Buffaloberry Patch

Wing Survey Helps Manage Upland Birds

Hunters can help in the effort to manage upland game birds in the state, by collecting feathers from harvested birds and sending in wing envelopes.

Birds included in the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s upland game wing survey, which has been in practice for decades, are ring-necked pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, turkeys and ruffed grouse.

Collecting enough pheasant samples is typically never a problem, but securing enough sharptail and partridge feathers can be.

In recent years, the Game and Fish Department sought the help from upland hunters via the Department’s website and elsewhere, and the response was much improved.

Game and Fish biologists will take as many sharptail and partridge feathers as they can get because the more collected, the better the data.

Biologists can determine sex and age ratios from wings and tail feathers, survival, nesting success, hatch dates and overall production.

What biologists learn from the samples is vital to helping manage North Dakota’s upland game birds.

Hunters interested in receiving wing envelopes can order online, or contact the Department’s main office in Bismarck by phone, 701-328-6300, or email, ndgf@nd.gov.

Hunters can also get wing envelopes at Game and Fish district offices in Devils Lake, Jamestown, Riverdale, Dickinson, Williston and Lonetree Wildlife Management Area near Harvey.

Record Number of Walleyes Stocked

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel stocked a record number of walleye fingerlings in more than 130 waters across the state this summer.

Jerry Weigel, Department fisheries production and development supervisor, said more than 12 million fingerlings were stocked, besting the previous high by more than 1 million fish.

“Considering not many went into Lake Sakakawea, this included an unprecedented stocking of nearly 7 million fingerlings into the smaller fishing waters across the state,” Weigel said.

With more than 50 new walleye lakes in North Dakota, Weigel said the demand to stock these waters, along with the larger, traditional fisheries, has greatly increased the demand from the hatcheries.

Valley City National Fish Hatchery produced more walleye in 2017 than in any other year in its 77-year history, Weigel said, and in its 54 years of raising fish Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery shipped a record number again.

“Both hatcheries have been outstanding in helping address our demand for walleye fingerlings,” Weigel said.

Report Banded Migratory Birds

Hunters are reminded to check harvested migratory birds for bands this fall, and report federal bands at reportband.gov.

In addition, the bird banding lab has a new, mobile friendly reporting site that will aid hunters to report bands via mobile devices.

The band number, date and location of each recovery are needed. After the band information is processed, hunters can request a certificate of appreciation, and information about the bird will be returned in an email. Hunters can keep all bands they recover.

Information received from hunters is critical for management of migratory game birds.

2016 Upland Game Seasons Summarized

 

The harvest of pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge last year in North Dakota was down from 2015, according to statistics compiled by the state Game and Fish Department.

Last year, more than 76,600 pheasant hunters (down 10 percent) harvested 501,100 roosters (down 15 percent), compared to 85,500 hunters and 590,700 roosters in 2015.

Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken by resident hunters in 2016 were Hettinger, 8.7 percent; Morton, 5.8 percent; Burleigh, 5.5 percent; Stark, 5.4 percent; and Williams, 5.3 percent.

Top counties for nonresident hunters were Hettinger, 21.1 percent; Bowman, 10 percent; Adams, 7.1 percent; Divide, 5 percent; and Emmons, 4.4 percent.

In 2016, nearly 18,900 grouse hunters (down 18 percent) harvested 65,500 sharp-tailed grouse (down 21 percent). In 2015, 23,100 hunters took 83,000 sharptails.

Counties with the highest percentage of sharptails taken by resident hunters in 2016 were Mountrail, 8.9 percent; McKenzie, 8.1 percent; Grant, 7.4 percent; Slope, 5.5 percent; and McLean, 5.2 percent.

Top counties for nonresident hunters were McKenzie, 9.3 percent; Mountrail, 9.1 percent; Adams, 7.2 percent; Hettinger, 6.9 percent; and Grant, 6.5 percent.

Last year, 16,900 hunters (down 9 percent) harvested 54,200 Hungarian partridge (down 9 percent). In 2015, 18,600 hunters harvested 59,600 Huns.

Counties with the highest percentage of Huns taken by resident hunters in 2016 were McKenzie, 9.6 percent; Williams, 9.6 percent; Ward, 9.5 percent; Grant, 8.7 percent; and Mountrail, 7.6 percent.

Top counties for nonresident hunters were Stark, 8.1 percent; Divide, 7.4 percent; McKenzie, 7.1 percent; Grant, 6.5 percent; and Hettinger, 6.5 percent.

SAH Accepting Goose Meat

The North Dakota Community Action Sportsmen Against Hunger program is again accepting donations of goose meat taken during the early Canada goose season. In addition, the program will accept Canada and light (snow, blue and Ross’s) goose donations during the regular waterfowl season.

Similar to last year, hunters can bring in their goose meat to participating processors after removing the breast meat from the birds at home. Or, hunters may also deliver geese directly from the field to a processor, but identification such as a wing or the head must remain attached to the bird until in possession of the processor.

For a list of participating processors in North Dakota, visit the North Dakota Community Action website at capnd.org.

Breast meat brought from home without a wing or head attached to the meat must be accompanied by written information that includes the hunter’s name, address, signature, hunting license number, date taken and species and number taken.

Hunters will also fill out a brief form so that processors can keep a record on donated goose meat, the same as is required for processing any other type of wild game meat.

Since no goose carcasses or feathers are allowed inside processing facilities, hunters must be able to ensure proper disposal and clean-up of carcasses.

Sandhill Crane Permits

North Dakota’s sandhill crane season opens September 16 and continues through November 12.

In addition to other licenses required, resident hunters need a $10 crane permit, while nonresidents need a $30 permit. Hunters can apply online. Harvest Information Program certification is required.

Agencies Prohibit Hunting Over Bait

Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.

The governor’s proclamation relating to chronic wasting disease also includes a provision that prohibits hunting big game over bait on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and all of units 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.

Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of baits for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Bait, in this case, includes grain, seed, mineral, salt, fruit, vegetable, nut, hay, any naturally derived scent or lure, or any other natural or manufactured food placed by an individual.

Bait does not include agricultural practices, gardens, wildlife food plots, agricultural crops, livestock feeds, fruit or vegetables in their natural location such as apples on or under an apple tree, or unharvested food or vegetables in a garden.

In addition, any firearms, equipment or accessories used by hunters on Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage may not be left unattended without written permission of the property owner. This includes, but is not limited to, guns, blinds, stands, baits, scents and decoys. This means a hunter cannot place bait on PLOTS prior to or during the season and leave it there, unless permission has been granted by the landowner.

Big Game Transport Rules

Big game hunters are reminded of requirements for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.

Hunters harvesting a big game animal this fall in North Dakota deer unit 3F2 cannot transport a carcass containing the head and spinal column outside of the unit unless it’s taken to a meat processor within five days of the harvest date. The head can be removed from the carcass and transported outside of the unit if it is to be submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for CWD surveillance purposes, or to a licensed taxidermist.

If the deer is processed in the field to boned meat, and the hunter wants to leave the head in the field, the head must be legally tagged and the hunter must be able to return to or give the exact location of the head if requested for verification.

In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited in deer units 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.

Hunters are prohibited from transporting into or within North Dakota the whole carcass, or certain carcass parts, of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family from areas within states and provinces with documented occurrences of CWD in wild populations, or in captive cervids. Only the following portions of the carcass can be transported:

• Meat that is cut and wrapped either commercially or privately.
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
• Meat that has been boned out.
• Hides with no heads attached.
• Clean (no meat or tissue attached) skull plates with antlers attached.
• Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.
• Upper canine teeth, also known as buglers, whistlers or ivories.
• Finished taxidermy heads.

Hunters should refer to the 2017-18 CWD proclamation for other states that have had free-ranging deer, moose or elk diagnosed with CWD. Importation of harvested elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose or other cervids from listed areas are restricted.

Call for Watchable Wildlife Photos

The deadline for submissions for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest is October 2.

The contest has categories for nongame and game species, as well as plants/insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category determined by the number of qualified entries.

Contest entries are limited to digital files submitted on disk or via email. Contestants are limited to no more than five entries. Photos must have been taken in North Dakota.

By submitting an entry, photographers grant permission to Game and Fish to publish winning photographs in North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine, on the Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, as well as the agency social media channels.

Photo disks should be sent to Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest, C/O Patrick T. Isakson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095.

Send emailed digital photos to photocontest@nd.gov. Photographers will need to supply the original image if needed for publication.

Photo disks will not be returned. All entries must be accompanied by the photographer’s name, address, phone number and email address if available. Other information such as photo site location and month taken are also useful.

Practice Caution on Rural Roads

North Dakota hunters are reminded to be cautious of farm, ranch and other traffic when traveling on rural roads.

Fall is a busy time in the state as farmers and ranchers are harvesting crops, moving cattle, hauling bales and moving heavy machinery. Knowing this, hunters driving around on country roads should slow down when meeting another vehicle and pull well to the right when topping a hill.

To maintain positive landowner/hunter relations, Game and Fish Department officials said hunters should move to the right side of the road to allow wide farm vehicles to pass, park vehicles in a place that will not block a roadway, field approach or gate, pick up trash and empty shells, and not clean game in the road ditch or approach.

HIP, Federal Duck Stamp Requirements

Harvest Information Program registration for all migratory game bird hunters, regardless of age, and a federal duck stamp for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older, are required beginning September 1.

Migratory game birds include ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots.

Hunters can HIP certify when they buy a North Dakota license, or add it later, online, or by calling 888-634-4798 and recording the HIP number on their printed license.

Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose season or early Canada goose season in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year. However, hunters must HIP register in each state for which they are licensed before hunting migratory game birds.

This year’s 2017-18 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the Department’s website and instant licensing telephone number, or at license vendors registered with the Department’s licensing system. Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors, but they can still be purchased at many U.S. Postal Service offices.

The electronic stamp is a purchase item like any other hunting or fishing license. When the purchase is completed, the electronic stamp is valid immediately. The words “Federal Duck Stamp” will be printed on the license certificate, along with an expiration date 45 days from the date of purchase. The actual physical stamp will be sent by postal mail.

The physical stamp is processed and sent by the official duck stamp vendor in Texas, and should arrive to the individual buyer well before the expiration date printed on the electronic license. The physical stamp must remain in possession of the hunter after the 45-day electronic stamp has expired. Individuals who have questions regarding the status of their physical stamp can contact the federal duck stamp vendor customer service number at 800-852-4897.

The federal duck stamp has a fee of $25. In addition, there is another $1.50 added to cover shipping and handling costs of the actual physical stamp.

State, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Collaborate on Elk Season

Governor Doug Burgum and Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that directs state and tribal authorities on regulating an elk hunting season within the Standing Rock Reservation.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and Standing Rock Game, Fish and Wildlife Department developed the MOU to facilitate coordination of elk management and law enforcement efforts relating to each other’s authority within the boundaries of the reservation.

“This new elk season is the right thing for landowners, tribal members, wildlife and North Dakota hunting enthusiasts,” Burgum said. “It also serves as a great example of how through collaboration and dialogue we can achieve better outcomes for all.”

The MOU establishes elk hunting unit E6, and emphasizes the coordination between the Standing Rock Game, Fish and Wildlife Department, private landowners and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Through this coordination, the goals are to responsibly manage elk within this area, maximize recreational opportunities for all licensed hunters, and reduce impacts to crops and feed supplies on private lands.

“This is a good example of collaborating for the benefit of the land, wildlife and tribal members. Rather than having two different seasons on fee land and tribal land, this establishes a single season that’s consistent for all hunters,” Archambault said, adding it could lead to future collaboration on other hunting seasons.

“This is an important day,” said Terry Steinwand, North Dakota Game and Fish Department director. “The MOU is the first official collaborative management of the wildlife resource in North Dakota between the state and Standing Rock Tribe.”

Burgum and Archambault signed the MOU during a meeting of the Standing Rock Tribal Council in Fort Yates, where the governor, Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford and North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission Executive Director Scott Davis heard about challenges facing the tribe and discussed additional opportunities for collaboration between the state and tribe.

Report All Poachers

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages hunters, anglers and landowners who witness a fish or wildlife violation to file a report with the Report All Poachers program.

RAP is a cooperative project between the Game and Fish Department, State Radio Communications and the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. The RAP line offers rewards – from $100 to $1,000 depending on the nature and seriousness of the crime – for information that leads to conviction of fish and wildlife law violators. Reports can also go directly to game wardens or other law enforcement agencies. Calls can remain anonymous.

Witnesses should note vehicle description, including make, color, license plate number and state issued, as well as any description of the violator if possible.

Witnesses should report a violation by calling the RAP telephone number at 800-472-2121. RAP will then contact the local game warden immediately. If the witness provides the RAP operator a phone number, the witness will be contacted right away.

Richland County Wildlife Club Recognized

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has honored the Richland County Wildlife Club for its ongoing efforts to develop and maintain public use facilities at numerous lake and recreation areas.

The certificate of appreciation is presented annually by the Department’s fisheries division to an organization that has signed on as a cooperating partner in local projects.

The Richland club was recognized for its construction of boat ramps, courtesy docks, fishing piers, roads and parking areas, rough fish removal, and trap and transport activities at many lakes, including Horseshoe Lake, Lake Elsie, Mooreton Pond and Brushvale Bridge.

Advisory Board Members Named, Reappointed

Governor Doug Burgum has appointed Cody Sand of Forbes and Beau Wisness of Keene to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s advisory board.

The governor appoints eight Game and Fish Department advisors, each representing a multi-county section of the state, to serve as a liaison between the Department and public.

Sand fills the expiring term of Joel Christoferson, Litchville, in District 6, which includes Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells counties.

Wisness fills the expiring term of Jason Leiseth, Arnegard, in District 1, which includes Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties.

In addition, the governor also reappointed District 5 advisory board member Duane Hanson, West Fargo, to another term.

Four members of the advisory board must be farmers or ranchers and four must be hunters/anglers. Appointments are for a term of four years. No member can serve longer than two terms.

Advisory board members host two public meetings each year, held in spring and fall, to provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel.

Staff Notes

Egeland Fills Education Section Leader Position

Marty Egeland, longtime Game and Fish employee, was named the Department’s education section leader in Bismarck. Egeland, an Edmore native, has 19 years of service with the agency, three as a district game warden and the last 16 as an outreach biologist in Grand Forks.

Ramsey Lands Williston Position

Brandon Ramsey was hired to fill a wildlife technician position in Williston. Ramsey has associate of science degrees in liberal arts and wind energy technician from Lake Region State College, Devils Lake, and a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife science from Valley City State University.

Jensen, Mernitz Retire

Longtime Game and Fish employees, Tom Jensen and Katherine Mernitz, retired in August. Jensen was the Department’s video news director since 2001, while Mernitz was a licensing specialist since 2007.

Both were stationed in the main office in Bismarck.