My 2 Cents

Fall has a way of sharpening our senses. The cool morning air carries the smell of harvested fields. Leaves rustle underfoot. Waterfowl stir on a quiet slough before first light. Deer slip through shelterbelts as if they know what time of year it is.

For those of you who appreciate North Dakota’s diverse wildlife populations, this season is the heartbeat of our year, a reminder of why we live here and stubbornly defend our state as being so special.

All things Game and Fish are in full swing now. Biologists are putting the finishing touches on wildlife population surveys, game wardens are in the field ready to transition from summer to fall patrol, and fisheries crews are wrapping up projects before the ice comes.

Our education staff is working with schools, clubs and volunteers to bring new people into hunting, fishing and trapping. Every tag issued, every regulation set, and every habitat project completed is tied to the same goal of keeping North Dakota’s outdoor heritage strong.

A catchy phrase — Hunt for Tomorrow — created by one of our talented staff has given the Department an opportunity to deliver a wide variety of messaging related to hunting and how our actions of today impact what our tomorrow looks like.

Hunt for Tomorrow isn’t just a campaign slogan; it’s a mindset. It’s about recognizing the relationships you are willing to build with landowners, the pheasant cover you walk this fall, and the boat ramp at your favorite fishing hole that simply didn’t materialize by chance. They exist because someone before you cared enough to protect them, invest in them, and pass them on.

Over the last several years we have utilized this campaign to remind hunters of dry conditions, traveling in rural North Dakota during busy fall harvesting, and taking the extra steps to show your appreciation to landowners who have provided you with the opportunity to hunt.

These are just a few examples, but it is rewarding when I hear comments from the public who are appreciative of these pieces of information and how they feel it has had an impact.

Nobody likes to be lectured. These messages are intended to be educational, and our hope is to provide a heads up to those who may be traveling from afar and aren’t as familiar with rural North Dakota and existing conditions, which could have an impact on your hunting opportunities.

We have a new governor who is extremely passionate and committed to the outdoors, and passing on the opportunities to our young hunters. We are pretty good at that in North Dakota, but we can always do a little better. That means bringing a new hunter or angler along this season, whether it’s your son or daughter, a neighbor kid, or a friend who’s always been curious but never had the opportunity. It means sharing not just the “how-to,” but the “why” — the early mornings, the patience, the respect for the resource, and the satisfaction that comes from putting in the work.

It also means remembering that our hunting and fishing license dollars directly fund the management, conservation and access programs that make our seasons possible. Each purchase is a small investment in the future of the resource.

If we do this right, the next generation won’t just inherit healthy wildlife populations and access to great hunting and fishing, they’ll inherit the values that make our outdoor culture worth protecting. And they’ll choose North Dakota as their forever home.

So, as you lace up your boots, oil your shotgun, or check your bowstring this fall, remember that every day in the field is more than a hunt. It’s a chance to invest in tomorrow. And the best part? That investment pays back in memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.