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

Federal Duck Stamp Required Sept. 1

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are reminded a federal duck stamp is required beginning Sept. 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots.

This year’s 2018-19 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, instant licensing telephone number, 800-406-6409, or at license vendors registered with the department’s licensing system. Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors, but they can still be purchased at many U.S. Postal Service offices.

The electronic stamp is a purchase item like any other hunting or fishing license. When the purchase is completed the electronic stamp is valid immediately. The words "Federal Duck Stamp" will be printed on the license certificate, along with an expiration date 45 days from the date of purchase. The actual physical stamp will be sent by postal mail.

The physical stamp is processed and sent by the official duck stamp vendor in Texas, and should arrive to the individual buyer well before the expiration date printed on the electronic license. The physical stamp must remain in possession of the hunter after the 45-day electronic stamp has expired. Individuals who have questions regarding the status of their physical stamp can contact the federal duck stamp vendor customer service number at 800-852-4897.

The federal duck stamp has a fee of $25. An additional $1.50 fee is added to cover shipping and handling costs of the actual physical stamp.  

 

Deer Archery Season Opens Aug. 31

North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Aug. 31 at noon, and continues through Jan. 6, 2019.

Bowhunters can buy a license online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov; by calling 800-406-6409; or at vendors linked to the Game and Fish Department’s online licensing system. Hunters who purchase bow licenses at a vendor location will receive a tag at time of purchase; otherwise, hunters who purchase their license over the phone or personal computer should allow for several days to receive their tag in the mail. A general game and habitat license is also required for archery hunters, and must be purchased prior to receiving the archery tag.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands, ground blinds and game cameras on public hunting areas, including displaying an equipment registration number, or the owner's name, address and telephone number, on all equipment left unattended on Game and Fish wildlife management areas.

In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3C west of the Missouri River, and all of units 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2.

Hunters should refer to the 2018 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations. 

 

Pronghorn Lottery Held

North Dakota’s pronghorn lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

A total of 1,075 licenses were available in 10 units. More than 11,100 applications, including 377 gratis, were received.

All licenses were issued.

Hunters who are drawn for a 2018 pronghorn license will be sent their license after purchasing a valid 2018-19 general game and habitat license, or combination license, which is also required to hunt pronghorn (exception: no other licenses are required for gratis). Hunters who have already purchased this 2018-19 license do not have to purchase another one.

Fall Turkey Season Set, Apply Online

North Dakota’s fall turkey season is set with 3,710 licenses available to hunters, 205 more than last year.

Fall turkey hunters, including gratis applicants, who are interested in applying for a 2018 license must submit an online application through the state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications are not available this year.

Applications are also accepted at the department’s toll-free licensing line, 800-406-6409. A service fee is added for license applications made over the phone.

The deadline for applying is Sept. 5.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply in the first lottery. Nonresidents can apply for fall turkey licenses that are still available following the first lottery.

As per state law, a resident who does not want to receive a fall turkey hunting license but would like to accrue a bonus point, can purchase a point on the application for the same fee as the turkey license. The bonus point fee is allocated to the department’s Private Lands Open to Sportsmen Program.

In addition to hunting unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties), unit 47 (Sheridan, Wells, Eddy, Foster, Kidder and Stutsman counties) will be closed to fall turkey hunting this year because of low turkey numbers. However, unit 53 (Divide and Williams counties), which has been closed to fall turkey hunting since 2006, will be open in 2018.

The fall wild turkey season runs from Oct. 13 through Jan. 6, 2019. 

Youth Waterfowl Clinic Aug. 17 in Bismarck

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program is a primary sponsor for a free youth waterfowl hunting clinic Aug. 17 in Bismarck. Ducks Unlimited is hosting the event.

The clinic is for youth ages 16 and younger, and is held at the DU Great Plains Regional Office. Sessions include duck identification, retriever training, decoy spreads, hunting gear and duck calling. In addition, the first 20 to register age 9 and older can participate in a shooting training event at Capital City Sporting Clays.

The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon, with the shooting event scheduled for the afternoon.

Preregistration is required by contacting Jennifer Kross at 202-8896, or jkross@ducks.org.

The Game and Fish Department’s Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program provides grant dollars to help local communities and organizations fund events that promote youth hunting and shooting sports. For more information, contact outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at 701-328-6332.

 

HIP Registration Required for Migratory Bird Hunters

Migratory bird hunters of all ages are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Hunters must register in each state for which they are licensed to hunt.

Hunters can HIP certify when purchasing a license - or by clicking the Migratory Bird HIP link - at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, hunters can call 888-634-4798 and record the HIP number on their printed license.

Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose season in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year.

HIP registration is a cooperative program designed to determine a sample of hunters from which to measure the harvest of migratory birds for management purposes. 

 

Fur Harvester Classes Scheduled

The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is sponsoring three fur harvester education classes for anyone interested in trapping or hunting furbearers.

Courses in Bismarck and Jamestown are set for Aug. 21, 23 and 25. A course in Dickinson is Aug. 18 and 25.

Courses are free and take 16 hours to complete .

Students will learn the history of the fur trade in the Dakotas, furbearer identification, tools and techniques for harvesting furbearers in North Dakota, as well as proper handling (skinning, fleshing and boarding) of furbearers.

Upon completion, graduates are issued a certification card that is recognized by any state requiring trapper education prior to purchasing a license.

Anyone interested in signing up for the class should visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov, click on the education link and fur harvester education.

 

Youth Outdoor Festival Aug. 30 in Minot

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot.

The event is Thursday, Aug. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Game and Fish Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park on the grounds of the North Dakota State Fair.

Young outdoor enthusiasts will experience a number of outdoor activities that relate to archery, fishing, waterfowl and upland game. Prizes will be awarded and food is provided.

For more information, contact Game and Fish outreach biologist Greg Gullickson at 701-720-1640.

Swan Hunt Applications due Aug. 15

Swan hunters are reminded the deadline for submitting an application for the 2018 season is Aug. 15.

Applicants must 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 statewide tundra swan hunting season is Sept. 29 - Dec. 30. A total of 2,700 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. 

 

Pronghorn Applications due Aug. 8

Prospective pronghorn hunters are reminded the deadline to apply for the 2018 hunting season is Aug. 8.

Applicants can apply online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by calling 800-406-6409. Paper applications are not available.

A total of 1,075 licenses are available in 10 open units – 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A and 7A. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn.

The bow-only portion of the season is from Aug. 31 (noon) – Sept. 23. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license. 

From Oct. 5 (noon) – Oct. 21, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or archery equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.

The pronghorn license fee is $30 for ages 16 and older, and $10 for under age 16.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a 2018 pronghorn license. Hunters who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points, but will not accrue one for next year. However, hunters who do not want a license in 2018 have the option to purchase a bonus point on the application. 

 

Duck Brood Numbers Up from Last Year

State Game and Fish Department biologists expect a fall duck flight from North Dakota that is up 12 percent from last year, based on observations from the annual mid-July waterfowl production survey.

This year’s duck brood index was up 37 percent from last year, and showed 5.11 broods per square mile, an increase of 39 percent. Average brood size is unchanged at 6.76 ducklings per brood.

Migratory game bird management supervisor Mike Szymanski said conditions were pretty dry after the May breeding duck survey, which indicated duck numbers and wetlands were down. “But most of the state received abundant rainfall from late May through early July, which was encouraging for the summer survey,” he said. 

The July survey showed duck production in the northern tier of the state was very good, and Szymanski mentioned even areas farther south were still quite favorable. "We have been seeing good numbers of broods since the summer survey, and especially lots of young birds, which indicates renesting efforts were very strong," Szymanski said.

Mallards, gadwall and blue-winged teal are the top three duck species that nest in North Dakota, and together they accounted for about 75 percent of the broods observed in the summer survey. Mallard brood numbers were up about 22 percent from last year, gadwalls were up about 47 percent, and blue-winged teal broods were up 45 percent. Blue-winged teal are typically the most prevalent breeding duck in North Dakota. In addition, pintail brood numbers were up 142 percent. 

Observers also count water areas during the summer survey, and this year’s water index was up 11 percent from last year. Szymanski said wetlands in the north central were still below average, but other areas were close to or slightly above average.

“Wetland conditions are still on the dry side, as the early summer rains slowed down quite a bit,” he added. “The larger basins are in pretty good shape, and even some of the local smaller basins that were dry this spring were filled from the earlier rainfall. But the small, shallow basins are beginning to show the effects and have the potential to dry up before the hunting season begins.”

Game and Fish biologists will conduct a separate survey in September to assess wetland conditions heading into the waterfowl hunting seasons.

The Game and Fish summer duck brood survey involves 18 routes that cover all sectors of the state, except west and south of the Missouri River. Biologists count and classify duck broods and water areas within 220 yards on each side of the road.

The survey started in the mid-1950s, and all routes used today have been in place since 1965. 

 

Applications for Remaining Doe Licenses due Aug. 8

North Dakota residents who were unsuccessful in the initial deer lottery are reminded the deadline to submit an application for a remaining doe license is Aug. 8.

Unsuccessful applicants must apply online by visiting the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. More than 3,000 antlerless licenses remain in 11 units.

In addition, hunters who receive a 2018 deer license will be sent their license after purchasing a valid 2018-19 general game and habitat license, or combination license, which is also required to hunt deer. Hunters who have already purchased this 2018-19 license do not have to purchase another one.