmarked toward improving water-based recreation in North Dakota this year, according to Bob Frohlich, fisheries development coordinator.

The dollars will be used for a variety of boating and fishing related projects, including developing and upgrading boat ramps, courtesy docks, fishing piers, fish cleaning stations, roads, parking areas and vault toilets.

Slightly more than $1,333,000 is set-aside to upgrade or construct new boating access facilities, while $90,000 is appropriated for structures such as fish cleaning stations and vault toilets. Courtesy docks and fishing piers account for $84,000, and $53,000 is designated for roads, trails and parking.

Lake Sakakawea will see significant work due to record low water levels. The bulk of the money will be used on boat ramp improvements, involving hauling in fill and extending the bottom end of boat ramps.

On most projects, 75 percent of the funding comes from the department's Fisheries Development Out-Grant Program, which uses both federal Sport Fish Restoration funds and game and fish department funds, with the remaining 25 percent match coming from a local entity.

Almost all new developments are sponsored and administered by local interest groups or municipalities, Frohlich said.

Only a Few Lakes Experienced Winter Kill 050405
Only a small number of North Dakota lakes experienced fish die-off this past winter, and none are considered significant, according to Greg Power, fisheries management section leader for the State Game and Fish Department.

"We have four known lakes, and possibly a few more, that experienced minor winter kill," Power said. "Even with a mild, open winter, the combination of low water levels and chronic habitat problems still can cause fish mortality in some lakes."

There is the likelihood of winter kill at a few other lakes, Power mentioned, but the department won't know the extent until personnel are able to set nets to determine fish populations in remaining lakes.

The lakes experiencing partial fish kills were Heart Butte, Grant County; Castle Rock, Hettinger County; Mirror Lake, Adams County; and Casselton Reservoir, Cass County.

These lakes will be restocked this spring or summer, Power said.

Youngsters Reminded of Boating Basics Course 050405
Youngsters ages 12-15 wanting to operate a boat or personal watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor must first pass the state's Boating Basics course, reminds Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the State Game and Fish Department.

The free home-study course covers legal requirements, navigation rules, getting underway, accidents and special topics. Each part has 2-5 chapters that elaborate on topics such as weather, rules of the road, laws, life saving and first aid.

A North Dakota boating graduate card is recognized in other states as well. However, some states have different age criteria, Boldt said. For example, Minnesota law states youngsters ages 12-17 must take a course in order to operate a conventional boat, but must be 13 in order to operate a personal watercraft. South Dakota has a minimum age of 12 for conventional boats and 14 years of age for personal watercraft operation.

The Boating Basics course isn't just for kids. Major insurance companies give adult boat owners who pass the course a boat insurance premium discount.

"The course will really make a person a better boater," Boldt said, "but common sense and common courtesy are still the most important attributes any boater can have."

For more information on Boating Basics write to Nancy Boldt, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095; or call 701-328-6300.

First Fish! Certificate Captures Young Angler's Special Moment 050405
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's First Fish! Program provides a certificate specially designed to help young anglers remember this once-in-a-lifetime catch.

First Fish! has no qualifying weights or measurements. The only requirement is the successful landing of a North Dakota fish. Certificates are available to all who request them, and they have ample room for all the important information, such as name, age, lake and a short fish story, plus a blank space for a photograph big enough to contain the smile of the happiest little angler.

Certificates are available for free by writing to First Fish!, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095; or send an email to NDGF@state.nd.us.