Buffaloberry Patch
New Hunting, Trapping Guide
Hunters and trappers can find the North Dakota 2023-24 Hunting and Trapping Guide, which includes upland game, migratory game bird and furbearer hunting/trapping regulations and other information online. Printed guides are available at the usual license vendor locations.
The 50-plus page guide also features a colored duck identification guide, aquatic nuisance species information, Tom Roster’s Nontoxic Shot Lethality Table and more.
Slowing the Spread of CWD
Hunters are reminded it is unlawful to hunt big game over bait, or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, in deer units 1, 2B, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F.
The restriction is in place to help slow the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause long-term population declines if left unchecked.
In addition, baiting for any purpose is prohibited on all North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas. Hunting big game over bait is also prohibited on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands, and all North Dakota state trust, state park and state forest service lands.
Getting HIP
Collecting Feathers
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.
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 should visit the Game and Fish website or contact the Department’s main office in Bismarck at 701-328-6300.
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.
WMA Equipment Requirement
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters that tree stands, ground blinds and game cameras left on state wildlife management areas after January 31, is considered abandoned property and is subject to removal.
In addition, an equipment registration number, or the owner’s name, address and telephone number, must be displayed on all equipment requiring identification.
Owners can generate an equipment registration number by visiting My Account. One registration number will be issued that can be used on all equipment that requires identification.
Fall Fire Danger Index
As hunting seasons and other fall activities get underway, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts need to be aware of the daily fire danger index.
There is a lot of fuel on the landscape, and hunters are urged to keep up with the daily rural fire danger index, which is issued by the National Weather Service, to alert the public to conditions that may be conducive to the accidental starting or spread of fires.
In addition, county governments have the authority to adopt penalties for violations of county restrictions related to burning bans. These restrictions apply regardless of the daily fire danger index and remain in place until each county’s commission rescinds the ban.
Hunters should consider bringing along a shovel, fire extinguisher, extra water and heavy fabric for putting out accidental fires. However, individuals who are not trained firefighters should not attempt to fight a fire that is out of control. Instead, contact the nearest rural fire department immediately.
Also, hunters should stay clear of tall vegetation when parking a vehicle.
The fire danger index can change daily depending on temperature, wind and precipitation forecasts. If the index reaches the high, very high or extreme category, open burning is prohibited; off-road travel with a motorized vehicle is prohibited, except for people engaged in a trade, business or occupation where it is required; and smoking is restricted to inside of vehicles, hard surface areas, homes or in approved buildings.
Information on current fire danger indexes is available online.
Duck Stamp Required
A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older beginning September 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots.
This year’s 2023-24 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, or at license vendors registered with the Department’s licensing system.
Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors, but 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. Federal duck stamp will be printed on the license certificate, along with an expiration date 45 days from the date of purchase. The physical stamp will be sent by postal mail.
The physical stamp is processed and sent by the official duck stamp vendor 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 at 800-852-4897.
The federal duck stamp has a fee of $25. An additional $1.50 fee is added to cover shipping and handling costs of the physical stamp.
Bands on Birds
Sandhill Crane Permits Required
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.
PLOTS Guide Online
Pull to the Right
North Dakota hunters need 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.
Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest
Photographers interested in sending photos for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest must follow guidelines for submitting their work.
Photographers should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps both with ease of submitting photos for the photographer and managing those images for department staff.
The contest is open and the deadline for submitting photos is Oct. 2. For more information or questions, contact Patrick Isakson, department conservation biologist, at pisakson@nd.gov.
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.
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 and on the department’s website.
Gordon Gifts Artwork to Agency
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the North Dakota Council on the Arts, hosted its first Artist in Residence Program at the Department’s Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site in June.
The program sought out professional artists who appreciate the natural resources and wished to provide visitors a unique opportunity to connect with the outdoors through art. Artists had to be at least 18 and North Dakota residents to be eligible for the program.
Mel Gordon (pictured left), Bismarck, was selected as the 2023 Artist in Residence, and as part of her residency, Gordon presented an onsite workshop and an exhibition of her work completed during the residency. In addition, she donated a finished piece of artwork to the Department completed during her stay.
Staff Notes
Jensen Earns Shack Award
Bill Jensen, Game and Fish Department big game management biologist, was honored in June with the Spirit of the Shack Award at the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies annual director’s meeting in Wisconsin.
The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the ideals of the honored conservationist and educator, Aldo Leopold, and who has contributed to conservation as a steward and educator in superior ways.
“By any measure of success, Bill’s accomplishments throughout his career are beyond admirable,” said Stephanie Tucker, Game and Fish Department game management section leader. “Yet, Bill, never seeks credit for the work he does, and instead is content with the personal knowledge that his success is success for all of us.”
Williams New PLI Biologist
Jeff Williams was hired in July as a private land biologist in Jamestown, focusing on private land management, partnerships and the Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program. Williams earned a wildlife ecology research and management degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
New Fisheries Supervisor Named
Aaron Slominski was recently promoted to Department district fisheries supervisor in Williston and will oversee management activities in northwestern and southwestern North Dakota. Slominski has been with the Department since 2013 as a fisheries biologist.
Hiltner Retires from Agency
Randy Hiltner retired after 36 years with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Hiltner joined the Department in 1987, and at the time of his retirement he was a fisheries supervisor in Devils Lake.
John Retires
Pat John, longtime North Dakota Game and Fish Department employee, retired after 29 years with the agency. John joined the agency in 1994, and at the time of his retirement was a fisheries biological technician in Jamestown.