HuntLink

Tue, 12/02/2025

HuntLink is a new, voluntary program designed to help North Dakota landowners easily connect with hunters and trappers. The program offers a simple way to allow managed access for antlerless deer, coyotes, turkeys, and other species. For landowners experiencing wildlife depredation or looking for additional management tools, HuntLink can help.    

Landowners can enroll through their North Dakota Game and Fish My Account page and may remove their listing at any time once they’ve connected with enough participants.

Hunters can view landowner requests across the state through the HuntLink Map, but must contact landowners directly to obtain permission before hunting or trapping.

Special Allocation Lottery Application Deadline

Tue, 12/02/2025

Nonprofit organizations eligible to receive big game hunting licenses in 2026 must have the application submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department no later than Jan. 1.

North Dakota state law provides direction for the Game and Fish director to allocate big game hunting licenses to eligible organizations. Under this directive, up to two elk, moose and pronghorn licenses, and 10 white-tailed deer licenses, can be issued to organizations for fundraising.

Eligible organizations must be exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) or, new this year, 501(c)(19), and must provide proof from the Internal Revenue Service to that effect. In addition, organizations must be active and in good standing with the office of the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Successful lottery applicants must agree to donate at least 20% of the net proceeds of any license fundraiser to a conservation-related project, such as hunting access, conservation education, habitat development or shooting range management.

Officials Monitor Bird Flu During Fall Migration

Tue, 11/18/2025

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is monitoring sick and dead birds across the state in response to increasing reports from the public.

Dr. Logan Weyand, Department wildlife veterinarian, said Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is likely the cause and has been confirmed through testing this fall. 

Understandably, most of the reports of sick and dead birds in the last two weeks have been snow geese and other waterfowl as HPAI is documented to coincide with seasonal migrations of these species and is expected this time of year.

Weyand said disease risk to humans and pets is low but can occur. While limited contact with dead birds is recommended, if carcasses must be removed, the public is encouraged to wear disposable gloves, and to wash their hands and clothes after placing carcasses in a garbage bag and disposing of them via a waste management provider.

Hunters Should Be Aware of Early Ice

Mon, 11/10/2025

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department warns hunters to be wary of ice conditions.

In some parts of the state, there are smaller waters that show the appearance of safe ice. Hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers.

Ice can form overnight, resulting in unstable conditions. Ice thickness is not consistent, as it can vary significantly within a few inches. Hunters walking the edge of a cattail slough will not find the same ice thickness in the middle, as the edges firm up faster than farther out from shore.

A few reminders:

• 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.
• Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.

Advisory Board Meetings Announced

Mon, 10/20/2025

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this fall at eight locations across the state. 

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

Sandhill Crane Season

Wed, 09/10/2025

North Dakota’s sandhill crane season opens Sept. 20 and runs through Nov. 16.

Limits are three daily and nine in possession in unit 1 (west of U.S. Highway 281), and two daily and six in possession in unit 2 (east of U.S. Highway 281). Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day, with extended shooting hours to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 27 through the end of the season.

Hunters are urged to use caution and identify birds to prevent shooting at endangered whooping cranes as they begin their fall migration.

In addition to other licenses required, resident hunters need a $10 crane permit, while nonresidents need a $30 permit. Hunters can buy a license online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Harvest Information Program certification is required. To get HIP certified, access the Game and Fish website.

Free Fishing Weekend

Mon, 06/02/2025

North Dakota residents who want to give fishing a try can fish for free June 7-8.

That is the state’s free fishing weekend, when all residents 16 and older can fish any North Dakota water without a license. Residents 15 and younger do not need a fishing license at any time of year.

The weekend provides a great opportunity to try fishing for the first time or take someone new. 

Information on regulations, where to fish and what equipment is needed is available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

County Restrictions Remain on Oahe WMA

Mon, 05/19/2025

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department removed the open fire ban on Oahe Wildlife Management Area. However, this area still falls under county burn restrictions.

More information, including restrictions, on current fire danger indexes is available at NDResponse.gov.

Oahe WMA covers more than 16,000 acres along the Missouri River south of Bismarck and Mandan within Burleigh, Emmons and Morton counties.

ANS Awareness Week

Mon, 05/05/2025

May 4-10 is Aquatic Nuisance Species Awareness Week in North Dakota in an effort to raise public understanding of the preventative steps recreationists need to follow to stop the introduction and spread of ANS in the state’s waterways.

ANS are nonnative plants, animals or pathogens that can affect the ecology of our lakes and rivers and the economic and recreational value of those waterways. 

Ben Holen, state Game and Fish Department ANS coordinator, said ANS awareness week is comprised of state and federal agencies highlighting the ongoing efforts taking place in North Dakota.

“The pathways of ANS introductions are vast, so it is important to relay ANS awareness across diverse platforms to reach many unique water users,” he said. “Raising awareness is a collaborative approach among partners and conscientious citizens.”

North Dakota currently has low numbers of aquatic nuisance species. Other than zebra mussels, just a few invasive plants and animals – curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, and grass, bighead, silver and common carp – are found in some state waters.

To fight the introduction and spread of unwanted invasives, Holen said some of the shared burden falls on water users. The Game and Fish Department encourages anglers, pleasure boaters and others to clean, drain and dry all equipment after every use. Clean and remove all plants or animals from watercraft or equipment prior to leaving any recreational area. Drain and remove water from all equipment prior to exiting designated access points. Not draining water can be extremely hazardous and may cause negligent transportation of ANS to various locations. Afterwards, verify that all equipment is completely dry before using again.

For more information on aquatic nuisance species, visit the department’s website at gf.nd.gov.