Buffaloberry Patch
Men Convicted in Poaching Case
A months-long investigation into the poaching of about 10, and possibly more, whitetail bucks in Barnes County beginning in 2019 ended in the conviction of four men.
“We charged them with the only ones that we could prove, which was right around 10 bucks,” said Greg Hastings, North Dakota Game and Fish Department warden in Jamestown and lead investigator in the case. “We suspected there were more deer taken, but we honestly don’t know.”
The four men were Jakob Ashline and Payne Drake, both of Valley City, and Calvin Bjornson and Ryan Rudolph, both of Spiritwood.
The convictions included, among other penalties, many misdemeanors, fines and fees:
Ashline – 15 A misdemeanors; nine B misdemeanors; $7,900 in fines, fees and restitution; 53 days in jail; and loss of hunting/fishing/trapping privileges for 10 years.
Drake – One A misdemeanor; eight B misdemeanors; $850 in fines and fees; and loss of hunting/fishing/trapping privileges for two years.
Bjornson – Two A misdemeanors; one B misdemeanor; and $4,750 in fines and fees.
Rudolph – Four A misdemeanors; two B misdemeanors; $2,635 in fines, fees and restitution; and loss of hunting/fishing/trapping privileges for two years.
In addition, Ashline forfeited two rifles and a spotlight; Rudolph forfeited one rifle and must complete 100 hours community service; and Drake must complete 80 hours of community service.
Beginning in October 2019, Department wardens began by investigating a buck shot near Valley City that had its antlers removed. Within a week, another buck, also missing its antlers, was discovered in nearly the same location. No meat was removed from either carcass and left to rot.
Mark Pollert, Department warden supervisor in Jamestown, said more suspicious, dead deer were reported to wardens later that fall, most near the Sheyenne River Valley from Lake Ashtabula to Kathryn. In two cases, antlers had been removed from the deer in the same manner and the carcasses left to waste.
In December 2019, game wardens, with assistance of warden pilot Jeff Sieger of Bismarck, conducted a night flight in hopes of developing suspects. That night, warden Michael Sedlacek of Fargo became involved in a ground pursuit of a vehicle that appeared to be illegally shining wildlife.
The vehicle eventually got stuck in the snow and the shining suspects, who were not involved in the same case with the four eventually convicted men, were apprehended with the assistance of other wardens and law enforcement personnel. During an interview with the suspects, wardens discovered a photo of a large whitetail buck, which led to additional investigations.
“Catching those guys shining deer landed us a photo of a poached deer we’d been hearing about and got us to digging further,” Hastings said.
Lots of digging followed.
“Like I’ve said multiple times, it was a lot of work, a lot of investigating,” Hastings said.
Wardens spent countless hours conducting interviews, served several warrants and collected evidence for safekeeping and DNA analysis.
Assisting Hastings with much of the investigation was warden Andrew Dahlgren of Edgeley. Seven wardens from the southeastern part of the state were involved in varying degrees in the complicated case, Pollert said.
“This investigation was highly complex and involved hundreds of warden hours to successfully complete,” said Scott Winkelman, Game and Fish Department enforcement division chief. “It really shows the excellent work our game wardens do on a daily basis. The entire investigation is a terrific example of how the public, game wardens and the state’s attorneys can work together to protect North Dakota’s wildlife.”
Wardens thanked citizens for reporting the suspicious activities that led to the investigations. Thanks also to the Barnes County Sheriff’s office and the North Dakota Highway Patrol for their assistance. And special thanks to the Barnes County State’s Attorney’s office for their dedication in prosecuting the case.
Walleye Verified as State Record
2020 Deer Season Summarized
A total of 58,146 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 39,322 deer during the 2020 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department.
Game and Fish made available 68,650 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 68%, with each hunter spending an average of 4.8 days in the field.
Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 67%, and antlerless whitetail was 63%.
Mule deer buck success was 81%, and antlerless mule deer was 83%.
Hunters with any-antlered or any-antlerless licenses generally harvest white-tailed deer, as these licenses are predominantly in units with mostly whitetails. Buck hunters had a success rate of 70%, while doe hunters had a success rate of 69%.
Game and Fish issued 12,130 gratis licenses in 2020, and 9,678 hunters harvested 5,612 deer, for a success rate of 58%.
A total of 1,276 muzzleloader licenses were issued, and 1,093 hunters harvested 481 white-tailed deer (234 antlered, 247 antlerless). Hunter success was 44%.
A total of 30,336 archery licenses (27,041 resident, 3,295 nonresident) were issued in 2020. In total, 26,420, bowhunters harvested 9,911 deer (9,058 whitetails, 853 mule deer), for a success rate of 38%.
NASP State Tournament Results
School-aged archers from across the state participated virtually in the 2021 National Archery in the Schools state tournament. Archers competed in their own gymnasiums and scores were submitted electronically.
The top 10 archers in each division of the bullseye tournament qualify for the national tournament, which will be held virtually. In addition, the top team in each division also qualifies.
The North Dakota Youth Archery Advisory Committee contributed $21,000 in college scholarships to the top five overall scorers in both boys and girls divisions.
Oakes students claimed top honors in the high school (grades 9-12), middle school (grades 7-8) and elementary (grades 4-6) bullseye team divisions.
The overall individual male winner was Oakes archer Hunter Kamlitz, while Medina student Gracie Gunderson claimed the top individual spot in the female division.
Top three place winners in the individual competition by division:
- High school boys – 1) Hunter Kamlitz, Oakes; 2) Clancey Zimbelman, Oakes; 2) Casey Everson, Barnes County North.
- High school girls – 1) Gracy Gunderson, Medina; 2) Tallin Schafer, Lidgerwood; 3) Allee Boyer, Edgeley.
- Middle school boys – 1) Braysen Sagert, Oakes; 2) Gage Hoffman, Medina; 3) Hunter Genre, New Rockford-Sheyenne.
- Middle school girls – 1) Shayle Zimbelman, Oakes; 2) Madison Samuelson, Mt. Pleasant; 3) Mackenzie Nogowski, North Sargent.
- Elementary boys – 1) Drew Hofmann, Medina; 2) Louis Schmidt, Ellendale; 3) Andy Jones, Oakes.
- Elementary girls – 1) Alyssa Brummund, Edgeley; 2) Nora Helgerson, Oakes; 3) Sophia Krush, Wilton.
In addition, archers were scored in a NASP 3-D Challenge tournament.
In the team category, Oakes students claimed top honors in the high school and middle school divisions, while Wilton claimed the top prize in the elementary division.
Overall individual male and female winners were Clancey Zimbelman, Oakes, and Gracie Gunderson, Medina.
- Top three individual performers in the 3-D high school boys division were 1) Clancey Zimbelman, Oakes; 2) Mason Kamlitz, Oakes; 3) Connor Cose, Mt. Pleasant.
- 3-D high school girls – 1) Gracie Gunderson, Medina; 2) Zoey Bohnenstingl, Lidgerwood; 3) Keera Erickson, Oakes.
- 3-D middle school boys – 1) Braysen Sagert, Oakes; 2) Isaiah Wertz, Oakes; 3) Hunter Genre, New Rockford-Sheyenne.
- 3-D middle school girls – 1) Shayne Zimbelman, Oakes; 2) Gabriella Golmer, Wilton; 3) Madison Samuelson, Mt. Pleasant.
- 3-D elementary boys – 1) Louis Schmidt, Ellendale; 2) Deahgan Benson, Gackle-Streeter; 3) Hudson Miller, Wahpeton.
- 3-D elementary girls – 1) Karly Rivinius, Gackle-Streeter; 2) Megan Jarrett, St. Johns Academy; 3) Morgan Scott, St. Johns Academy; 3) Sophia Krush, Wilton.
Cleaning Stations Help in ANS Fight
Report Bald Eagle Nest Sightings
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking for help locating active bald eagle nests.
Conservation biologist Sandra Johnson said the Department is looking for locations of nests with eagles present, not individual eagle sightings.
Eagles lay eggs in early to mid-March, which hatch about a month later. Johnson said it’s easy to distinguish an eagle nest because of its enormous size.
Nearly 300 active bald eagle nests can be found in more than three-quarters of the counties in the state. Historically, Johnson said nests were found along river corridors, but that’s not the case today.
“Bald eagles have proven to be quite adaptable and will nest in trees out in the middle of pastures, fields or anywhere they’ve got a food source nearby,” she said.
Nest observations should be reported here. Observers are asked not to disturb the nest, and to stay a safe distance away. Johnson said foot traffic may disturb the bird, likely causing the eagle to leave her eggs or young unattended.
Earth Day Patch Contest Winners
Environmental Education Workshop Offered
The 2021 Collaborative Environmental Education Workshop, featuring Habitats of North Dakota, Project Learning Tree and Project Wild materials, will be held June 15-16 at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
This is an educational workshop for teachers, environmental educators, or anyone who wishes to learn more about the outside world. The five North Dakota habitats (wetlands, badlands, prairie, woodlands and riparian) will be studied, including their location, plants and animals and the importance of each habitat. The North Dakota Habitats, Project Learning Tree and Project WILD curriculums will be used as textbooks for this course. Explore topics like species diversity, invasive species, wildlife migration and adaptations.
The workshop will be interactive and fast paced, with hands-on activities. Lessons will be project based and correlated to academic standards. Different instructional methods will be used to reach all learning styles. Be prepared for outdoor walking field trips and activities, weather permitting. All supplies are provided.
One graduate credit is available through North Dakota State University. Register for the workshop at www.ndsu.edu/dce//k-12/info/18147.
For more information, contact Sherry Niesar at (701-527-3714).
