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Authors and Contributors
Greg Freeman

Spring Light Goose Season Opens

North Dakota's spring light goose season opens February 18 and continues through May 14.

Residents must have a valid current season 2016-17 (valid through March 31) or 2017-18 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. The 2017-18 license is available for purchase beginning March 15.

Nonresidents need a 2016 spring light goose season license. The cost is $50 and the license is good statewide. Nonresidents who hunt the spring season remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring season does not count against the 14-day fall waterfowl season regulation.

In addition, nonresident youth under age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee if their state has youth reciprocity licensing with North Dakota.

A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents.

Resident and nonresident licenses are available only from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's Bismarck office, the Department's website, by calling 800-406-6409, or at any vendor linked to the Department's electronic licensing system.

Availability of food and open water dictate when snow geese arrive in the state and how long they stay. Early migrants generally start showing up in the southeast part of the state in mid-to-late March, but huntable numbers usually aren't around until the end of March or early April. Movements into and through the state depend on available roosting areas and the extent of the snow line.

Hunters must obtain a new Harvest Information Program registration number before hunting. The HIP number can be obtained online or by calling 888-634-4798. The HIP number is good for the fall season as well, so spring hunters should save it to record on their fall license.

The Game and Fish Department will provide hunters with migration updates once geese have entered the state. Hunters can access the department's website, or call 701-328-3697, to receive generalized locations of bird sightings in North Dakota until the season ends or geese have left the state. Migration reports will be updated periodically during the week.

The spring season is only open to light geese – snows, blues, and Ross's. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The season is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. There is no daily bag limit or

possession limit. Electronic and recorded calls, as well as shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, may be used to take light geese during this season.

There are no waterfowl rest areas designated for the spring season. Hunters should note that private land within waterfowl rest areas closed last fall may be posted closed to hunting.

Nontoxic shot is required for hunting all light geese statewide. Driving off established roads and trails is strongly discouraged during this hunt because of the likelihood of soft, muddy conditions, and winter wheat that is planted across the state. Sprouted winter wheat is considered an unharvested crop. Therefore, hunting or off-road travel in winter wheat is not legal without landowner permission.

To maintain good landowner relations, hunters are advised to seek permission before hunting on private lands or attempting any off-road travel during this season.

All regular hunting season regulations not addressed above apply to the spring season. For more information on regulations refer to the 2017 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations and the 2016 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide.

Two Deer Test Positive for CWD

A mule deer doe and buck taken during the 2016 deer gun season from unit 3F2 in southwestern North Dakota tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to Dr. Dan Grove, wildlife veterinarian for the State Game and Fish Department.

Since 2009, the total now stands at nine deer to test positive for CWD and all were from within unit 3F2.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

In addition to the 350 samples tested for CWD from unit 3F2, another 1,050 were tested from deer harvested last fall by hunters in the eastern third of the state, and from any moose or elk taken during the hunting season. In all, more than 1,400 samples were tested.

Since the Game and Fish Department's sampling efforts began in 2002, more than 30,000 deer, elk and moose have tested negative for CWD.

The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in specific regions of the state. In 2017, deer will be tested from the central portion of the state.

The Game and Fish Department also has a targeted surveillance program that is an ongoing, year-round effort to test animals found dead or sick.

Permanent Fish House Deadline

State law requires removal of permanent fish houses from North Dakota waters by midnight March 15.

Anglers are advised to use caution because mild weather conditions can quickly result in unstable ice conditions.

Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.

In addition, it is illegal to leave fish houses on any federal refuge land or on any state-owned or managed land after March 15.

Registration Reminder

Darkhouse spearfishing season is open through March 15, and all participants, regardless of age, are reminded to register with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Free registration is available at the Department's website,, or through any Game and Fish Department office.

Darkhouse spearing is allowed for all residents with a valid fishing license and for residents under age 16.

Nonresidents may darkhouse spearfish in North Dakota if they are from states that offer the same privilege for North Dakota residents. Legal fish are northern pike and nongame species.

All waters open to hook-and-line fishing are open to darkhouse spearing except East Park Lake, West Park Lake and Lake Audubon, all McLean County; Larimore Dam, Grand Forks County; Heckers Lake, Sheridan County; McClusky Canal; New Johns Lake, Burleigh County; and Red Willow Lake, Griggs County.

Anglers should refer to the 2016-18 North Dakota Fishing Guide for more information.

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Numbers Down

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated 26,360 Canada geese in the state, down from a record 222,890 in 2016.

Andy Dinges, Department migratory game bird biologist, said above average snowfall and below average temperatures that began in late November, continued up until the survey, which created poor wintering conditions for Canada geese and mallards.

“We saw a significant drop in the number of birds that wintered in the state, but that's because wintering conditions were excellent last year, as little snow accumulation and moderate temperatures allowed birds to remain,” Dinges said.

An estimated 23,100 Canada geese were observed on the Missouri River, and another 700 were scattered on Nelson Lake in Oliver County. Lake Sakakawea had nearly 500 on the lake itself. Dinges said after summarizing the numbers, an additional 3,160 mallards were tallied statewide.

The 10-year average (2008-17) for the midwinter survey in North Dakota is 95,410 Canada geese and 27,310 mallards.

Tax Checkoff for Wildlife

North Dakota citizens with an interest in supporting wildlife conservation programs are reminded to look for the Watchable Wildlife checkoff on the state tax form.

The state income tax form gives wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to support nongame wildlife like songbirds and birds of prey, while at the same time contributing to programs that help everyone enjoy all wildlife.

The checkoff – whether you are receiving a refund or are having to pay in – is an easy way to voluntarily contribute to sustain this long standing program. In addition, direct donations to the program are accepted any time of year.

Learn more about Watchable Wildlife program activities.

Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 382 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2017.

The deadline for applying is March 1. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. Any remaining licenses after March 1 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants can apply together as a party. A separate check is required for each application.

The nonresident any-deer bow application is available at the Game and Fish website. The application must be printed and sent in to the Department.

The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15 percent of the previous year's mule deer gun license allocation. The Game and Fish Department issued 2,550 mule deer licenses in the 2016 deer gun license lottery.

Hunting And Fishing Legislation on Website

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is tracking hunting and fishing issues during the 2017 legislative session.

Interested outdoor enthusiasts can follow proposed outdoors-related bills by on the Game and Fish Department website.

A brief description of each bill will be included, along with the bill sponsor and hearing schedule.

NASP Tourney March 17-18

The North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament is March 17-18 at the State Fair Center in Minot.

The tournament will feature team and individual categories in elementary, middle school and high school, including awards and prizes, and up to $20,000 in college scholarships available to the top 10 boys and girls in each grade division.

Additionally, the top 10 boys and girls qualify for NASP nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

The state tournament and all other local and regional NASP tournaments are open to any student in grades 4-12 who attend a school that offers NASP lessons during the school day. If a school has an afterschool club, third-graders are also welcome, with permission from the coach and principal.

For a complete listing of tournaments in North Dakota, go to the official NASP tournament website at http://www.nasptournaments.org/.

A certified NASP archery instructor must register your child for all NASP tournaments.

For more information, or to find out if your child's school participates in NASP, contact Jeff Long, North Dakota state coordinator, at jrlong@nd.gov or call 701-328-6322.

North Dakota Earth Day Patch Contest

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's annual Earth Day awareness campaign is accepting entries for design of a 2017 Earth Day patch.

North Dakota students ages 6-18 are eligible to participate. The deadline to submit entries is March 15.

The Department will announce a winner in three age categories – 6-9, 10-13 and 14-18. Each winner will receive a pair of binoculars. The final patch design will be chosen from the three winners.

The winning design will be used on a patch given to members of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs and any school participating in Earth Day cleanup projects on state-owned or managed lands in North Dakota in April and May.

The patch should incorporate some aspect of Earth Day – celebrated April 22 – or keeping North Dakota clean. It must be round and three inches in diameter. There is a limit of five colors on the patch, and lettering must be printed. Name, address, age and phone number of the contestant must be clearly printed on the entry form. Only one entry per person is allowed.

Earth Day contest rules and entry forms are available on the Game and Fish Department's website. For more information, contact Pat Lothspeich at ndgf@nd.gov, or call 701-328-6332.

Youth Grant Program Application Deadline

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations are urged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow's Hunters program, a State Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters.

The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organizational events and projects, with an average grant of $1,550.

Grant funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets, and eye and ear protection.

Past funding has enabled several groups to conduct youth pheasant and waterfowl hunts, while others have sponsored trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting.

Any club or organization interested in conducting a youth hunting or shooting event can get more information, including a grant application, from the Game and Fish Department website, or by contacting outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at 701-328-6332.

The deadline to apply for a 2017 grant is April 20.

Staff Notes

Harling Received PF Award

Nate Harling, private land field operation coordinator, Bismarck, received the state Pheasants Forever Wildlife Professional of the Year award for his work in coordinating efforts among various conservation partners involved in the Richards Angus Ranch PLOTS tract enrollment. The Richard's tract, located in Golden Valley County, is the largest in the state at more than 20,000 acres.

Wildlife Division Fills Positions

Longtime employee Jerry Gulke retired in October 2016 after more than 35 years with the Department.

Chad Parent, an East Grand Forks, Minnesota, native was hired to fill Gulke's survey coordinator position. Parent received his bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of North Dakota. He earned his Ph.D in wildlife science from Texas A and M University.

Belohlavek Fills Post

Heidi Belohlavek has been hired as the Department's administrative assistant in the wildlife division.

Game Management Position Filled

Ryan Herigstad has accepted the Department's game management technician position in Bismarck. Herigstad has been the agency's waterfowl management technician since 2014.