North Dakota’s swan lottery has been held and more than 180 licenses remain. Only hunters who do not have a swan license for the 2016 season can apply, as regulations limit hunters to one license per year.
Beginning Sept. 7, all remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Resident and nonresident hunters will be able to apply online, or print out an application to mail, at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Hunters may also request an application by calling the department’s Bismarck office at 701-328-6300. The license fee is $10 for residents and $30 for nonresidents.
The statewide tundra swan hunting season is Oct. 1 – Jan. 1, 2017.
Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 2
North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that deer bow licenses and accompanying tags are only available through electronic purchase.
Bowhunters can buy a license online at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov; by calling 800-406-6409; or at vendors linked to the Game and Fish Department’s online licensing system. Hunters who purchase bow licenses at an online vendor will receive a tag at time of purchase; otherwise, hunters who purchase their license over the phone or personal computer should allow for several days to receive their tag in the mail.
Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on Game and Fish wildlife management areas.
In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and all of units 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.
The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2017. Hunters should refer to the 2016 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.
Agencies Prohibit Hunting over Bait
Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.
The governor’s proclamation relating to chronic wasting disease also includes a provision that prohibits hunting big game over bait on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and all of units 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.
Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of baits for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting. Bait, in this case, includes grain, seed, mineral, salt, fruit, vegetable nut, hay, any naturally derived scent or lure, or any other natural or manufactured food placed by an individual.
Bait does not include agricultural practices, gardens, wildlife food plots, agricultural crops, livestock feeds, fruit or vegetables in their natural location such as apples on or under an apple tree, or unharvested food or vegetables in a garden.
In addition, any firearms, equipment or accessories used by hunters on Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage may not be left unattended without written permission of the property owner. This includes, but is not limited to, guns, blinds, stands, baits, scents and decoys. This means a hunter cannot place bait on PLOTS prior to or during the season and leave it there, unless permission has been granted by the landowner.
Pronghorn Lottery Held
North Dakota’s pronghorn lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the State Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
A total of 730 licenses were available in units 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4C. More than 8,900 applications, including 256 gratis, were received. All licenses were issued.
Unsuccessful applicants who submitted their application online or through the department’s 800 licensing telephone number will receive a refund back to their credit card. Individuals who submitted paper applications will receive a refund check.
Dove Season Opens Sept. 1
North Dakota’s dove season opens statewide Sept. 1, and hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting.
The daily limit is 15 and possession limit is 45. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. The season is open through Nov. 29.
All dove hunters must possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a general game and habitat license, regardless of age. In addition, hunters ages 16 and older need a small game license.
Hunters who do not HIP certify when they buy a North Dakota license, can add it through the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov, or by calling 888-634-4798 and recording the HIP number on their printed license.
Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose or early Canada goose seasons in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year. However, hunters must HIP register in each state for which they are licensed before hunting migratory game birds.
MacLean Shooting Range, Boat Ramp Closed Aug. 27
The MacLean Bottoms public shooting range and boat ramp located south of Bismarck will be closed for a scheduled volunteer recognition event on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The shooting range will close Friday at 3 p.m., and will resume normal operation on Sunday. The boat ramp will not be usable Saturday only.
Youth Outdoor Festival Sept. 1 in Minot
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot.
The event is Thursday, Sept. 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Game and Fish Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park on the grounds of the North Dakota State Fair.
Young outdoor enthusiasts will experience a number of activities, including archery, fishing, waterfowl and upland game. Prizes will be awarded and food is provided.
For more information, contact Game and Fish outreach biologist Greg Gullickson at 701-720-1640.
Sportsman Against Hunger Accepting Goose Meat
The North Dakota Community Action Sportsmen Against Hunger program is accepting donations of goose meat taken during the early Canada goose season. In addition, the program will accept Canada and light (snow, blue and Ross’s) goose donations during the regular waterfowl season.
Similar to last year, hunters can bring in their goose meat to participating processors after removing the breast meat from the birds at home. Or, hunters may also deliver geese directly from the field to a processor, but identification such as the wing or head must remain attached to the bird until in possession of the processor.
For a list of participating processors in North Dakota, visit the North Dakota Community Action website at www.capnd.org.
Breast meat brought from home without a wing or head attached to the meat must be accompanied by written information that includes the hunter’s name, address, signature, hunting license number, date taken and species and number taken. Information forms are also available at the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov/sah.
Hunters will also fill out a brief form so that processors can keep a record on donated goose meat, the same as is required for processing any other type of wild game meat.
Since no goose carcasses or feathers are allowed inside processing facilities, hunters must be able to ensure proper disposal and clean-up of carcasses.
Hunters Reminded of Big Game Transport Rules
Big game hunters are reminded of requirements for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.
Hunters harvesting a big game animal this fall in North Dakota deer unit 3F2 cannot transport a carcass containing the head and spinal column outside of the unit unless it’s taken to a meat processor within five days of the harvest date. The head can be removed from the carcass and transported outside of the unit if it is to be submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for CWD surveillance purposes, or to a licensed taxidermist.
If the deer is processed in the field to boned meat, and the hunter wants to leave the head in the field, the head must be legally tagged and the hunter must be able to return to or give the exact location of the head if requested for verification.
In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited in deer units 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.
Hunters are prohibited from transporting into or within North Dakota the whole carcass, or certain carcass parts, of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family from areas within states and provinces with documented occurrences of CWD in wild populations, or from farmed cervid operations within states and provinces that have had farmed cervids diagnosed with CWD. Only the following portions of the carcass can be transported:
Meat that is cut and wrapped either commercially or privately.
Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
Meat that has been boned out.
Hides with no heads attached.
Clean (no meat or tissue attached) skull plates with antlers attached.
Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.
Upper canine teeth, also known as buglers, whistlers or ivories.
Finished taxidermy heads.
Hunters should refer to the 2016-17 CWD proclamation on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, for game management units, equivalent wildlife management units, or counties in other states that have had free-ranging deer, moose or elk diagnosed with CWD. Importation of harvested elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose or other cervids from listed areas are restricted.
Duck Brood Numbers Up from Last Year
State Game and Fish Department biologists expect a fall duck flight from North Dakota that is similar to last year, based on observations from the annual mid-July waterfowl production survey.
This year’s brood index came in at 3.89 broods per square mile, which is up 11 percent from last year. The statewide average since the survey began in the 1950s is 2.55 broods per square mile.
Observers also count water areas during the summer survey, and this year’s water index was 35 percent higher than last year. Because of abundant rains in many parts of North Dakota since late May, Game and Fish migratory game bird management supervisor Mike Szymanski said summer wetland conditions are improved over spring conditions.
“It was fairly dry when we did our spring survey, but after that we started to get some good rains that helped improve late nesting and renesting efforts,” Szymanski said. “Wetlands were drying up quickly this spring, but then the rains came. The heavy, often localized rainfall helped keep brood habitat on the map into late summer in many areas.”
Game and Fish biologists conduct a separate survey in September to assess wetland conditions heading into the waterfowl hunting seasons.
Mallards, gadwall and blue-winged teal are the top three duck species that nest in North Dakota, and together they accounted for nearly 80 percent of the broods observed in the summer survey. Mallard brood numbers were up about 15 percent from last year, gadwalls were up about 28 percent, and blue-winged teal broods were down about 5 percent. Blue-winged teal are typically the most prevalent breeding duck in North Dakota.
The Game and Fish summer duck brood survey involves 18 routes that cover all sectors of the state except west and south of the Missouri River. Biologists count and classify duck broods and water areas within 220 yards on each side of the road.
The survey started in the late 1950s, and all routes used today have been in place since 1965.
Hunters Asked to Report Banded Migratory Birds
Hunters are reminded to check harvested migratory birds for bands this fall and report their findings.
Information from birds with a federal band should be reported online at www.reportband.gov. In addition, the bird banding lab has a new, mobile friendly reporting site that will aid hunters to report bands via mobile devices. Those without access to the internet can report bands by calling 800-327-2263.
The band number, date and location of each recovery are needed. After the band information is processed, hunters can request a certificate of appreciation, and information about the bird will be returned in an email. Hunters can keep all bands they recover.
Information received from hunters is critical for management of migratory game birds.
Hunter Ed Class for Women Offered in Bismarck
Women interested in getting hunter education certified prior to the fall hunting season can sign up for a class offered Aug. 17 in Bismarck.
The class will meet from 6-9 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s main office. Evening activities include classroom instruction, self-paced internet classes and a written exam. Participants will have two weeks to complete an online portion, take a short exam and print a certificate of completion. On Aug. 31 at 6 p.m., the class will gather at Game and Fish to participate in a group discussion and take the final written exam.
Students should register online at the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. To register, click on buy and apply, and “online course enrollment” under the hunter education heading. The course number is 2762.
Students who do not have access to the internet and want to sign up for the class can call the hunter education program at 328-6615.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department