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 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 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.
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 Administratorsoffers 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.
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.
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.
Hunter Education Classes
If you were born after 1961, are 12 years or older, you must take a home study or traditional classroom certified hunter education course before you can get a firearm or bowhunting license in North Dakota.
The home study, or hybrid course, requires 7-10 hours of online and six hours of in-person classroom time. The six hours of classroom time consists of an in-person session prior to starting the online class and at the end of the class to complete testing.
Traditional classroom courses require at least 14 hours of in-person class time, and most classes are held from January through May.
Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2025 must click on the education link at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required. Classes are listed by city and can also be sorted by start date. Classes will be added throughout the year as they become finalized.
Individuals interested in receiving a notice by email or SMS text message when each hunter education class is added, can click on the “subscribe to news and alerts” link below the news section on the Game and Fish home page. Check the box labeled “hunter education” under the education program updates.
Participants must turn 12 during the calendar year to take the home study course, and age 11 during the calendar year to take the traditional class.
Remove Gear from WMAs
Tree stands, blinds, steps, and other personal items such as cameras, must be removed from all wildlife management areas by Jan. 31.
Items not removed by then are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Youth Conservation and Leadership Summer Camp
The 1st Battalion of North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade will be held July 8-12 at the 4-H Center in Washburn.
NDWTFL is a five-day hands-on immersive learning experience for youth ages 13-17. The camp is designed to educate participants about the importance of wetland ecosystems, waterfowl biology, flock dynamics, shooting skills and safety, stewardship, public speaking, leadership development and more.
The deadline to apply is March 15.
NDWTFL is a program of Texas Brigades, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) focused on educating and empowering adolescents to become conservation ambassadors.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will track hunting and fishing issues during the 2025 legislative session.
Outdoor enthusiasts can follow proposed outdoors-related bills by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The webpage will be updated daily as legislation is introduced and bills progress through the session.
A brief description of each bill will be included. To view the bill in its entirety, click on the linked bill number.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department