Buffaloberry Patch
HuntLink to Help Landowners
Huntlink is a new voluntary program designed to help North Dakota landowners easily connect with hunters and trappers. The program offers a simple way to allow managed access for antlerless deer, coyotes, turkeys, and other species. For landowners experiencing wildlife depredation or looking for additional management tools, HuntLink can help.
Landowners can enroll through their North Dakota Game and Fish My Account page and may remove their listing at any time once they’ve connected with enough participants.
Hunters can view landowner requests across the state through the HuntLink map, but they must contact landowners directly to obtain permission before hunting or trapping.
Earth Day Patch Contest Entry Deadline Nears
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day Patch Contest is an effort to heighten awareness about the environment.
Students who participate will develop a patch design using five colors incorporating an aspect of Earth Day such as environmental awareness, respect Earth, water quality, wildlife, or habitat conservation in North Dakota.
The contest is open to students in grades K-12. Winners are chosen from four grade categories (K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12). Each winner will receive an outdoor kit, which includes a pair of binoculars and field guides. The grand prize patch design winner is chosen from one of the four winning age categories.
The entry deadline is March 1. More Information.
Communications Supervisor Retires
Greg Freeman retired in January after more than 30 years with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Freeman began working with the agency in 1991. At the time of his retirement, he was the agency’s communications supervisor, a position he held since 2020.
Mike Anderson, who started with the agency in 1995 and was named video project supervisor in 2017, has filled Freeman’s position.
Rott Fills Fisheries Post
Lucas Rott was named Game and Fish Department north central district fisheries supervisor in Riverdale.
Rott has worked in the Department’s fisheries division since 2018, starting out as a seasonal in Riverdale before moving to Jamestown in 2023 to work as a fisheries technician in the southeast district.
Agency Employees recognized
Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department director, recently honored employees with performance-based awards. The following special recognition awards were presented during the Department’s staff meeting in December.
Blake Riewer, enforcement division investigator, Grand Forks, was recognized for consistently providing assistance on complex investigations and handling a significant amount of the behind-the-scenes technical work that is essential in today’s digital investigative environment.
Brian Frohlich, fisheries biological technician, Riverdale, was recognized for stepping in when the Riverdale office was understaffed to oversee all fall sampling for the fisheries district. Frohlich not only met but exceeded expectations by ensuring that sampling was conducted on every district lake that required survey work
Amanda Anstrom, assistant licensing manager, Bismarck, was recognized for her exceptional leadership, dedication and service by skillfully leading the licensing staff, overseeing complex front-end operations including licensing, lotteries and registrations.
Shane Wagner, data scientist (left), Colin Penner (right), private land biologist/GIS specialist, and Kevin Kading (center), private land section leader, all Bismarck, were recognized for reducing the extensive amount of administrative work required in delivering private land programs in North Dakota. The private land technical teams worked together to optimize workflows by, for example, integrating electronic signatures for contracts and management plans.
Jeff Long (left), education coordinator, Brian Schaffer (center), hunter education coordinator, and Amber Schroeter (right), administrative assistant, all Bismarck, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Department’s education section by consistently executing large, complex events essential to the agency, such as NASP tournaments, volunteer banquet and volunteer training.
Holen Named Agency Employee of the Year
Ben Holen, aquatic nuisance species coordinator, Jamestown, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence at the Department’s annual staff meeting in December.
Since stepping into the role of ANS coordinator, Holen has demonstrated exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to protecting North Dakota’s aquatic resources.
“What truly sets Ben apart is his leadership style. In a program that is often thankless and rarely acknowledged, he maintains an unwavering positive attitude,” said Jeb Williams, Department director. “This positivity is reflected in his team and in the army of temporary staff who feel supported, informed, and valued under his guidance. Ben has become the Department’s go-to source for all things ANS, providing clarity, insight, and stability in a volatile and high-stakes program.”