Buffaloberry Patch

Tentative 2017 Season Opening Dates

To help North Dakota hunters prepare for 2017, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for season opening dates for the coming year.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2017 include:

Species	Tentative 2017 Season Start Date
Spring Turkey	April 8
Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Dove, Mountain Lion	September 1
Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse, Squirrel	September 9
Youth Deer	September 15
Youth Waterfowl, Sandhill Crane	September 16
Early Resident Waterfowl	September 23
Regular Waterfowl	September 30
Pronghorn Gun	October 6
Youth Pheasant	October 7
Pheasant, Fall Turkey	October 14
Mink, Muskrat, Weasel Trapping	October 28
Deer Gun	November 10
Deer Muzzleloader	December 1

Salmon Spawn Completed

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries crews completed their annual fall salmon spawning operation on the Missouri River System after collecting roughly 2 million eggs.

Dave Fryda, Department Missouri River System supervisor, said the salmon spawn was extremely productive and crews easily collected enough eggs to stock the 400,000 smolts planned for Lake Sakakawea in 2017.

“The majority of eggs were collected from Lake Sakakawea, but the Missouri River below Garrison Dam also contributed,” Fryda said. “In addition to meeting North Dakota’s own egg goals, surplus eggs were provided to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to help with their Lake Oahe salmon program.”

Fryda said the average size of Lake Sakakawea female salmon was 7.6 pounds, about 3 pounds smaller than 2015. “The average size was smaller than the record we saw in 2015, but the overall number of salmon in the spawning run was exceptional,” he said.

Fryda said the abundance of young male salmon, also called jacks, was again high in 2016. “Jacks are 1-year-old male salmon that become sexually mature, and typically a high abundance of these young males will forecast a good run over the next couple years,” he said.

Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in North Dakota, Game and Fish Department and Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery personnel collect eggs and transport them to the hatchery. Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend several months in the hatchery before being stocked in Lake Sakakawea.

Coyote Catalog Available for Hunters, Landowners

The Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect coyote hunters and trappers with landowners who are dealing with coyotes in their areas, is open for the winter.

A partnership between the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the Coyote Catalog can be a good way for hunters and trappers to locate new places to go, according to Game and Fish Director Terry Steinwand.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring encourages landowners, especially farmers and ranchers who have problems with coyotes, to sign up for the Coyote Catalog. “Hunting and trapping are some of the many tools available to mitigate predator risk,” he said.

This past season, nearly 40 landowners participated in the Coyote Catalog, along with more than 200 hunters and trappers.

Landowners can sign up on the NDDA website. County and contact information is required. Hunters and trappers can sign up online.

Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their names on the database.

Throughout winter, hunters or trappers may receive information on participating landowners, and they should contact landowners to make arrangements.

Goehring and Steinwand said landowners experiencing coyote depredation of livestock should first contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March 31, 2017. For more information, contact Stephanie Tucker, NDGF, at 701-220-1871; satucker@nd.gov; or Jamie Good, NDDA, at 701-328-2659 or jgood@nd.gov.

Boats Need 2017-19 Registration

North Dakota boat owners are reminded that 2017 is the first year of a new three-year registration period.

Boat registrations can be renewed online by clicking buy and apply on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website. In addition, boat owners should receive their registration mailing by early January.

The price to register motorboats under 16 feet in length, and all canoes, is $18; motorboats from 16 feet to less than 20 feet in length is $36; and motorboats at least 20 feet in length is $45.

The new boat registration cycle began January 1 and runs through December 31, 2019.

Also, anyone buying a new or used watercraft can generate a 10-day temporary permit online that is valid until the registration is processed.

Boat owners purchasing watercraft from private individuals this winter are reminded to register it in their name. Registering a used watercraft purchased from an individual must include proof of transfer of ownership, such as a photocopy of the previous owner’s registration card, a canceled check or a signed note from the previous owner stating transfer of ownership.

Regulations require the boat number to be in contrasting color to the hull in plain vertical block letters at least 3 inches in height, excluding any border, trim, outlining or shading, and must be maintained in a legible condition so the number is clearly visible in daylight hours. The number must read from left to right, and groups of numbers and letters must be separated by a space or hyphen equivalent in width to the letter “M.”

In addition, a validation sticker issued by the Game and Fish Department must be displayed on the boat within 6 inches of the number toward the rear of the boat. No other numbers should be displayed in this area.

Boat owners who do not receive a renewal notice by the end of January should contact the Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6335, or email ndgf@nd.gov. Many renewals are likely to be returned because some owners who moved within the last three years did not notify the Department with their new address.

Fish House Regulations

Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float.

A popular question this time of year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left unattended, it must be able to float; if it’s not able to float, it must be removed when the angler leaves the ice.

Other fish house regulations:

• Fish houses do not require a license.
• Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have the owner’s name, and either address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 inches high.
• Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
• Fish houses on Lake Alice must be removed daily.
• Fish houses shall be removed from all waters by midnight, March 15, of each year. They can be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.

Anglers should refer to the 2016-18 North Dakota Fishing Guide for other winter fishing regulations.

Fisheries Division Recognizes Tolna Community Club

The State Game and Fish Department recently honored the Tolna Community Club for its ongoing efforts to develop and maintain public use facilities at Stump Lake.

Each year the Department’s fisheries division presents a “Certificate of Appreciation” to an organization that has signed on as a cooperating partner in local projects. Bob Frohlich, Department fisheries development supervisor, said the Tolna group is “an outstanding example of the difference a small club can make on their local fisheries.”

Tolna club members helped with construction and installation of a boat ramp, several courtesy docks, vault toilet, fish cleaning station, access road and parking area.

In addition, Frohlich said, the club is supportive in providing opportunities and access for youth, senior citizens and families.

“This group is deserving of this recognition,” Frohlich said. “The club does an outstanding job in performing the operation and maintenance of these facilities.”

Staff Notes

Doug Howie, Game and Fish Employee of the Year

Doug Howie, North Dakota Game and Fish Department assistant private land coordinator in Bismarck, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence during the Department’s annual winter meeting.

Terry Steinwand, Game and Fish director, said Howie is known for his professionalism and resourcefulness. “Doug’s commitment to the Department’s private lands program has been exemplary for 30 years,” he said.

Howie was recognized for his role in administering the Private Land Open To Sportsmen program. “He has developed policies and procedures, manages statewide and district budgets and issues landowner payments,” Steinwand said. “Doug’s knowledge helps steer the direction of the program, and his dedication has helped it become one of the most successful access programs in the country.”

Jim Job Named Wildlife Officer of the Year

Jim Job, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden in Devils Lake, is the state’s 2016 Wildlife Officer of the Year.

Job was honored in December by the Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.

In a nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Robert Timian said Job’s district is home to some of the most renowned fishing and hunting opportunities in the nation.

“Warden Job’s hard work does not go unnoticed throughout his district,” Timian said. “Whether he is on patrol by vehicle, boat, all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile, his dedication and enthusiasm for his chosen profession as a game warden serves as an excellent example to others. He is most deserving of this recognition.”

Game and Fish Recognizes Employees

North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand honored a number of employees with performance-based awards in December.

• John Mazur, hunter education coordinator, Bismarck, received the Special Projects award, given to an individual who implemented a successful new project. Mazur was recognized for his efforts in successfully refining the hunter education program. “John took the concept of a hunter education instructor academy and made it a reality,” Steinwand said. “He created a volunteer instructor academy team, field days and a pilot mentoring program. He was able to accomplish this because of our well-trained and dedicated volunteer staff.”
• Bill Jensen, big game biologist, Bismarck, received the Solid Foundation award, presented to staff who demonstrate exemplary work in their field. Jensen was recognized for his passion for wildlife conservation. “Bill’s professionalism, integrity, attitude and work ethic serves as an exemplary model for all employees,” Steinwand said. “He continually strives to use the best available science to help guide wildlife management, and is a go-to source for big game management in North Dakota.”
• Stephanie Tucker, game management section leader, Bismarck, received the Public Outreach award, presented to an employee for showing a significant effort, ability or accomplishment in interacting with the public while promoting the Department’s programs. Tucker was recognized for her work involved with furbearer issues. “Stephanie does an outstanding job in communicating with all entities in a professional manner,” Steinwand said. “She is well spoken, highly informed and extremely courteous while working with landowners, legislators, hunters and trappers.”
• Jerry Weigel, fisheries production and development section leader, Bismarck, was presented with the Innovations award, which recognizes staff for implementing a process to improve Department goals and objectives. Weigel was recognized for his statewide efforts in fish distribution. “One of Jerry’s career accomplishments has been his ability to integrate improvements to our existing program, and it’s because of his innovation, extreme interest and dedication to our overall fish culture program,” Steinwand said.
• Greg Hastings, district game warden, Jamestown, was named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year. Chief warden Robert Timian said Hasting’s district boasts several man-made and natural lakes that are home to many anglers and recreational boat operators. “Warden Hastings is skilled in the detection, apprehension and prosecution of boaters who are operating while operating under the influence,” Timian said. “He is dedicated to making sure his boaters are operating in a safe manner while still enjoying the outdoors.”

Long-term Employees

Long-term employees were recognized for their service to North Dakota at the Department’s annual winter meeting.

• 40 years – Ernie Dawson, wildlife technician, Jamestown.
• 30 years – Craig Bihrle, communications section leader, Bismarck; Chris Grondahl, eduation section leader, Bismarck; Mike Raasakka, district game warden, Stanley; and Jeff Violett, district game warden, Mandan.
• 25 years – Scott Elstad, aquatic habitat supervisor, Bismarck; Greg Freeman, news editor, Bismarck; Paul Freeman, district game warden supervisor, Devils Lake; Bill Jensen, big game biologist, Bismarck; Brian Kietzman, wildlife resource management supervisor, Jamestown; Randy Littlefield, wildlife resource management biologist, Lonetree; Kent Luttschwager, wildlife resource management supervisor, Williston; Mark Pollert, district game warden supervisor, Jamestown; Lisa Tofte, administrative assistant, Devils Lake; and Janice Vetter, administrative assistant, Bismarck.
• 20 years – Greg Gullickson, outreach biologist, Benedict; Kevin Kading, private land section leader, Bismarck; and Doug Leier, outreach biologist, West Fargo.