nd.gov - The Official Portal for North Dakota State Government
My Account  |  Logout  |  Cart

News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

News Releases

Youth Grant Program Applications Due in April

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations are urged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters.

The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organizational events and projects each year, with an average grant of $1,550.

Grant funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets, and eye and ear protection.

Past funding has enabled groups to conduct youth pheasant and waterfowl hunts, or sponsor trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting. Game and Fish has a separate grant program that supports new high school trapshooting teams.

Any club or organization interested in conducting a youth hunting or shooting event can get more information, including a grant application, from the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by contacting outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at 701-328-6332.

The deadline to apply for a 2019 grant is April 10.

Game and Fish Violations Tallied for 2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s enforcement division has tallied the number of hunting, angling and boating citations for 2018, and failure to carry a license was the number one violation.

Game wardens issued more than 2,400 citations last year, compared to 2,500 in 2017 and 2,300 citations in 2016.

Counties with the most violations were Ramsey (343), Williams (227), McKenzie (202), Burleigh (107) and Stutsman (94).

The most common violations and number issued in 2018 were:

  • Licensing (622): failure to carry license (347); and hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license (219).
  • Fishing (487): exceeding limit (187); aquatic nuisance species violations (86); and excessive lines (78). 
  • Boating (445): inadequate number of personal flotation devices (214); failure to display boat registration (58); and use of unlicensed/unnumbered boat (52).
  • General (263): loaded firearm in vehicle (60); hunting on posted land without permission (54); and littering (42).
  • Small game (242): using shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (60); failure to leave identification of sex on game (56); and exceeding limit (17).
  • Miscellaneous (180): minor in possession (48); criminal trespass (27); possession of a controlled substance (25); and open container (21).
  • Wildlife management areas/refuge (88): failure to obey posted regulations (50); and possession of glass beverage containers (21).
  • Big game (57): tagging violations (21); failure to wear orange (10); and chronic wasting disease violations (10).
  • Furbearer (34): shining/using artificial light (8); and illegal possession/taking (6).

A synopsis of 2018 violations is printed in the February issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

 

Spring Light Goose Conservation Order

North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 23 and continues through May 12.

Residents must have a valid current season 2018-19 (valid through March 31) or 2019-20 (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 2019-20 license is available for purchase beginning March 15.

Nonresidents need a 2019 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and is valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in the 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 age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee if their state has youth reciprocity licensing with North Dakota.

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, at license vendors around the state, or by calling 800-406-6409.

Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number can be obtained online, or by calling 888-634-4798. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota’s spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota’s fall hunting season.

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 2019 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations and the North Dakota 2018-19 Hunting and Trapping Guide.  

Spring Turkey Application Deadline Feb. 13

Prospective spring turkey hunters are reminded the deadline for submitting an application for the 2019 season is Feb. 13.

Spring turkey applicants can apply online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Applications can also be submitted by calling 800-406-6409. Paper applications are not available. 

First-time spring turkey hunters ages 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 the spring turkey season, and have never received a spring turkey license in North Dakota.

Spring turkey licenses are available only to North Dakota residents.

The season opens April 13 and continues through May 19. 

 

Mountain Lion Tracks Confirmed in Lincoln

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has confirmed that animal tracks observed in the city of Lincoln early this morning were from a mountain lion.

Furbearer biologist Stephanie Tucker said the tracks indicated the cat moved through Lincoln and a development area to the east of the University of Mary, and continued south toward the Oahe Wildlife Management Area.

“We followed the tracks to the south of the University of Mary,” Tucker said. “It appeared to be heading toward the river and the wildlife management area.”

Officers from the Lincoln Police Department and Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department helped in tracking the lion.

This is the second confirmed mountain lion in the Bismarck area within the last month. In early January, law enforcement personnel shot and killed a mountain lion near the Bismarck Municipal baseball field. 

The Bismarck area is located in mountain lion hunting zone 2 in North Dakota. The mountain lion season in zone 2 is open through March 31. There is no limit on the number of mountain lions that can be taken in zone 2.

Darkhouse Spearers Must Register

All individuals, regardless of age, who participate in darkhouse spearfishing are reminded to register with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department prior to participating.

Free registration is available at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov, or through any Game and Fish Department office.

North Dakota’s darkhouse spearfishing season closes March 15. Legal fish are northern pike and nongame species.

Spearers must have a valid fishing license, except for those under the age of 16.

 All waters open to hook-and-line fishing are open to darkhouse spearing except:

  • East Park Lake, West Park Lake, Lake Audubon– McLean County
  • Heckers Lake – Sheridan County
  • Larimore Dam – Grand Forks County
  • McClusky Canal
  • New Johns Lake – Burleigh County
  • Red Willow Lake – Griggs County
  • Wood Lake – Benson County

Anglers should refer to the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide for more information.

Grants Support High School Trap League

Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to support their high school trap shooting team must have the application in before April 1. Existing teams that have received a grant in the past are not eligible.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department education section leader Marty Egeland said the grants are designed to support the North Dakota high school trap league.

“Game and Fish offers a grant option of up to $1,000 to teams that have never received a grant,” Egeland said. “Funds can be used to purchase gear needed for the team, such as eye and hearing protection, vests, shell bags and magnetic barrel rests.”

Interested applicants can print out the high school trap league grant application online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

For more information, contact Egeland at 328-6612, or email megeland@nd.gov.

 

Game and Fish Offers Wildlife Food Plot Seed

Landowners interested in planting wildlife food plots for pheasants can now sign up to receive free seed from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for the 2019 growing season.

Rather than a more traditional corn or sunflower food plot, Game and Fish is offering a seed mix that provides increased plant diversity, including flowering plants from spring through fall, which will attract insects, the major diet component of pheasant chicks. Additionally, the mix will provide needed cover during spring and summer, as well as a winter food source. Other wildlife species will also benefit from this mix.

“In the past, Game and Fish food plots have been mostly tied to a Private Land Open to Sportsmen walking access contract,” said Kevin Kading, Game and Fish private land section leader. “This new promotion does not require a PLOTS contract, but we are asking participating landowners to allow reasonable public access, which could mean simply providing access permission to hunters from time to time, putting up ‘Ask Before You Enter’ signs around the area, or not posting the surrounding land.”

Kading added that landowners participating in this promotion cannot charge a fee for hunting.

The department will provide enough seed to cover up to a maximum 5-acre planting at no cost to the landowner.

Landowners who are interested in receiving the food plot seed must sign up on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov by March 31, 2019. Seed will be available in April for participants to pick up at Game and Fish offices in Bismarck and Dickinson this first year. In future years seed for this promotion may be available at other locations in the state.

Game and Fish private land biologists can provide technical assistance on food plot location and site preparation.

Landowners who are interested in additional financial incentives may be considered for the PLOTS program as well. More information is available by contacting a private land biologist at any Game and Fish office in the state, or email ndgf@nd.gov.

 

North Dakota Earth Day Patch Contest

The state Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day awareness campaign is accepting entries for design of a 2019 Earth Day patch. North Dakota students ages 6-18 are eligible to participate. The deadline to submit entries is March 15.

The Game and Fish Department will announce a winner in three age categories – 6-9, 10-13, and 14-18. Each winner will receive a pair of binoculars. The final patch design will be chosen from the three winners.

The winning design will be used on a patch given to members of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs and any school participating in Earth Day cleanup projects on state-owned or managed lands in North Dakota in April and May.

The patch should incorporate some aspect of Earth Day – celebrated April 22 – or keeping North Dakota clean. It must be round and three inches in diameter. There is a limit of five colors on the patch, and lettering must be printed. Name, address, age and phone number of the contestant must be clearly printed on the entry form. Only one entry per person is allowed.

Earth Day contest rules and entry forms are available on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. For more information, contact outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich by email at ndgf@nd.gov, or call 701-328-6332.

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated about 99,000 Canada geese in the state.

Andy Dinges, migratory game bird biologist, said that number likely would have been higher, but the blizzard that hit North Dakota in late December undoubtedly pushed some birds south prior to the survey.

“However, with the warming period and subsequent snow melt that occurred after the storm, wintering conditions remained generally favorable,” Dinges said. “We still ended up holding on to a fair number of Canada geese in the state.”

During the recent survey, an estimated 77,000 Canada geese were observed on the Missouri River, and another 11,000 were observed on Lake Sakakawea, which still had substantial open water on the lower portion of the lake. In addition, about 9,000 Canada geese were observed on Nelson Lake in Oliver County. Dinges said after summarizing the numbers, an additional 5,300 mallards were tallied statewide, most of which were recorded on Nelson Lake.

Lake Sakakawea officially iced over on Jan. 12, just days after the aerial survey was completed. 

The 10-year average (2009-18) for the midwinter survey in North Dakota is 87,800 Canada geese and 21,600 mallards.

All states participate in the midwinter survey during the same time frame, to reduce the possibility of counting birds more than once.

 

Spring Turkey Season Set, Online Apps Available

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 6,025 wild turkey licenses for the 2019 spring hunting season, 370 more than last year.

Eleven of the 22 hunting units have more spring licenses than in 2018, seven have fewer and three remain the same. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) is again closed in 2019 due to lack of turkeys in the unit.

Spring turkey applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Applications can also be submitted by calling 800-406-6409. Paper applications are not available. 

The deadline for applying is Feb. 13.

Successful spring turkey applicants must purchase a 2019-20 hunting license, as last year’s 2018-19 licenses expire March 31. In addition to the spring turkey license, hunters must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate, and a general game and habitat license. Also, hunters ages 16 and older must possess a small game license, or combination license. These required licenses must be purchased in advance of the successful applicant receiving the turkey license.

First-time spring turkey hunters ages 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 have never received a spring turkey license in North Dakota.

Spring turkey licenses are available only to North Dakota residents. Per legislation, an additional four spring wild turkey licenses are available to the Outdoor Adventure Foundation and three to the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The spring turkey season opens April 13 and continues through May 19. 

Mountain Lion Late Season Closes in Zone 1, Conditional Season to Open

Mountain lion hunting during the late season in Zone 1 is closed immediately. The zone’s late-season harvest limit of either seven total cats or three females was reached after the seventh cat was taken.

A conditional season in Zone 1 will open Jan. 28 for hunters to pursue the additional six mountain lions that were not taken during the early season. The Zone 1 early season harvest limit was eight cats, and only two were taken.

The conditional season will close March 31 or immediately once the sixth cat is taken. Early season regulations apply, which means hunters are not allowed to use dogs. In addition, hunters who harvested a lion during the early or late season are not eligible to participate.

Zone 1 includes land south of ND Highway 1804 from the Montana border to the point where ND Highway 1804 lies directly across Lake Sakakawea from ND Highway 8, crossing Lake Sakakawea then south along ND Highway 8 to ND Highway 200, then west on ND Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 85, then south on U.S. Highway 85 to the South Dakota border.

The mountain lion season in Zone 2, which is the rest of the state outside Zone 1, has no harvest limit and is open through March 31.