Buffaloberry Patch

2024 CWD Test Results

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tested 1,456 animals for chronic wasting disease during the 2024 sampling season, and confirmed 17 deer tested positive for CWD, 15 of which were taken by hunters and two were clinical deer confirmed through diagnostic examination.

Positive cases came from units 3A1 (seven mule deer), 3E1 (one mule deer), 3E2 (one mule deer), 3F2 (four mule deer and two whitetails), 3B2 (one mule deer) and 3B3 (one whitetail). CWD was not previously detected in units 3B2 or 3B3.

Sampling efforts fell short of the 10% goal in units where CWD surveillance was concentrated.

CWD is a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that remains on the landscape and can cause long-term population impacts as infection rates climb.

More information about CWD can be found online.

It’s not uncommon for North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists to put GPS or satellite transmitters on big game, upland game, waterfowl and furbearers in North Dakota for research purposes. In the last few years, biologists have been tracking a couple of nongame species, too.

“We have two projects now where we’re tagging grassland birds. The first is on long-billed curlews, a large shorebird that nests in far southwestern North Dakota,” said Sandra Johnson, Department conservation biologist. “Another project is on the Western meadowlark, our state bird.”

Since 2022, biologists have fitted 11 long-billed curlews and 11 Western meadowlarks in North Dakota with transmitters. Johnson said tracking these grassland birds is important because it provides biologists vital insights into the full life cycles of these migrant birds and what could be impacting their populations.

“We’re wanting to learn what type of habitats they’re using in North Dakota, how long they’re staying here and using those habitats, and where they are going when they leave the state,” she said. “We also want to know if the birds are making stopovers in other states during their migrations, where they are spending winter and the types of habitats they’re using on wintering grounds. Plus, when they return to North Dakota in spring, we want to know if they are returning to the same areas they used the prior year.”

Concerning the latter: “These grassland nesting birds are coming back to the same areas in North Dakota that they nested the previous year. Knowing that, it’s really important that we maintain grasslands, that we maintain ranching,” Johnson said. “You know, you typically don’t see a meadowlark unless there’s cattle around, so it’s really important that we keep grasslands on the landscape.”

And where do these birds go in winter?

“Most of the meadowlarks are going to eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas. We know from the data we’re collecting from these tags that the meadowlarks are returning to North Dakota in about mid-April,” Johnson said.

Unlike North Dakota’s state bird, which has demonstrated a troubling slide in numbers over the years, curlews migrate even farther for winter to parts of Texas and central Mexico.

“The Western meadowlark is slowly declining, about 1% per year. But we know even from the public, people don’t see meadowlarks like they used to,” Johnson said. “While long-billed curlews are another grassland nesting bird that have definitely declined over the years, they’re doing OK.”

New this year, anglers can choose to complete the Total Catch Challenge by coaching a new angler, cleaning up a local water body, cooking a catch, and casting a story.

In addition, anglers can complete the Rough Fish Challenge by catching a bullhead, carp and sucker, the Sportfish Challenge by catching a bluegill, walleye, bass and trout, or the inaugural Classic Challenge, which requires anglers to catch a northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and channel catfish.

No matter your choice, the process is simple. Snap a photo of each and submit your entry on the North Dakota Game and Fish website now through August 15.

Anglers who complete a challenge will receive a decal and certificate.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2024 bighorn sheep survey, completed by recounting lambs in March, revealed a minimum of 350 bighorn sheep in the grasslands of western North Dakota, down 4% from 2023 and 6% above the five-year average. Despite a slight decrease from the record count in 2023, the 2024 survey was still the second highest count on record.

Altogether, biologists counted 105 rams, 199 ewes and 46 lambs. Not included are approximately 40 bighorn sheep in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and bighorns introduced to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 2020.

Brett Wiedmann, Department big game biologist, was pleased to see the population remain near record levels for the seventh consecutive year.

The northern badlands population declined by 4% from 2023 but was the second highest count on record. The southern badlands population increased slightly but remained near its lowest level since bighorns were reintroduced there in 1966.

“We were encouraged to see adult rams and adult ewes near record numbers,” Wiedmann said. “The streak of four consecutive record counts was broken due to below-average lamb recruitment in 2024, as lambs recruited into the population declined 21% compared to 2023.”

Weidmann said the decline in lamb recruitment was likely not related to disease, but a combination of drought, predation and ewes recovering after several years of high lamb recruitment.

“Our state’s females have invested a lot of energy in rearing lambs the last four years, so sometimes they just need to take a break and concentrate on improving body condition,” he said.

Department biologists count and classify all bighorn sheep in late summer, and then recount lambs the following March, as they approach one year of age, to determine recruitment.

Currently, about 480 bighorns make up the populations managed by the Game and Fish Department, National Park Service and the Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Division, just shy of the benchmark of 500 bighorns in the state.

A bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled for 2025. The status of the season will be determined Sept. 1, following the summer population survey. Game and Fish issued seven licenses in 2024, and all hunters were successful in harvesting a ram.

Lake LaMoure Association Recognized

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department recognized Lake LaMoure Association with the 2025 certificate of appreciation for its involvement in public use areas and facilities for more than 40 years.

Each year the Department cooperates in the development and enhancement of public boating and fishing related facilities throughout the state. Almost always, these activities and efforts would not be possible without the assistance and support of a local entity of some form. While most park boards, wildlife clubs, or water resource boards play a role, there are always a few boards or groups, like Lake LaMoure Association, that stand out above the others.

A few examples of the association’s accomplishments include maintaining the parking lot area at the boat ramp; caring for several public use docks, access sites, and fishing piers; constructing a fish cleaning station; and updating camping facilities for visiting recreators.

Gangl Earns Service Award

Scott Gangl, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries management section leader, was awarded The Dakota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society’s Robert L. Hanten Distinguished Professional Service Award at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting in February. This award recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution within the fisheries profession in the Dakotas.

In his position, Gangl supervises 15 permanent employees and is responsible for the development and implementation of numerous policies and operational guidelines including strategic planning, fishing regulations, fish stocking and standard sampling guidelines, creel surveys, and commercial fishing and eradication policies.

“Scott has successfully tailored his leadership style to achieve the most from the diversity of employees he has supervised. His adaptability has allowed him to lead by example by obtaining and basing fisheries management decisions on the best available science,” according to the nomination letter. “Scott’s ability to build positive working relationships, interpersonal rapport, and sound reasoning has contributed to his effective leadership. His employees view him as someone with a broad knowledge base that provides thoughtful input without condescension. He takes mentorship seriously and encourages the professional development of his staff.”