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News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

News Releases

CWD Test Results

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tested 1,456 animals for chronic wasting disease during the 2024 sampling season. Game and Fish 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.

Game and Fish will use its 2024 surveillance data to guide CWD management moving forward. Regulations related to CWD are set annually by proclamation.

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 by visiting the department’s website, gf.nd.gov/cwd.

Spring Turkey Drawing Held, Licenses Remain

The 2025 spring wild turkey lottery and more than 1,400 licenses remain in 10 units. Remaining licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Feb. 26 at 8 a.m. Central time. 

Hunters are allowed two licenses for the spring season.

Licenses remain in unit 06, Adams and Bowman counties; unit 13, Dunn County; unit 19, Grant and Sioux counties and portions of Morton County; unit 25, McHenry County and portions of Pierce and Ward counties; unit 30, portions of Morton County; unit 31, Mountrail County; unit 44, Hettinger and Slope counties; unit 45, Stark County; unit 51, Burke County and portions of Renville, Bottineau and Ward counties; and unit 53, Williams and Divide counties.

Applications must be submitted online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website. Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply.  

Spring Turkey Apps Due

Spring turkey applicants should note the deadline to apply is Feb. 12.

Applicants can apply online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Spring turkey licenses are available only to North Dakota residents. 

 

Spring Light Goose Conservation Order

North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 15 and continues through May 11.

Residents must have a 2024-25 (valid through March 31) or 2025-26 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Resident youth under age 16 only need the general game and habitat license. The 2025-26 license is available for purchase beginning March 15.

Nonresidents need a 2025 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in spring remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring license does not count against the 14-day fall waterfowl hunting season regulation.

In addition, nonresident youth under 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee.

A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents.

Resident and nonresident licenses are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota’s spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota’s fall hunting season. The number can be obtained online on the Game and Fish website.

The spring conservation order is only open to light geese – snows, blues and Ross’s. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The conservation order is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

For more information on regulations refer to the 2025 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations.

 

Guide and Outfitter Exam Scheduled

The next guide and outfitter written examination is April 5 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than March 28 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604.

In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations, certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid, and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.

Hunting outfitter eligibility requirements include the guide qualifications, and an individual must have held a hunting guide license for two years and must have proof of liability insurance. 

 

Electronic Posting System for Private Land Available

Landowners interested in posting private land electronically for the 2025-26 hunting season can log into My Account on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Landowners who have a profile on the Game and Fish Department’s mobile application have an option this year to communicate with hunters using their cellphone app. A link will be available for hunters to send a request to the individual posting the land.

The deadline to digitally post land is July 1, which enables Game and Fish to produce print material and digital content prior to hunting seasons that begin in August.

Landowners who enrolled land electronically last year can renew, add or modify posting designations during the enrollment period. Others posting for the first time might need to create a profile. To post land, proceed to the “Land Parcels/Electronic Posting” section at the bottom of the page and click “Search/Renew Land parcels.” The electronic posting system is linked to land descriptions based on county tax parcel information.

The Game and Fish website has complete instructions for landowners, along with frequently asked questions for both landowners and hunters. 

 

Game and Fish Monitoring Avian Influenza Outbreak

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is monitoring a mortality event involving Canada geese along the Missouri River and Nelson Lake in Oliver County. Testing of carcasses has indicated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the likely cause. Carcasses have been reported where large congregations of geese occur near open water. 

The virus can cause high levels of sickness and death in free ranging waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. Cases of HPAI are commonly detected in North Dakota as waterfowl migrate through, and winter in the state.

The Game and Fish Department asks the public to help in monitoring the outbreak in wild birds by reporting any sick or dead birds through the online form gf.nd.gov/mortality-report.

The risk to humans and pets is considered low. However, direct contact with sick or dead birds should be limited. Carcasses that must be moved can be placed in a garbage bag and disposed via a waste management provider. Wear disposable gloves and wash hands, clothes and equipment afterward. 

HPAI can affect domestic birds. Recommendations for poultry owners include biosecurity measures such as: keeping visitors to a minimum, washing hands before and after contact with live poultry, changing clothes before and after exiting their property, and looking for signs of illness. Report sick or dead domestic poultry to the state veterinarian’s office at 701-328-2655.

More information about HPAI can be found at www.fws.gov/avian-influenza.

Watchable Wildlife Checkoff on State Tax Form

North Dakotans interested in supporting wildlife conservation programs should look for the Watchable Wildlife checkoff on the state tax form.

The state income tax form gives wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to support nongame wildlife like songbirds and birds of prey, while at the same time contributing to programs that help everyone enjoy all wildlife.

The checkoff – whether you are receiving a refund or having to pay in – is an easy way to voluntarily contribute to sustain this long‑standing program. In addition, direct donations to the program are accepted any time of year.

To learn more about Watchable Wildlife program activities and to view the winning entries in the 2024 photo contest, featured in the January issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.

Game and Fish Seeks Contractors for Work on Private Lands

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages businesses to add their names to a list of available contractors to perform habitat work on Private Land Open To Sportsmen program lands across the state.

PLOTS is an agreement between the department and private landowners to open their lands to walk-in hunting. The department also encourages private landowners to establish or enhance habitat on PLOTS land with grass plantings, food plots, and so on. However, if a landowner does not have the necessary equipment for the work, a contractor is usually needed.  

There is a shortage of contractors, or equipment, to perform habitat work in some parts of the state. The bulk of the habitat work is planting native and introduced grasses, which requires a tractor, operator and a grass drill. Other work may include spraying, food plots, tree removal, prescribed burning, and construction of grazing infrastructure (fence/water).

Contractors or businesses interested in being added to the list can click here or call 701-328-6265. This is not a guarantee for work, but as projects come about the department will refer landowners to the list of available contractors. 

 

NASBLA Accepting Nominations for 2025 Awards

The 2025 Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award and the 2025 Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award are now open for nomination submissions.

The deadline to submit nominations is March 31.   

Nominations for the Butch Potts award is open to all commissioned, certified or sworn peace officers authorized by the state to enforce recreational boating safety laws of that state. Boating law administrators should nominate candidates who have made an outstanding contribution to boating safety through enforcement.

Educators and volunteers from state and local agencies and from nonprofit organizations are eligible for the Pamela S. Dillon award. Boating law administrators should nominate candidates who have made an outstanding contribution to boating safety through education. A nominee should be someone in the education field who goes above and beyond to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education and education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting. 

This awards program is one of the many benefits the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators offers to its members, to recognize individuals for their outstanding accomplishments. Nominations are free to submit and provide an excellent opportunity to highlight exceptional professionals in North Dakota.

Regional and national awards in both categories will be presented during the NASBLA annual conference Sept. 16-18 in Des Moines, Iowa. 

North Dakota nominations can only be submitted through Jackie Lundstrom, the state’s boating law administrator. They should include a letter of nomination and a photograph of the nominee for use by NASBLA. Nominations can be submitted by email to jalundst@nd.gov or by mail to North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Attn: BLA Lundstrom, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501. 

Waterfowl Survey Numbers Not a Surprise

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated about 88,000 Canada geese and 3,225 mallards in the state.

John Palarski, department migratory game bird biologist, said the below average count was expected this year for wintering waterfowl due to cold temperatures in late November and early January leading up to the survey.

“The majority of waterfowl that winter in North Dakota can be found along the Missouri River System. Following a record-setting count in 2024, we counted fewer geese and mallards than normal this year, which was directly due to the amount of ice cover across the state,” he said. “Although we don’t currently have much snow cover, cold temperatures in November and early January pushed many birds south and froze a considerable portion of the open water.” 

Lake Sakakawea, which in some years harbors thousands of wintering waterfowl, froze over on Jan. 4, just two days before the survey. In four of the last 10 years, the lower portion of Sakakawea still had substantial open water in early January and needed to be completely surveyed by air.

During the 2025 survey, an estimated 68,788 Canada geese were observed on the Missouri River, another 13,400 on Nelson Lake in Oliver County, and an additional 5,000-plus geese in other parts of the state. 

The 10-year average (2016-25) for the midwinter survey in North Dakota is 124,700 Canada geese and 14,000 mallards. All states in the Central Flyway participate in the survey during the same time frame to reduce the possibility of counting birds more than once.

Spring Turkey Season Set

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 8,547 wild turkey licenses for the 2025 spring hunting season, 410 more than last year.

Eight of the 21 hunting units have more spring licenses than last year, two have fewer licenses and 11 remain the same.

Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties), which has been closed for several years due to a low turkey population because of a lack of quality habitat, has been extended into units 44 and 06 to allow for more opportunities.

Spring turkey applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. 

The deadline for applying is Feb. 12.

First-time spring turkey hunters 15 or younger are eligible to receive one spring license valid for any open unit. To be eligible, the youth hunter must be 15 or younger on opening day of spring turkey season and has never received a spring turkey license in North Dakota.

The spring turkey season opens April 12 and continues through May 18.