Sandra Johnson Named Game and Fish Employee of the Year

Mon, 12/17/2018

Sandra Johnson, conservation biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence during the Department’s annual meeting Dec. 6 in Bismarck.

Terry Steinwand, Game and Fish director, said Johnson was instrumental in the development and implementation of North Dakota’s state wildlife action plan; in determining and providing technical advice on the status of the state’s nongame species, including the rare and declining species of conservation priority and federally listed threatened and endangered species; and in coordinating select projects that have been awarded state wildlife grants funding.

“Sandra accomplishes these roles in an effective, efficient, comprehensive and professional manner,” Steinwand said. “She continually looks for new and innovative ways and opportunities to fulfill her duties.”

Game and Fish Recognizes Employee Efforts

Mon, 12/17/2018

North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand recently honored a number of employees with performance-based awards. Steinwand presented the following employees with special recognition awards at the department’s annual staff meeting Dec. 6. 

Levi Jacobson, private land biologist, Bismarck, was recognized for his work ethic and leadership efforts. He is the first Game and Fish employee to participate in the North Dakota Rural Leadership program, an 18-month program offered through North Dakota State University Extension.

Brandon Diehl, administrative assistant, Bismarck, was recognized for his administration, correspondence and coordination efforts that are required to meet the needs and demands of the hunter education program and its volunteers.

Dale Repnow, administrative officer, Bismarck, was recognized for his team-first approach, and for his friendly, calm and polite demeanor when working on his assigned duties and when presented with contentious issues.

In addition to special recognition recipients, Corey Erck, district game warden, Bismarck, was named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year. His district includes the Missouri River, which is one of the most highly used and congested areas for boaters and water recreationists in the state. Chief game warden Robert Timian said warden Erck is extremely skilled in the detection, apprehension and prosecution of boaters who may be operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Fish House Regulations

Mon, 12/10/2018

Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float.

A popular question this time of year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left unattended, it must be able to float; if it’s not able to float, it must be removed when the angler leaves the ice.

Other fish house regulations include:

• Fish houses do not require a license.
• Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration number issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least three inches high.
• Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
• All unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight, March 15.

Anglers should refer to the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide for other winter fishing regulations.

2017-18 Darkhouse Spearfishing Stats

Mon, 12/10/2018

As anglers begin another winter of darkhouse spearfishing, now is a good time to look back on last winter’s record-breaking season.

The 2017-18 North Dakota darkhouse spearfishing season set records for total participants and northern pike speared, according to statistics compiled by the state Game and Fish Department.

A total of 3,717 participants speared 28,138 pike last winter, besting the totals established during the 2015-16 season of 3,289 participants and 17,269 harvested pike. Average weight of harvested pike was 7 pounds.

The number of anglers who registered was 5,387, and 3,772 of those were from North Dakota. Minnesotans accounted for 1,197. The average age was 45, and 90 percent were male.

Devils Lake and Lake Sakakawea accounted for 30 percent of the spearing harvest in the state.

Spearers are reminded that all individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must first register online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, spearers age 16 and older must possess a valid fishing license.

When a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is left in the ice when a darkhouse is moved, the area in the immediate vicinity of the hole must be adequately marked by the spearer with a natural object or a brightly painted or colored wooden lath.

Tentative 2019 Season Opening Dates

Mon, 12/10/2018

To help North Dakota hunters prepare for hunting seasons in 2019, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates for the coming year.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2019 include:

Aquatic Bait Regulations

Mon, 12/10/2018

Anglers are reminded that it is illegal to import minnows and other forms of live aquatic bait into North Dakota. 

Anglers should buy bait from a licensed North Dakota retail bait vendor. Bait vendors can properly identify species and have taken steps to ensure all bait is clean of any aquatic nuisance species.

For more information, refer to the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide, available at license vendors or online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Winter Fishing Regulations

Mon, 12/03/2018

North Dakota anglers are encouraged to refer to the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide or the state Game and Fish Department’s website for winter fishing regulations.

In addition, anglers can visit the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov, for an extensive list of fishing questions and answers.

Some winter fishing regulations include:

• A maximum of four poles is legal for ice fishing.
• Tip-ups are legal, and each tip-up is considered a single pole.
• Mechanical devices that set the hook are legal; however, the use of any device that automatically retrieves the fish is illegal.
• There is no restriction on the size of the hole in the ice while fishing. Materials used to mark holes must be in possession of anglers and spearers as soon as a hole larger than 10 inches in diameter is made in the ice.
• It is only legal to release fish back into the water immediately after they are caught. Once a fish is held in a bucket or on a stringer, they can no longer be legally released in any water.
• It is illegal to catch fish and transport them in water.
• It is illegal to leave fish, including bait, behind on the ice.
• All aquatic bait, such as fathead minnows, must be purchased or trapped in North Dakota.
• Depositing or leaving any litter or other waste material on the ice or shore is illegal.
• The packaging of fish (including parts thereof) away from one’s permanent residence must be done in such a manner that the number of fish in each package may be easily determined.
• The daily limit is a limit of fish taken from midnight to midnight. No person may possess more than one day’s limit of fish while on the ice or actively engaged in fishing. If a situation occurs when an angler fishes overnight, the first daily limit must be removed from the ice by midnight prior to continuing to fish.
• The possession limit is the maximum number of fish that an angler may have in his or her possession during a fishing trip of more than one day.
• It is illegal to introduce anything into the water for the purpose of attempting to attract fish (chumming, artificial light, etc.) that is not attached or applied to a lure.
• Licensing of fish houses is not required in North Dakota. However, any unoccupied fish house must have displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least three inches high, either a registration number issued by the department, or the owner’s name and address or name and telephone number.

Coyote Catalog Available for Hunters, Landowners

Mon, 12/03/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Department of Agriculture are once again opening the Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect coyote hunters and trappers with landowners who are dealing with coyotes in their areas.

Last winter, nearly 30 landowners participated in the Coyote Catalog, along with 500 hunters and trappers. 

Landowners can sign up on the Department of Agriculture website at https://www.nd.gov/ndda/livestock-development-division/coyote-catalog. County and contact information is required.

Hunters and trappers can sign up at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov/hunting/hunter-landowner-contact.

Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their names on the database. 

Throughout the winter, hunters or trappers may receive information on participating landowners, and they should contact landowners to make arrangements.

Landowners who are experiencing coyote depredation of livestock should first contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March 31, 2019.

For more information, contact Stephanie Tucker at Game and Fish, 701-220-1871 or satucker@nd.gov; or Jamie Good, at the Department of Agriculture, 701-328-2659 or jgood@nd.gov.

River Otter Trapping Season Closed Immediately

Sun, 12/02/2018

North Dakota’s river otter trapping season is closed immediately. The statewide season’s predetermined harvest limit of 15 has been reached.

Only North Dakota residents were eligible to participate, with a season limit of one otter per trapper.

Mountain Lion Zone 1 Early Season Ends, Late Season Opens

Mon, 11/26/2018

North Dakota’s early mountain lion season in Zone 1 closed Sunday, Nov. 25, and the late season, when hunters can pursue lions with dogs, is now open. 

During the early season, hunters took two cats from a harvest limit of eight. Under the season structure, a conditional season could open five days after the late season closes, for hunters to pursue the additional six mountain lions that were not taken.

The late season in Zone 1 opened Monday, Nov. 26 and is scheduled to run through March 31, 2019, or until the harvest limit is reached. The late season harvest limit is seven total lions or three female lions, whichever comes first.

Hunters are advised to check the status of the late season by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Zone 1 includes land in western North Dakota 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, 2019.

The mountain lion season is open only to North Dakota residents. Hunters need a furbearer or combination license to participate.

Late Season Hunting Opportunities End Soon

Mon, 11/26/2018

North Dakota waterfowl hunters are reminded the statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 2. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 8 and continues through Dec. 30.

In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 16 in the eastern zone, Dec. 21 in the western zone and Dec. 28 in the Missouri River zone. Light goose hunting closes statewide Dec. 30.

Archery deer, fall turkey, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, partridge, pheasant and tree squirrel hunting seasons continue through Jan. 6, 2019.

Ice Awareness for Anglers, Hunters

Mon, 11/26/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging winter anglers and late-season hunters to use extreme caution when venturing out on ice.

Ice thickness is never consistent, especially early in winter, and can vary significantly on the same body of water. Edges become firm before the center.

A few reminders include:

• Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, and hides cracks, weak and open water areas.
• Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
• Ice thickness is not consistent and can vary significantly even in a small area. Ice shouldn’t be judged by appearance alone. Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around.
• Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
• The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in the winter it’s a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck.

These tips could help save a life:

• Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone.
• Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through.
• If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit. If that’s not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front.

To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport victim to a hospital.