North Dakota Game and Fish Department

News Releases

Deer Found Near Williston Tests Positive for CWD

Tue, 03/19/2019

A white-tailed deer found dead just south of Williston in late February has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease, according to Dr. Charlie Bahnson, wildlife veterinarian for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

“This is unfortunate news because it means CWD is much farther south than the positive deer harvested this past fall in the northwest corner of deer unit 3A1 in Divide County,” Bahnson said.

CWD is a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause long-term population declines if left unchecked. Since 2009, 14 other deer have tested positive for CWD in North Dakota – 13 from Grant and Sioux counties in hunting unit 3F2 in the southwest, and the other taken last fall from the northwest in Divide County.

The deer found near Williston is the first documented case of a mortality due to CWD in North Dakota.

“All 14 previous detections were perfectly healthy-looking deer that were hunter-harvested before they got sick,” Bahnson said. “This deer was severely emaciated and had an empty digestive tract, which is unusual even in starvation cases that can occur in harder winters like this one. This deer stopped trying to forage some time ago.”

Bahnson said this deer was probably not the first to die of CWD in North Dakota, especially since the disease has been documented in 3F2 for a decade. “But this animal happened to die in an area where it was highly visible, and the carcass could be recovered in time for testing,” he said.

The Game and Fish Department will collect additional samples for testing through targeted removal over the next week or so. In addition to the targeted removal and testing, Game and Fish will review the need to amend the current CWD proclamation to reflect the new CWD positive.

“In other areas of the country where CWD has reached a tipping point, finding sick or dead CWD-infected deer has become common,” Bahnson said. “We need to do everything in our power to ensure that doesn’t happen in North Dakota.”

More information about CWD and regulations regarding CWD are available on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov.

Advisory Board Meetings Announced

Mon, 03/18/2019

Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to attend a North Dakota Game and Fish Department spring advisory board meeting in their area.

These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel.

The governor appoints eight Game and Fish Department advisors, each representing a multi-county section of the state, to serve as a liaison between the department and public.

Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service must notify the contact person at least five days prior to the scheduled meeting date.

District 5 – Counties: Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill

Date: April 1 – 7 p.m.

Location: City Hall, 14497 42^nd St. SE, Embden

Host: Four Corners Wildlife Club

Contact: Kent Jensen, 793-4446

Advisory board member: Duane Hanson, West Fargo, 367-4249

District 8 – Counties: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark

Date: April 1 – 7 p.m.

Location: Eagles Club, 31 First Ave. E., Dickinson

Host: Cannonball Company

Contact: Nicole Haase, 209-0214

Advisory board member: Dwight Hecker, Dickinson, 483-4952

District 1 – Counties: Divide, McKenzie and Williams

Date: April 2 – 7 p.m.

Location: Civic Center, 213 Second St. NE, Watford City

Host: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Little Missouri Chapter

Contact and advisory board member: Beau Wisness, Keene, 421-8814

District 4 – Counties: Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh

Date: April 2 – 7 p.m.

Location: Community Center, Minto

Host: Minto Area Sportsman’s

Contact: Keith Shutt, 520-3456

Advisory board member: Joe Solseng, 317-5009

District 6 – Counties: Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells

Date: April 8 – 7 p.m.

Location: Fireside Restaurant, Ellendale

Host: Pheasants Forever

Contact: Charles Kingzett, 210-0608

Advisory board member: Cody Sand, Ashley, 357-7011

District 7 – Counties: Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux

Date: April 8 – 7 p.m.

Location: Game and Fish Main Office, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck

Host: Lewis and Clark Wildlife Club

Contact: Dave Dewald, 471-1046

Advisory board member: Dave Nehring, Bismarck, 214-3184

District 2 – Counties: Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward

Date: April 9 – 7 p.m.

Location: Verendrye Electric, 615 Highway 52 W., Velva

Host: Velva Wildlife Club

Contact: DJ Randolph, 720-2134

Advisory board member: Robert Gjellstad, Voltaire, 338-2281

District 3 – Counties: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner

Date: April 9 – 7 p.m.

Location: Lake Region State College, 1801 College Dr., Devils Lake

Contact and advisory board member: Tom Rost, Devils Lake, 662-8620

NASP Tourney March 22-23

Mon, 03/18/2019

A record number of archers are scheduled to compete this weekend in the North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament at the State Fair Center in Minot. The tournament will feature competition in Bullseye or Olympic style, and 3-D.

The tournament, held March 22-23, consists of team and individual competition in elementary, middle school and high school, including awards and prizes, and up to $20,000 in college scholarships available to the top 10 boys and girls in each grade division.

Additionally, the top 10 boys and girls qualify for NASP nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. The top prize in the 3-D competition is an all-inclusive pronghorn hunt in Wyoming.

The state tournament and all other local and regional NASP tournaments are open to any student in grades 4-12 who attend a school that offers NASP lessons during the school day. If a school has an after-school club, third-graders are also welcome, with permission from the coach and principal.

For a complete listing of tournaments in North Dakota, go to the official NASP tournament website at https://nasptournaments.org/. A certified NASP archery instructor must register participants for all NASP tournaments.

For more information, or to find out if your child’s school participates in NASP, contact Jeff Long, North Dakota state coordinator, at jrlong@nd.gov, or call 701-328-6322.

Game and Fish Volunteers Recognized

Mon, 03/18/2019

Volunteer instructors for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department were recently recognized at the annual recognition event in Bismarck.

Shannon Johnson, Fargo, was recognized as hunter education instructor of the year and Steve Goroski, Bismarck, was named archery education instructor of the year.

Honored for 30 years of service were James Boley, Minot; Richard Brewster, Washburn; David Cox, Minot; Douglas Crosby, Williston; Keith Domke, Jamestown; Richard Jorgenson, Devils Lake; Todd Parkman, Hope; Ralph Danuser, Marion; Charles Meikle, Spiritwood; Gary Nilsson, Walhalla.

Recognized for 25 years of service were Kevin Bishop, Kathryn; Patsy Crooke, Mandan; Mike Cruff, Minot; Charles Deremer, Fargo; Darwin Gebhardt, Lake Elmo, Minn.; Garry Hillier, Thompson; Francis Miller, Mandan; Gregory Odden, Rugby; Allen Schirado, Bismarck; Melvin Siverson, Bowman; Curt Beattie, Hannaford; Jay Grover, Cooperstown; Brad Pierce, Hatton;

Honored for 20 years of service were William Bahm, Almont; Stanley Cox, Jamestown; Mark Engen, Anamoose; Mark Entzi, Watford City; Daryl Heid, Center; Matthew Herman, Ashley; Leon Hiltner, Wales; Michael Hinrichs, Bismarck; Lynn Kieper, Bismarck; Curtis Miller, Tioga; Loran Palmer, Wahpeton; Richard Petersen, Bismarck; Craig Roe, Kindred; Douglas Thingstad, Jamestown; Cindie Van Tassel, Breckenridge, Minn.; David Daeley, Maddock; Darryl Duttenhefner, Menoken; Sean Hagan, Walhalla; Jerry Rekow, Ellendale.

Fifteen-year service awards were presented to Nathan Fitzgerald, Cooperstown; Gregory Gerou, Wahpeton; Judy Haglund, Garrison; Walter Helfrich, Mandan; Terry Kassian, Wilton; Michael Melaas, Minot; Dustin Neva, Hatton; Dale Patrick, Jamestown; Scott Thorson, Towner; Bruce Baer, Belfield; James Dusek, Grafton; Michael Erickson, Edgeley; Bradley Gregoire, Thompson; David Sardelli, Hebron.

Ten-year active instructors recognized were Mark Berg, Bismarck; Leonna Coutts, Bismarck; Jason Heinz, Rolette; Andrew Majeres, Garrison; Frank Odell, Belfield; Matt Webster, Jamestown; Cassie Felber, Towner; Kevin Harris, Watford City; Petrina Krenzel, Harvey; Jerry Lillis, Lincoln; Roger Norton, Kindred; Mike Redmond, Ray; Joe Tuchscherer, Rugby.

Recognized for five years of service were Michael Bahm, Mandan; Damon Finley, Harvey; Jamie Germundson, Stanley; Brandi Hansen, Horace; Beaufort Joe, Mandaree; Alan Klitzke, Powers Lake; Seth Larson, Max; Travis Leier, Velva; Krista Lundgren, Kulm; Gary Peterson, Jamestown; DJ Randolph, Velva; Patti Schaner, Mandan; Al Zimmerman, West Fargo; Darcy Aberle, Williston; Lori Deal, Grace City; Jason Forster, Lidgerwood; David Hammond, Abercrombie; Brian Johnson, Sawyer; Jon Johnson, Jamestown; Melanie Nelson, Harvey; Bruce Nielsen, Valley City; Eric Odegaard, West Fargo; Erin Odell, Belfield; John Perritt, Fargo; Carl Quam Jr., Tolna; Jason Sauer, Glen Ullin; Kori Schantz, Underwood; Kent Schimke, Ellendale; Kristofer Schmidt, Washburn; Daniel Sem, Minot; Than Young, Napoleon; Andrew Zickur, Glenburn.

Two-year active instructors recognized were James Decker, Bismarck; Steve Geller, Minot; Rod Kuhn, Bismarck; Jason Lura, Carrington; Arlyce Malarkey, Bismarck, Michael Malarkey, Bismarck; Albert Olson, Bismarck; Jacob Renne, Tioga; Frank Rohloff, Grand Forks; Joel Bohm, Mohall; Lynn Burgard, Bismarck; Larry Derr, Glenburn; Donald Dick, Enderlin; Christopher Eng, Underwood; Seth Engelstad, Mooreton; Todd Gallion, Dunn Center; Kresta Hauge, Ray; Katrina Haugen, Minto; Kali Metzger, Bismarck; Chad Olson, Lisbon; Jordan Peterson, Minot; Dan Schmidtke, Devils Lake; Robert Schock, Bismarck; Danielle Siverhus-Dinger, Oakes; Michael Straus, West Fargo; Tim Straus, West Fargo.

New Licenses Needed April 1

Mon, 03/18/2019

North Dakota anglers, trappers and hunters are reminded that new licenses for the 2019-20 season are required starting April 1.

Licenses can be purchased online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, users will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download the license to a smart phone or mobile device, which is helpful when asked to show proof of license while hunting or fishing in rural areas that lack cellular service.

Licenses can also be purchased at more than 140 vendor locations throughout the state, or by calling 800-406-6409. The 2019-20 small game, fishing and furbearer licenses are effective April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

New this year, hunters and anglers will be given the opportunity to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. By clicking the link after purchasing a license, users will be directed to the North Dakota Department of Transportation donor registry. For more information regarding donor registry visit DOT’s website, or contact LifeSource directly at 888-5-DONATE.

Game and Fish Seeks Habitat Contractors

Mon, 03/11/2019

Contractors who are able to perform habitat work on Private Land Open To Sportsmen program lands across the state, are invited to add their businesses to a database that the North Dakota Game and Fish Department will maintain on its website, gf.nd.gov, to help landowners who are looking to develop wildlife habitat on their property.

PLOTS is an agreement between the private landowner and Game and Fish Department to open private land to walking hunting access. These contracts can involve establishing or enhancing wildlife habitat, such as grass plantings and food plots on PLOTS lands. However, if the landowner does not have the necessary equipment to perform the work, a contractor is usually needed.

“In some parts of the state, there is a shortage of contractors, or equipment, to perform habitat work,” said Kevin Kading, Game and Fish private lands section leader. “The bulk of the habitat work is planting native and introduced grasses, which requires a tractor, operator and a no-till drill or native grass drill. Other work can include wildlife food plots and tree plantings.”

Providing company information does not guarantee any future work, but as projects come about, the Department will refer landowners to interested contractors.

More information about the PLOTS program is also available on the Game and Fish website, or by calling the Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300.

National Campaign Encourages Boat Safety

Mon, 03/11/2019

A national safe boating campaign kicking off March 17-23 encourages boat operators to take a certified boat safety course.

Spring Aboard – Take a Boating Education Course wants boaters to get educated prior to the start of the boating season.

State Game and Fish Department education coordinator Brian Schaffer recommends all boaters take the state’s boating basics course, however, North Dakota state law requires only youngsters ages 12-15 must pass the course before they operate a boat or personal watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor by themselves.

In addition, some insurance companies give adult boat owners who pass the course a discount on boat insurance.

The course is available for home-study from the Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office. Two commercial providers also offer the course online, and links to those sites are found on the department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

While the home-study course is free, students will be charged a fee to take it online. The online provider charges for the course, not the Game and Fish Department. The fee stays with the online provider.

Upon completion of the online test, and providing a credit card number, students will be able to print out a temporary certification card, and within 30 days a permanent card will be mailed.

The course covers legal requirements, navigation rules, getting underway, accidents and special topics such as weather, rules of the road, laws, life saving and first aid.

For more information on boating safety contact Schaffer by email at ndgf@nd.gov; or call 701-328-6300.

Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep Applications Online

Fri, 03/08/2019

North Dakota’s elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available, and prospective hunters can apply online at the state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

General lottery applications can also be submitted by calling 800-406-6409. Preferential landowner (gratis) applications must be submitted online. Paper applications are not available.

The deadline for applying is March 27.

A total of 478 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 70 from last year and the most since 2011.

Coordination among state Game and Fish, private landowners and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will continue to highlight elk management in hunting Unit E6.

A record 479 moose licenses are available in 2019, an increase of 145 from last year. Most of the increase is antlerless licenses in units M9, M10 and M11, due to an increasing moose population in these units.

Hunting units M1C and M4 will remain closed due to a continued downward trend in moose numbers in the northeastern part of the state.

As stated in the 2019-20 chronic wasting disease proclamation, hunters harvesting an elk in unit E6 or a moose in unit M10 cannot transport the whole carcass including the head and spinal column outside of the unit. More information on CWD is available by visiting the Game and Fish website.

A bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled to open in 2019, depending on the sheep population. The status of the bighorn sheep season will be determined Sept. 1, after summer population surveys are completed. The season was closed in 2015 due to a bacterial pneumonia outbreak.

Bighorn sheep applicants must apply for a license at the same time as moose and elk, but not for a specific unit. Once total licenses are determined for each unit in late summer, the bighorn lottery will then be held and successful applicants contacted to select a hunting unit.

Because the bighorn sheep application fee is not refundable as per state law, if a bighorn season is not held, applicants would not receive a refund.

Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery in the past are not eligible to apply for that species again.

Hunting and Fishing Expenditure Report Finalized

Mon, 03/04/2019

Hunting and fishing in North Dakota contributed an estimated $2.1 billion in annual input to the state’s economy, according to a recent report by the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University.

The report, commissioned by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, tracked hunter and angler expenditures for the 2017-18 hunting and fishing seasons.

Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand said the last time the agency commissioned an economic impact study was about six years ago. “These studies help alert us to any major shifts in hunter and angler activities or participation,” Steinwand said.

Overall, hunters and anglers in North Dakota spent $974.4 million on equipment, vehicles, boats, travel, lodging, food and many other items. These expenditures generated $1.1 billion in secondary economic benefits resulting in gross business volume of $2.1 billion, according to the NDSU researchers.

According to the report, resident hunters and anglers accounted for $846.8 million of total expenditures, while nonresidents contributed $127.6 million. Anglers spent $787.8 million and hunters $186.6 million. Residents spent a total of $486.4 million in rural areas, while nonresidents spent $89.6 million, for a grand total of $576 million -- or 59 percent of all spending -- in rural areas.

These direct and indirect expenditures from hunters and anglers generated approximately $48.2 million in state-level tax collection.

“We know that hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation are an important quality of life factor for many North Dakotans,” Steinwand said. “This report reinforces the notion that economic activity associated with our outdoors is significant as well.”

Compared to spending in the 2011-12 season, total spending by resident hunters and anglers increased by $290.2 million, and by $41.4 million for nonresidents.

A complete copy of the report is available by visiting the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

Deadline to Remove Fish Houses is March 15

Fri, 03/01/2019

Anglers have until midnight, March 15 to remove permanent fish houses from North Dakota waters, and from any state wildlife management area or federal refuge land.

Anglers are advised to remove their house soon because access on many lakes could be restricted due to snow. The deadline of March 15 will not be extended.

Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.

2018 Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Elk Harvests

Mon, 02/25/2019

Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2018 season for bighorn sheep was 100 percent, 92 percent for moose and 65 percent for elk.

The department issued two bighorn sheep licenses and auctioned one. All three hunters harvested a bighorn ram.

The department issued 329 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 319 hunters harvested 294 animals – 138 bulls and 156 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows:

Unit	Hunters	Bulls	Cow/Calf	Success Rate
M5	5	3	1	80
M6	14	9	3	86
M8	14	13	0	93
M9	93	34	49	89
M10 M11	107 86	50 29	52 51	95 93

The department issued 418 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 380 hunters harvested 248 elk – 135 bulls and 113 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows:

Unit	Hunters	Bulls	Cow/Calf	Success Rate
E1E E1W	57 37	17 10	16 17	58 73
E2	128	35	35	55
E3	125	52	40	74
E4 E6	22 11	17 4	0 5	77 82

Spring Turkey Drawing Held, Licenses Remain

Mon, 02/25/2019

The 2019 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and individual results are available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

The Game and Fish Department will mail the spring turkey licenses to successful applicants after they purchase a valid 2019-20 hunting license. All spring turkey hunters regardless of age are required to have a general game and habitat license in addition to their spring turkey license. Hunters age 16 and older must also have a small game license, or a combination license. The 2019-20 licenses are available for purchase beginning March 15.

Spring turkey hunters are encouraged to purchase their other necessary licenses well in advance so their turkey tag arrives before the season opener on April 13.

A total of 915 spring turkey licenses remain in nine units. These remaining licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning 8 a.m. Central Time March 18.

Hunters are allowed a maximum of two licenses for the spring season.

Licenses remain in unit 06, Bowman County; 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 45, Stark County; unit 51, Burke County and portions of Renville, Bottineau and Ward counties; and unit 99, Mercer and Oliver Counties.

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