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News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

News Releases

Small Game, Waterfowl, Furbearer Regulations Set

North Dakota’s 2024 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, and most season structures are similar to last year.

Noteworthy items include:

  • Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 21. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Sept. 28.
  • The prairie chicken and sage grouse seasons remain closed due to low populations.
  • An area in Grand Forks County is open to sharp-tailed grouse hunting that was previously closed.
  • Fisher trapping opportunities were expanded by reducing the boundary of the closed area to the Turtle Mountains.
  • Shooting hours for sandhill cranes were extended on Saturdays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 21 through the end of the season.
  • The federal e-stamp is valid through the entire waterfowl hunting season.

Hunters and trappers can find the North Dakota 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Guide, which includes upland game, migratory game bird and furbearer/trapping regulations, on the Game and Fish website. Printed guides will be available at vendor locations by late August.

For a complete listing of opening and closing dates, and daily and possession limits, refer to the table on pages 4-5 of the guide.

Pronghorn Applications Due

The deadline to apply for the 2024 pronghorn hunting season is Aug. 7.

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

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply.

More Elk Hunting Opportunities Possible on Public Lands

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing additional elk hunting opportunities on public lands in North Dakota at four national wildlife refuges.

The proposal includes an additional 100,000-plus acres at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge (58,939 acres), Upper Souris NWR (32,026 acres), Lostwood NWR (27,331 acres) and Des Lacs NWR (14,145 acres).

If the proposal is approved after a 30-day public comment period ending Sept. 3, hunters pursuing elk on these lands must use non-lead ammunition. The USFWS intends to finalize the proposed changes in time for the upcoming 2024-25 hunting season.

Pronghorn Hunting Season Set, Apply Online

The 2024 pronghorn hunting season is set with 1,265 licenses available and all units open.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game management supervisor Bruce Stillings said license numbers are up significantly from last year, when the department allocated 420 licenses in eight units.

“Last winter was mild, resulting in higher adult survival and fawn recruitment from 2023,” Stillings said.

The July aerial survey indicated the overall pronghorn population is up 31% from last year. The fawn-to-doe ratio of 50 fawns per 100 does was higher than last year, and the buck-to-doe ratio of 31 bucks per 100 does remains stable and at the population objective.

Each unit will once again have a season that is split into an early bow-only portion, and a later gun/bow season.

The bow-only portion of the season is Aug. 30 (noon) – Sept. 22. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license. 

From Oct. 4 (noon) – Oct. 20, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or archery equipment, but must stay in the assigned unit.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a pronghorn license. Hunters who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points, but will not earn a point for next year. However, hunters who do not want a license in 2024 have the option to purchase a bonus point on the application. 

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

The pronghorn license fee is $30 for ages 16 and older, and $10 for those under age 16. Applicants for a pronghorn lottery license must be at least 12 on or before Dec. 31. The application deadline is Aug. 7.

Swan Hunt Applications

Hunters applying for a 2024 swan license can submit an online application through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $30. The application deadline is Aug. 21.

The statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 28. A total of 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl license is valid.

All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license when applying. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license. 

Game and Fish at State Fair

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will host thousands of visitors to its free Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park July 19-27 at the State Fair in Minot.

Visitors will be treated to an array of activities, exhibits and useful information as the park is open from 1-7 p.m. daily. Pathways to Hunting, Fishing, Trapping and Archery are major attractions where interested kids and adults participate in each outdoor activity.

In addition to hands-on outdoor learning opportunities, the area offers a live fish display, furbearer exhibit and native prairie plantings. An information center staffed by Game and Fish Department personnel is located in the Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park, on the north end of the fairgrounds near the State Fair Center.

Record Walleye Production Will Boost Fisheries

Walleye fingerling stocking wrapped up with Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery setting a record with just short of 12 million fingerlings produced.

Distribution trucks traveled more than 12,000 miles over a two-week period to stock the fish, according to Jerry Weigel, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fish production/development section supervisor.

When combined with fingerling production from Valley City National Fish Hatchery, 177 waters were stocked, providing a great boost in developing future fishing prospects across the state.

While producing nearly 12 million walleye fingerlings is significant for the one hatchery, Garrison Dam and Valley City National Fish Hatchery combined efforts in 2017 to produce more than 12 million fingerlings.

“Traditionally, on large production years, significant numbers of walleye fingerlings would go to big systems like Lake Sakakawea, Lake Ashtabula and Stump Lake,” Weigel said. “This year, no walleyes went to those waters, given very strong survival from last year’s stockings. Just over 10 million fish went to up-and-coming smaller systems to enhance those fisheries along with taking advantage of rising lake levels at many prairie lakes due to the very wet spring.”

Each spring, walleye eggs are collected by fisheries personnel and taken to Garrison Dam and Valley City national fish hatcheries where they are hatched. After hatching, the walleye fry are stocked into production ponds and after a month of growth, 1-inch or more fingerlings are collected and stocked across the state.

“Stocking conditions in 2024 were optimal given the wet spring and early summer, and cooler than normal temps,” Weigel said. “The receiving waters were rich in invertebrates, critical food for the survival of the newly stocked walleye. Conditions are favorable for good survival and growth of young walleyes, which will continue to provide good fishing opportunities across the state for years to come.”

Clean, Drain, Dry

Water recreationists should do their part to help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota.

While the effort to stop the transportation of ANS has been mostly successful, challenges remain as not all anglers, pleasure boaters and other water enthusiasts are abiding by the clean, drain, dry message.

North Dakota waters remain relatively free of aquatic nuisance species. Besides common carp, most species – zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, flowering rush, curlyleaf pondweed and three species of invasive carp – are only found in a handful of waters in the state.

To keep our waters clean of aquatic nuisance species, the Game and Fish Department reminds all water users to clean, drain and dry all equipment after every use.

  • Clean and remove all plants and animals from watercraft or equipment prior to leaving any recreational area.
  • Drain all water from watercraft and equipment before leaving designated access points. Not draining water can be extremely hazardous and may cause negligent transportation of aquatic nuisance species to other locations.
  • Dry all equipment completely before using again.

First-Come, First-Served Deer Gun Licenses Available July 24

More than 1,900 deer licenses are available in four units for North Dakota’s 2024 deer gun season, and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning July 24 at 8 a.m. Central time. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Hunters who want to purchase additional licenses may do so Aug. 14 at 8 a.m. Central time. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license, which can be used during the archery season with a bow; deer gun season with a bow, rifle or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. However, youth under age 14 (at the end of the calendar year) will be issued a concurrent season license for archery only.

There is no limit on the number of concurrent season licenses a hunter can purchase.

Hunters with concurrent season licenses are restricted to the type of antlerless deer printed on the license and must stay in the unit in which the license is assigned.

Unit

Type

Available

3A2

Any-antlerless

48

3F1

Antlerless whitetail

297

3F2

Any-antlerless

758

3F2

Antlerless whitetail

769

4F

Antlerless whitetail

38

Register for Game Warden Exam

Individuals interested in taking the exam to select candidates for district game warden positions must register by July 10. Exams are scheduled for 10 a.m. Central time at the following locations:

  • July 17 – Game and Fish office, Williston.
  • July 18 – Game and Fish office, Bismarck.
  • July 19 – Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Fargo.

Applicants must register by submitting an online application through the North Dakota State Job Openings website.

Applicants must be at least 21, have a bachelor’s degree at time of hire or an associate degree with either 2 years of law enforcement or wildlife experience, have a valid driver’s license and a current North Dakota peace officer license, or eligible to be licensed. Candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check and must not have a record of any felony convictions.

Salary through training is $5,120 per month. For more information, see the district game warden testing announcement on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest

Photographers interested in sending photos for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest must follow guidelines for submitting their work.

Photographers should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/wildlife/watchable-photo-contest. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps both with ease of submitting photos for the photographer and managing those images for department staff. 

The contest is open and the deadline for submitting photos is Oct. 1. For more information or questions, contact Patrick Isakson, department conservation biologist, at pisakson@nd.gov.

The contest has categories for nongame and game species, as well as plants/insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category determined by the number of qualified entries.

Contestants are limited to no more than five entries. Photos must have been taken in North Dakota.

By submitting an entry, photographers grant permission to Game and Fish to publish winning photographs in North Dakota OUTDOORS, on the department’s website and social media channels.

Report Boat Accidents

Regardless of how safe and cautious boaters are on the water, accidents happen. If a boating accident involves injury, death or disappearance of a person, an accident report must be completed and sent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of the occurrence.

If property damage exceeds $2,000, but no deaths or injuries occur, a boat operator has five days to file a report.

These reporting requirements are mandatory whether there is one or more boats involved.

A boat accident form is available on the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, at any Game and Fish office or by contacting a local game warden.