News Release Archives - November 2005

Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the state Game and Fish Department, says don't be fooled by recent cold temperatures, as ice is just beginning to form and is nowhere near strong enough to venture out on. "People are going to have to exercise patience," Boldt said. "It might look solid enough around the edge of lakes, but it will be marginal at best in early December."

Individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must register with the Game and Fish Department. Registration is available at the department's website, gf.nd.gov, or through any game and fish office.

Darkhouse spearing is allowed for all residents with a valid fishing license, and those under age 16. Nonresidents from states that allow North Dakotans to participate in darkhouse spearfishing can darkhouse spearfish in North Dakota with a valid fishing license. Of neighboring states, only Minnesota does not allow nonresident darkhouse spearfishing.

The season is open through Feb. 28, and only for northern pike and nongame species.

Other regulations include:

* A spear is counted as a pole (line) while darkhouse spearfishing.

* Pneumatic or rubber band powered spear guns are not allowed.

* When a dark house is moved, or a hole larger than 12 inches in diameter is left in the ice, the hole must be adequately marked with a natural object, such as a tree branch or tumbleweed, visible from a minimum of 150 feet.

* There is no size limit on ice holes in lakes where darkhouse spearing is allowed. However, hook and line fishing is legal only in holes no larger than 12 inches in diameter.

* Legal live baitfish, with the exception of white sucker, and artificial lures can be used as decoys.

* Daily and possession limits are the same as for hook and line fishing.

* Darkhouse spearing is allowed only in the following areas: Beaver Lake (Logan County), Buffalo Lake (Sargent County), Buffalo Lodge Lake (McHenry County), Carpenter Lake (Rolette County), Cavanaugh Lake (Ramsey County), Coal Mine Lake (Sheridan County), Coldwater Lake (McIntosh County), Cottonwood Lake (Williams County), Devils Lake (Benson and Ramsey counties), Diamond Lake (LaMoure County), Dry/Goose Lake (McIntosh County), Etta/Alkaline Complex (Kidder County), Flood Lake (LaMoure County), Grass Lake (Richland County), Horsehead Lake (Kidder County), Juanita Lake (Foster County), Lake Laretta (Nelson County), Lake Oahe (from South Dakota border to Maclean Bottoms boat ramp), Lake Sakakawea (from Garrison Dam to Highway 85 bridge at Williston), Mallard Marsh (Stutsman County), Morrison Lake (Ramsey County), Powers Lake (Burke County), Rice Lake (Emmons County), Round Lake (Kidder County), School Section Lake (Rolette County), Silver Lake (Benson County), Spiritwood Lake (Stutsman County), Stanley Reservoir (Mountrail County), Sweetwater Lake (Ramsey County), Tioga Reservoir (Williams County), and West Napoleon Complex (Logan County).

Licenses remain in Unit 17, portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties north of Interstate 94, and Unit 21, Hettinger and Adams counties.

Resident and nonresident hunters can apply online, or print out an application for mailing, at the Game and Fish Department website, 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.

The fall turkey season continues through Jan. 15, 2006.

Along with outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, the calendar includes season opening and application dates, sunrise-sunset times and moon phases.

To order by mail, send $3 plus $1 postage for each calendar, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095.

• A hunter may hunt with a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season (open through Dec. 11) or may hunt with bow and arrow during the archery season (open through Jan. 8, 2006).
• The license holder may hunt only in the unit described on the license.
• The license holder may take only the deer listed on the license:
  • Holders of any antlerless deer permits may take either a mule deer doe or a white-tailed doe.
  • Holders of antlerless white-tailed deer permits may take only a white-tailed doe.
  • Holders of antlerless mule deer permits may take only a mule deer doe.

In addition, hunters with second, third or other concurrent season antlerless whitetail or mule deer licenses must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

Doe licenses are still available for hunters who would like to participate in the muzzle-loader season. These remaining licenses - and antlerless whitetail and mule deer licenses that have already been issued and are printed with second, third or additional concurrent season designations - can be used during the muzzle-loader season with a muzzle-loader, and during the bow season with a bow. Again, hunters with concurrent season licenses must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

Antlerless deer licenses are available in units 1, 2D, 2F1, 2J2, 2L, 3B1, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4E and 4F.

Hunters can apply online from the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications are available from game and fish offices, county auditors and license vendors. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply, and licenses may be purchased throughout the season as long as they are available.

The muzzle-loader season is open through Dec. 11, and the archery season continues through Jan. 8, 2006.

Collection sites are no longer set up, Fecske said, as the goal of collecting heads from 1,500 hunter-harvested deer was achieved. "We're really happy with the number of heads we collected this year," Fecske added. "The support we received from hunters, meat processors, fur buyers and wildlife clubs was tremendous."

The goal of the Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program is to obtain a statistically significant sample (458) of animals in each of the eight surveillance units within a two-year period.

Samples for CWD testing will be sent to the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab. Results should be available in early spring, and hunters will be notified only if a sample tests positive.

A mountain lion was shot Wednesday by a companion of a deer hunter northwest of Grassy Butte. The second cat was shot Thursday by a hunter in the Killdeer area.

The experimental season started in early September and runs through March 12, or until a season quota of five cats has been met. Any mountain lion taken must be reported to the Game and Fish Department within 12 hours and the entire animal must be submitted for analysis.

Department personnel on Thursday were in the process of retrieving the carcasses and gathering background information.

So far, department personnel have taken samples for testing from more than 600 hunter-harvested deer, but that's still well short of the goal of 1,500 deer statewide.

The department is still seeking deer heads from units 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F1, 2F2, 2G, 2G1, 2G2, 2L, 3B2, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F.

Hunters can drop off deer heads at Game and Fish Department offices in Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck, Riverdale, Devils Lake, Harvey (Lonetree) and Jamestown; and three participating national wildlife refuges - Tewaukon NWR at Cayuga, Arrowwood NWR at Pingree, and Devils Lake Wetland Management District.

Deer heads can also be dropped off at Aneta Meats Service, Aneta; B's Catering, Beach; West Dakota Meats, M&M Sausage and Meats, Bismarck; K&E Meats, Cando; Barton Meats, Barlow Meat, Carrington; Double R Meats, Carson; Casselton Cold Storage, Casselton; Schmitty's Deer Processing, Davenport; Skyberg's Meats Inc., Devils Lake; Dean's Meat Market, Dickinson; Karey's Custom Meats, Dunn Center; Edgeley Meat Processing Plant, Edgeley; Ellingson Meats, Edinburg; Maple Valley Lockers, Enderlin; Prime Cut Meats, Fargo; Kuntz Butcher Shop, Glen Ullin; Manock Meats, Great Bend; Hazen Meats, Hazen; Dakota Packing, Hettinger; Mike & Vi's Custom Sausage, Dakota Country Meats, Jamestown; LaMoure Lockers, LaMoure; Hickory Hut, Langdon; Butcher Block Meats, Mandan; Milnor Locker, Milnor; Larry's Meat Processing, Mott; New Salem Butcher Shop, New Salem; Weber's Meats, Reynolds; Wolf's Processing, Scranton; Brenno Meats, Sheyenne; Valley Meat Supply, Valley City; Sagebrush Smokehouse, Watford City.

Hunters are reminded that use of non-toxic shot is required on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. State regulations found in the North Dakota 2005-06 Small Game Guide apply. Seasons for pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge and ruffed grouse close statewide on Jan. 8, 2006.

National wildlife refuges are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Portions of each refuge are closed to hunting. Contact refuge headquarters for map leaflets designating closed areas and other restrictions: Arrowwood (701) 285-3341; Audubon (701) 442-5474; Des Lacs (701) 385-4046; J. Clark Salyer (701) 768-2548; Long Lake (701) 387-4397; Lostwood (701) 848-2722; Tewaukon (701) 724-3598; and Upper Souris (701) 468-5467.

Sportsmen Against Hunger is a charitable program in the Bismarck area that has arranged for deer to be processed and delivered at no cost to the hunter. Hunters are asked to call West Dakota Meats in Bismarck (221-9142), or Choice Cut Meats in Mandan (663-1888), before dropping off a deer in order to verify the SAH quota has not been filled. SAH is sponsored and paid for by the Northern Plains Chapter of Safari Club International.

In the Valley City area, the Barnes County Wildlife Club is arranging for the processing of 100 deer. The club is seeking hunters to sign up to donate one or more deer. For more information contact Perry Kapaun at 845-0564; or email pskapaun@ictc.com.

In the Harvey area, the Anamoose Wildlife Club is conducting Operation Sportsmen Relief, a program in which club members arrange for deer to be processed at cost to the hunter, with the meat/sausage being delivered to the Central Dakota Food Pantry. The club is seeking hunters to sign up to donate their deer meat. Contact Mark Friedt at 324-2812 for information.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department supports these programs and encourages hunters to participate.

These public meetings, held twice each year, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and Game and Fish Department personnel.

Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service must notify the contact person at least five days prior to the scheduled meeting date.

District 7 - Counties: Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux
Date: November 17 - 7 p.m.
Location: Game and Fish Auditorium, Bismarck
Host: Lewis & Clark Wildlife Club
Contact: Mike Donahue, 222-3899
Advisory board member: Frank Kartch, Bismarck, 222-4544

District 1 - Counties: Divide, McKenzie and Williams
Date: November 21 - 7 p.m.
Location: Sportsman's Café, Tioga
Host: Tioga Area Sportsmen's Club
Contact: Herm Backhaus, 641-1124
Advisory board member: Merle Jost, Grassy Butte, 863-6727

District 8 - Counties: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark
Date: November 22 - 7 p.m. MT
Location: Legion Club, Beach
Host: Pheasants Forever
Contact: Gary Van Vleet, 872-2158
Advisory board member: Wayne Gerbig, Amidon, 879-6353

District 4 - Counties: Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh
Date: November 28 - 7 p.m.
Location: American Legion Club, Fordville
Host: Dakota Prairie Wildlife Club
Contact: Perry Brintnell, 229-3267
Advisory board member: Ronald Houdek, Tolna, 262-4724

District 6 - Counties: Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells
Date: November 30 - 7 p.m.
Location: National Guard Armory, Edgeley
Host: Spencer Brandt
Contact and advisory board member: Rita Greer, Marion, 669-2315

District 3 - Counties: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner
Date: December 1 - 7 p.m.
Location: Memorial Building, Devils Lake
Host: Lake Region Anglers
Contact: Bruce Hagen, 662-6500
Advisory board member: Tracy Gardner, Devils Lake, 662-5639

District 2 - Counties: Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward
Date: December 5 - 7 p.m.
Location: Senior Citizens Center, Makoti
Host: Hiddenwood Wildlife Club
Contact: Erik Rensch, 726-5660
Advisory board member: Richard Anderson, Willow City, 366-4625

District 5 - Counties: Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill
Date: December 6 - 7 p.m.
Location: American Legion Building, Hankinson
Host: Richland County Wildlife Club
Contact: Gary Gabbert, 242-7263
Advisory board member: Loran Palmer, West Fargo, 282-8479

Spawning crews from Riverdale caught more than 2,000 fish over the past several weeks, of which 54 percent were females. "We had another good year, collecting 1.8 million eggs from Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River," Bailey said. "We had a goal of collecting between 1.5-2 million eggs for our stocking needs." Unlike other years, all the fish were collected by electrofishing, as the salmon ladder was not set up due to low lake levels.

While the egg take was excellent, fisheries biologists are concerned about the future of Sakakawea's salmon fishery. Salmon have been smaller in recent years due to low forage rainbow smelt abundance. Females averaged 4.3 pounds this year, compared to 6.0 in 2004, and 6.4 pounds in 2003.

"The main concern is the forecast for Lake Sakakawea's water elevation next year and the negative effects low water will continue to have on the populations of salmon and their main forage, smelt," Bailey said.

Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October into bays on Lake Sakakawea's eastern end. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in the lake, state Game and Fish Department and Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery personnel collect and fertilize eggs and transport them to the hatchery.

Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend several months in the hatchery before they are stocked in Lake Sakakawea. Surplus eggs will go to South Dakota, Idaho and Montana.

As of Tuesday, Nov. 1, more than 9,000 licenses for antlerless deer were still available in the following 18 units: 1, 2D, 2E, 2F1, 2G, 2H, 2J2, 2K2, 2L, 3A2, 3A4, 3B1, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4E and 4F.

These licenses are available to hunters who don't already have a license, or for those who want additional licenses.

Hunters can apply online from the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications are available from Game and Fish offices, county auditors and license vendors. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply.

These remaining licenses - and doe licenses that have already been issued and are printed with second, third or additional concurrent season designations - can be used during any open season: bow 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. Hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

The regular deer gun season begins at noon Nov. 4 and continues through Nov. 20.

As of Tuesday, Nov. 1, more than 200 licenses remain in three units. Licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis to hunters who do not already have a license, or for those who want additional licenses.

Licenses remain for the following units: Unit 17, portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties north of Interstate 94; Unit 21, Hettinger and Adams counties; and Unit 45, Stark County.

Resident and nonresident hunters can apply online, or print out an application for mailing, at the Game and Fish Department website, 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.

The fall turkey season continues through Jan. 15, 2006.