Fish House Regulations

Mon, 12/16/2024

Any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that allow it to float. In addition, fish houses do not require a license.

Other fish house regulations include:

• 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 an address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 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.
• Unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight, March 15.

Darkhouse Spearfishing Registration

Mon, 12/16/2024

Individuals required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to darkhouse spearfish must first register online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Darkhouse spearing is allowed for all anglers with a valid fishing license and for youth under age 16.

Northern pike and nongame fish are the only legal species statewide, while walleye can be speared at Stump Lake and the Devils Lake complex south of U.S. Highway 2 and the Missouri River System (including lakes Oahe and Sakakawea and the Missouri River) up to the first tributary bridge.

Spearers and anglers are reminded that materials used to mark holes must be in possession as soon as a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is made in the ice.

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
• Lake Ashtabula – Barnes and Griggs counties
• Larimore Dam – Grand Forks County
• McClusky Canal
• New Johns Lake – Burleigh County
• Red Willow Lake – Griggs County
• Whitman Dam – Nelson County
• Wood Lake – Benson County

Anglers and spearers should refer to the 2024-26 North Dakota Fishing Guide for more information.

River Otter Trapping Season Closed

Tue, 12/10/2024

North Dakota’s river otter trapping season is closed. The statewide season’s predetermined harvest limit of 25 has been reached.

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

Waterfowl Book Makes Great Gift

Wed, 12/04/2024

Looking for a gift for a waterfowl hunter this holiday season? You might want to check out the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s “The Duck Factory – A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota.”

Authored by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell, the 213-page, soft-cover publication in full color traces the history of waterfowl species and their habitats in North Dakota.

Migratory game bird program leader Mike Szymanski said there is a lot of interesting information about the interactions with people and waterfowl in North Dakota.

“This book is appealing to both waterfowl hunters and people interested in history,” Szymanski said. “It has a lot of really cool, old photos of hunting scenes and historical figures.”

“The Duck Factory” is an important story because of North Dakota’s longtime and continuing contribution to the world of migratory birds, Szymanski said. “North Dakota is the most important state for breeding ducks,” he added. “The contribution of ducks from North Dakota into the fall flight is unmatched by any other state, and its importance to duck hunters cannot be understated. Describing the history of waterfowl in North Dakota was a story that we felt was certainly worth telling.”

The book is sold only online for $24.99, including shipping, on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, by clicking on Buy and Apply, and then Shop.

Special Allocation Lottery Apps Deadline

Mon, 12/02/2024

Nonprofit organizations eligible to receive big game hunting licenses in 2025 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), 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 10% 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.

Coyote Catalog Available

Mon, 12/02/2024

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

Landowners can sign up on the Department of Agriculture website, ndda.nd.gov.

Hunters and trappers can sign up at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

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

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

Landowners 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.

For more information, contact Ryan Herigstad at Game and Fish, 701-595-4463 or rherigstad@nd.gov; or Michelle Mielke, at the Department of Agriculture, 701-328-2233 or mmielke@nd.gov.