Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to support a 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.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department offers a grant of up to $1,000, with funds designed to purchase gear such as eye and hearing protection, vests, shell bags and magnetic barrel rests.
Pollinators in the Classroom will be held June 10-11 at North Central Extension Station in Minot. The workshop will explore pollinators, what they are, where they live, life cycles, importance, and how you can make a difference. Students will receive a copy of the Urban Pollinator Program Curriculum, and should be prepared for walking field trips in the area. All materials are included.
Habitats of North Dakota: A New Generation of Lessons will be offered June 18-19 at Dickinson State University, Dickinson. The North Dakota Habitats curriculum and new Habitats Lesson Plans will be used as textbooks. The workshop will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, discussion of classroom and curriculum integration, and walking field trips, weather permitting. All supplies are provided.
For more information contact curriculum specialist Sherry Niesar at 701-527-3714. Register by clicking on the link.
2023 Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Elk Harvests
Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2023 season for bighorn sheep was 100%, 89% for moose and 71% for elk.
The department issued five bighorn sheep licenses and auctioned one. All six hunters harvested a bighorn ram.
The department issued 253 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 246 hunters harvested 219 animals – 132 bulls and 87 cows/calves.
Harvest for each unit follows:
Unit
Hunters
Bulls
Cow/Calf
Success Rate
M5
8
6
1
88
M6
10
6
1
70
M8
15
15
0
100
M9
84
33
43
90
M10
77
45
27
94
M11
52
27
15
81
The department issued 649 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 589 hunters harvested 418 elk – 190 bulls and 228 cows/calves.
Harvest for each unit follows:
Unit
Hunters
Bulls
Cow/Calf
Success Rate
E1E
128
36
54
70
E1W
104
21
45
63
E2
130
38
43
62
E3
194
73
81
79
E4
21
18
0
86
E6
12
4
5
75
Game and Fish Offers Wildlife Food Plot Seed
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering free seed for the 2024 growing season to landowners interested in planting wildlife food plots for pheasants.
Rather than a traditional corn or sunflower food plot, this seed mix increases 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.
Most Game and Fish food plots are part of the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, but this food plot campaign does not require a PLOTS contract, but the department is asking participating landowners to allow reasonable public access, which could simply mean providing access to hunters from time to time, putting up “Ask Before You Enter” signs around the area, or not posting the surrounding land. Additionally, landowners participating in this promotion cannot charge a fee for hunting.
Game and Fish will provide enough seed for a maximum 5-acre planting at no cost.
Landowners interested in receiving the food plot seed must sign up online by April 5. Seed will be available in April at Game and Fish offices in Bismarck, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Harvey, Dickinson, Williston and Riverdale.
Game and Fish private land biologists can provide technical assistance on food plot location and site preparation.
Landowners 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.
Hunters, Anglers Asked to Participate in Survey
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is collaborating with North Dakota State University on a statewide survey aimed at understanding the economic impact of hunting and fishing activities in the state. The survey will be distributed via email to a random sample of hunters and anglers beginning March 11.
Participants will be asked to provide details on their expenditures related to equipment purchases, vehicles, travel, accommodations, and other associated costs incurred during hunting and fishing trips. By conducting this survey, the Game and Fish Department intends to develop a comprehensive understanding of the financial contributions made by hunters and anglers to North Dakota's economy.
If selected for the survey, hunters and anglers are encouraged to participate so their contributions are accurately reflected in important economic data used to inform hunting and fishing policies in the state.
Game and Fish Advises Early Fish House Removal
While the deadline for removing permanent fish houses from North Dakota lakes is March 15, the state Game and Fish Department is urging anglers to consider removing their houses early in areas of the state where ice conditions are deteriorating.
Given the current long-range weather forecast predicting temperatures well above normal, coupled with a marginal icepack in areas of the state, removing a fish house can be difficult or dangerous.
It’s important to check ice thickness, especially this time of year. Ice conditions can vary from region to region, between lakes in the same region, and even on the same lake.
Even on lakes where ice remains solid away from shore, anglers should watch the weather and adjust activities accordingly.
Spring Turkey Drawing Held, Licenses Remain
The 2024 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and more than 1,000 licenses remain in 11 units. Remaining licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. Central time on Feb. 21.
Hunters are allowed two licenses for the spring season.
Licenses remain in unit 03, Benson and Ramsey counties and portions of Pierce County; unit 06, Bowman County; unit 13, Dunn County; unit 19, Grant and Sioux counties and portions of Morton County; unit 25, McHenry County and portions of Pierce and Ward counties; unit 30, portions of Morton County; unit 31, Mountrail County; unit 44, Slope County; unit 45, Stark County; unit 51, Burke County and portions of Renville, Bottineau and Ward counties; and unit 53, Williams and Divide counties.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials are looking for information in connection to a deer poaching case on Oahe Wildlife Management area south of Bismarck near the Emmons-Burleigh county line.
An antlerless white-tailed deer was shot and left intact in a field sometime around Feb. 3-5.
If anyone has information about the illegal taking of this deer, contact Report All Poachers at 701-328-9921. Individuals may remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward if a conviction is made based on the information provided.
Electronic Posting System for Private Land Available
The deadline for landowners to digitally post land is July 1, which enables Game and Fish to produce print material and digital content prior to hunting seasons that begin in August.
Landowners who enrolled land electronically last year can renew, add or modify posting designations during the enrollment period. Others posting for the first time might need to create a profile. To post land, proceed to the “Land Parcels/Electronic Posting” section at the bottom of the page and click “Search/Renew Land parcels.” The electronic posting system is linked to land descriptions based on county tax parcel information.
Residents must have a 2023-24 (valid through March 31) or 2024-25 (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 2024-25 license is available for purchase beginning March 15.
Nonresidents need a 2024 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in 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 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee.
A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents.
Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota’s spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota’s fall hunting season. The number can be obtained online on the Game and Fish website.
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.
The North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament is scheduled for March 15-16 at the State Fair Center in Minot. The tournament will feature competition in bullseye, 3-D and varsity.
The tournament consists of team and individual competition in elementary, middle and high school divisions, with $40,000 in prizes awarded including more than $30,000 in higher education scholarships.
The state tournament and all other local and regional NASP tournaments are open to any student in grades 4-12 who attends a school that offers NASP lessons during the school day.
A complete listing of tournaments in North Dakota is available on the official NASP tournament website at http://www.nasptournaments.org/. A certified NASP archery instructor must preregister participants for all NASP tournaments.
For more information, or to find out if your child’s school participates in NASP, contact Jeff Long, North Dakota state coordinator, at jrlong@nd.gov, or call 701-328-6322.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department