News Release Archives - October 2006

Hunters are encouraged to provide samples from their deer by stopping at any of the department's district offices. Heads can be dropped off through November at Game and Fish offices in Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck, Riverdale, Devils Lake, Harvey (Lonetree) and Jamestown.

Department personnel will also operate two collection sites opening weekend in Belfield - at the Tesoro truck stop, and Conoco convenience store - both at the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 85. In addition, Game and Fish is relying on cooperating meat processors, fur buyers, taxidermists and wildlife clubs.

Meat processors participating in surveillance efforts are Aneta Meats, Aneta; M and M Sausage and Meats, West Dakota Meats, Bismarck; Bowdon Locker and Grocery, Bowdon; K and E Meats, Cando; Barton Meats, Barlow Meat, Carrington; Double R Meats, Carson; Casselton Cold Storage, Casselton; Schmitty's Deer Processing, Davenport; Skybergs Meats, Devils Lake; Dean's Meat Market, Dickinson; Edgeley Meat Processing, Edgeley; Maple Valley Lockers, Enderlin; Garrison Custom Meats, Garrison; Kuntz Butcher Shop, Glen Ullin; Manock Meats, Great Bend; Hazen Meats, Hazen; Dakota Packing, Hettinger; Dakota Country Meats, Jamestown; Leier's Processing, Karlsruhe; Kenmare Locker Jack and Jills, Kenmare; People's Meat Market, Kulm; LaMoure Lockers, LaMoure; Hickory Hut, Langdon; Butcher Block Meats, Mandan; Milnor Lockers, Milnor; S and K Processing, Minot; Engebretson Processing, Mohall; Larry's Meat Processing, Mott; Myers Meats, Parshall; Webers Meats, Reynolds; Wolf's Processing, Scranton; Brenno Meats, Sheyenne; Sagebrush Smokehouse, Watford City; Wildrose Grocery, Wildrose.

Heads will be removed on site, or hunters may drop off heads at one of the sites. Tags will remain on the ear or antler, and carcass tags will remain with the deer. Hunters will be given a temporary tag for transportation purposes.

To date, CWD has not been diagnosed in wild or farmed deer or elk in North Dakota. Test results for CWD on more than 5,000 wild deer and more than 100 elk harvested during the 2002-05 hunting seasons were negative.

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

More than 700,000 eggs were collected from Lake Sakakawea and the Garrison Dam Tailrace. "This will be enough for stocking in North Dakota, with some extra eggs for Montana," Hendrickson said.

Because of the reduced forage abundance and low water projections for 2007, the Game and Fish Department will be stocking fewer salmon than normal next year. "Current plans are to stock approximately 100,000 salmon," Hendrickson said. "Under normal water level and forage conditions, as many as 500,000 salmon are stocked annually in Lake Sakakawea."

Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in North Dakota, 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. Any surplus eggs will go to Montana.

Domestic sheep and goats may carry respiratory strains of bacteria that can result in large scale die-offs of wild sheep. "We believe this was the cause for our die-off in the 1990s," said Brett Wiedmann, bighorn sheep biologist, Dickinson, "when approximately 80 percent of the wild sheep in the southern badlands population were lost to disease."

It is thought that the three rams originated from a herd in Dunn County, and had wandered more than 100 miles. They were put down approximately 25 miles from a native herd. "The decision had to be made to euthanize them at that point before they got back in with a wild population," Wiedmann said. "Everything went well, except for the fact that we had to do this in the first place.

"Our primary concern has to be for the well-being of our state's overall bighorn sheep population," Wiedmann continued. "Dispatching three of these treasured animals isn't something we wanted to do. However, reducing any potential of a disease outbreak in our wild sheep population is an essential part of our job."

When bighorn sheep are known to come into contact with domestic sheep, those animals are destroyed by the agency because of the potential for a disease outbreak that could devastate the bighorn population. "In essence, when young rams come into contact with domestic sheep or goats, they may become disease vectors, and the unfortunate policy is to destroy those animals before they get back to the healthy herd," Wiedmann said. "This policy has been adopted throughout the western United States and Canada."

Kevin Hurley, long-time Wyoming Game and Fish bighorn sheep biologist and executive director of the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council, a collaborative group of wild sheep and goat managers, researchers and veterinarians throughout the U.S. and Canada, said, "The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's actions were an unfortunate but necessary response to the situation. It's the prudent decision which errors on the side of the population rather than the individual. The risk of the rams serving as disease vectors to the greater population could have resulted in thousands of dollars, hundreds of man-hours and years to restore the population. It's not worth the risk."

Last year, colleagues at Custer State Park in South Dakota suspect four young rams temporarily dispersed from the park and got in with a few domestic sheep. South Dakota Game Fish and Parks managed to destroy one of those rams, but were unable to destroy the other three. "They suspect those rams came back to the park, causing them to lose approximately 75 percent of the 275 sheep that were in the park," Wiedmann said.

In the long term, the loss of the three rams is insignificant to North Dakota's population because they are males, Wiedmann said. "The long-term viability of the population has to do with ewes," he said.

Biological samples of the three rams were collected to test the health of the sheep. The meat was saved, and the Minnesota-Wisconsin Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep will pay for processing. The meat will be distributed by community action to needy families through Sportsmen Against Hunger.

Although permitted under hunting regulations and not a problem in normal years, when fields are soft and muddy off-trail driving leaves behind deep ruts that create difficulty for landowners who practice no-till farming.

The Game and Fish Department and the North Dakota Landowner Sportsmen Council have available to landowners free signs that state, "Hunters Welcome. Park Your Vehicle and Walk," and "Ask Before You Enter, Hunting Permitted With Permission."

"This change was made following several years of discussion, with input received from landowners and hunters," said Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. "As a result there are no split season units remaining in the state."

North Dakota's deer gun season opens at noon Nov. 10 and continues through Nov. 26. Hunters interested in purchasing remaining licenses can log onto the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.

Applicants must register to take the exam by submitting a letter of intent to chief game warden Robert Timian, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501 5095. Letters of intent must be submitted before 5 p.m., Nov. 24.

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, at all hours of the day, night, and weekends. In addition to law enforcement duties, wardens assist with hunter and boater safety education, as well as other department programs.

The position requires a bachelor's degree. Applicants must be a licensed North Dakota peace officer, or be eligible to be licensed, and must possess a valid driver's license.

Selection procedures include an evaluation of the application, a structured oral interview, background and reference checks, and psychological and medical examinations.

The salary for beginning game wardens through training and probation is $2,400 per month. Upon completion of training and probation, the salary range is $2,837 4,728 per month. Wardens also receive the state benefits package, including travel allowance. Uniforms and other equipment are provided.

Every year department staff receive inquiries from hunters at the last minute, including the morning of opening day, because they can't find their license. At that late date, it's difficult to try to get a replacement license quickly.

That is just one reason why hunters should look for their deer license now. Another is to check it for accuracy. Sometimes the information on the license isn't what the hunter thought it should be. Hunters need to double-check the license to make sure the unit, species and deer sex is correct.

Deer hunters in need of a replacement license can print out a duplicate (replacement) license application from the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or can call 701-328-6300 to have an application mailed or faxed.

The form must be completed, notarized, and returned to the department with a fee. The application will be processed the day it is received, and the license will be mailed the next day.

Deer Licenses Remain in Several Units 101606
More than 14,000 antlerless deer licenses are available to hunters who don't already have a license, or for those who want additional licenses. Doe licenses are still available in units 1, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F1, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 2L, 3A4, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4E and 4F.

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 archery season is open through Jan. 7, 2007; the regular deer gun season opens at noon Nov. 10 and continues through Nov. 26; and the muzzle-loader season opens at noon Dec. 1 and continues through Dec. 17.

Resident and nonresident hunters can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Applications are also available by calling the department's Bismarck office at 701-328-6300.

Fall Turkey Licenses Remain in Two Units 101606
Two fall turkey hunting units still have licenses available for hunters who do not have a license, or for those who want additional licenses.

Licenses remain in Unit 13, Dunn County, and Unit 17, portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties north of Interstate 94.

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 at 701-328-6300. There is no limit to the number of licenses a person can receive.

The fall turkey season opened Oct. 14, and continues through Jan. 14, 2007.

The annual surveys assess reproduction and status of both game and forage fish species. A hydro-acoustic smelt survey was completed in August, and standard netting surveys were completed in September.

"Even though smelt abundance remains at record low levels, cisco were caught in increasing numbers throughout the reservoir in 2006," said Jeff Hendrickson, north central fisheries district supervisor, Riverdale.

Research has shown that smelt will prey heavily on young cisco when the two species are abundant, Hendrickson said. "Prior to this year, cisco numbers have been kept in check by abundant smelt," he added. "In the short term, cisco and other fish, like goldeye, will fill part of the forage void left by a declining smelt population."

Regarding other species, survey results indicated reproduction was good for sauger, white bass, crappie, and perch, and fair for walleye.

Biologists have been monitoring harvest and mortality of walleye in Lake Sakakawea for many years. "Fishing was excellent in 2006, and harvest through August was estimated near the record harvest seen in 2000," Hendrickson said. Biologists will continue to monitor the walleye population for changes in mortality rates, either due to harvest or natural causes due to low forage levels.

In Lake Sakakawea, the quantity and quality of recreational fish (primarily walleye and salmon) depends on forage in the reservoir, and forage abundance depends on water levels (habitat). "Until water returns to the system, growth and condition of recreational fish populations will be below management objectives," Hendrickson said. "However, a respectable walleye fishery is expected again next year."

October and November are two of the peak months for deer-vehicle accidents. Most deer-vehicle accidents occur primarily at dawn and dusk when deer are most active. If you see a deer crossing the road, there is a good chance a second or third will follow. It is also important to pay attention on roadways posted with Deer Crossing Area caution signs, because deer are known to be in the area.

If an accident does happen, a local law enforcement agency should be contacted. Also, a permit is required if someone wants to take parts or the whole carcass of a road-killed deer. Permits are free and available from game wardens and local law enforcement offices.

A few precautions can minimize chances of injury or property damage in a deer-vehicle crash:

• Always wear your seat belt.
• Don't swerve or take the ditch to avoid hitting a deer.
• Try to brake as much as possible and stay on the roadway. Don't lose control of your vehicle or slam into something else to miss the deer. You risk less injury by hitting the deer.
• If you spot deer ahead, slow down immediately and honk your horn.

No published research supports the effectiveness of deer whistles on vehicles. Deer can't hear ultrasonic frequencies.

Even if the chance of a human encountering an animal with a disease is remote, hunters should be aware of the possibilities, according to Greg Link, Game and Fish Department assistant wildlife division chief.

"Last year there was some concern about anthrax, this year it's tularemia," Link said. "People also wonder about West Nile virus, EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) in deer, mange in furbearers, and others. We want hunters to know the details about these diseases, but there's really no need for concern beyond the normal precautions hunters take."

For instance, last May the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab identified tularemia in a house cat that died near Beach, N.D., and a foal that died in northwestern South Dakota. According to lab director Dr. Neil Dyer, it was the first North Dakota case of tularemia diagnosed at the lab in at least 11 years. Later in the summer a cat from northwestern South Dakota was also diagnosed with tularemia.

Sometimes called "rabbit fever," tularemia is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria. It most commonly affects rabbits and hares, but can infect other animals and on rare occasions it can be transmitted to humans, either by bites from ticks or deer flies carrying the bacteria, or by handling animals that have the disease.

For hunters or others who spend time outside in that region, the risk of acquiring tularemia or other diseases is low. Hunters can further reduce their risk by following a few basic precautions, such as wearing gloves, washing hands with soap and water, and properly cooking wild game, according to Kirby Kruger, director of the division of disease control for the North Dakota State Health Department.

In fact, hunters throughout the state, regardless of the game they are pursuing, would do well to observe the following, additional precautions.

If you encounter a dead animal with no obvious cause of death, the best approach is to leave it alone, note the location, and contact a regional Game and Fish Department office or local game warden.

Hunters should not attempt to harvest animals that appear ill or are acting abnormally.

In addition to wearing gloves and washing hands, hunters should minimize animal fluid contact with skin. Do not rub your eyes, eat, drink, or smoke before you wash.

Cooking wild game meat thoroughly (155 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, 64 to 74 Celsius) kills disease organisms and parasites.

Be sure to sanitize knives, other cleaning tools, and food preparation surfaces.

Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas are open to hunting by resident hunters only from Oct. 14-20. Nonresidents, however, can still hunt those days on other state-owned and federal lands, or private land.

The law, passed by the 2003 state legislature, applies to all small game, waterfowl, furbearer and big game hunting on PLOTS and state wildlife management areas during the first seven days of the pheasant season. Starting Oct. 21 this year, nonresidents may hunt on PLOTS and WMAs as long as the appropriate season is open.

To order, send $3 for each, plus $1 postage, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095. Be sure to include a three-line return address with your order, or the post office may not deliver our return mailing.

The calendar is the North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine's December issue, so current subscribers will automatically receive it in the mail.