Two Deer Test Positive for CWD

Mon, 01/29/2018

A whitetail buck and a mule deer doe, taken during the 2017 deer gun season from unit 3F2 in southwestern North Dakota, have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to Dr. Dan Grove, wildlife veterinarian for the state Game and Fish Department.

Since 2009, the total now stands at 11 deer to test positive for CWD in North Dakota, and all were from within unit 3F2.

In 2010, the Game and Fish Department implemented special regulations in 3F2 and surrounding units to limit the natural spread of the disease, and to protect the rest of the deer, elk and moose herds in North Dakota.

In addition to the 350 samples tested for CWD from unit 3F2, another 1,050 were tested from deer harvested last fall by hunters in the central third of the state, and from any moose or elk taken during the hunting season. In all, more than 1,400 samples were tested.

Since the Game and Fish Department’s sampling efforts began in 2002, more than 31,000 deer, elk and moose have tested negative for CWD. 

“The Department takes the risk of CWD to the state’s deer, elk and moose herds seriously,” Grove said. “CWD is considered a permanent disease on the landscape once an area becomes endemic.”

The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in specific regions of the state. In 2018, deer will be tested from the western portion of the state.

The Game and Fish Department also has a targeted surveillance program that is an ongoing, year-round effort to test animals found dead or sick.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. For more information on CWD, refer to the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. 

Spring Turkey Season Set, Apply Online

Tue, 01/23/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 5,655 wild turkey licenses for the spring hunting season, 30 fewer than last year.

Four of the 22 hunting units have more spring licenses than in 2017, eight have fewer and nine remain the same. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) is again closed in 2018 due to lack of turkeys in the unit.

Spring turkey applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Applications can also be submitted by calling 800-406-6409. Paper applications are no longer available for spring turkey or any other lottery licenses, which also includes moose, elk and sheep; deer gun, pronghorn and swan. 

The deadline for applying is Feb. 14.

Successful spring turkey applicants must purchase a 2018-19 hunting license, as last year’s 2017-18 licenses expire March 31. In addition to the spring turkey license, hunters must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate, and a general game and habitat license. Also, hunters ages 16 and older must possess a small game license, or combination license.

First-time spring turkey hunters ages 15 or younger are eligible to receive one spring license valid for the regular hunting season in a specific unit. To be eligible, the youth hunter must be 15 or younger on opening day of spring turkey season, and have never received a spring turkey license in North Dakota.

Spring turkey licenses are available only to North Dakota residents. Per legislation, an additional four spring wild turkey licenses are available to the Outdoor Adventure Foundation and three to the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The spring turkey season opens April 14 and continues through May 20. 

2017 Summary of Violations

Tue, 01/23/2018

Big Game

• Hunting in closed season - 10
• Failure to wear fluorescent orange - 17
• Tagging violations - 31
• Exceeding limit - 1
• Killing wrong species or sex - 8
• Other big game violations - 28
• Total - 95

Small Game

• Using gun able to hold more than 3 shells - 56
• Hunting in closed season - 8
• Illegal possession/taking - 8
• Exceeding limit - 19
• Failure to leave identification or sex of game - 51
• Killing wrong sex or species - 2
• Nontoxic shot violation - 10
• Failure to carry federal waterfowl stamp - 7
• Wanton waste - 10
• Hunting in unharvested field - 19
• Other small game violations - 72
• Total - 262

Boating

• Use of unlicensed or unnumbered boat - 138
• Failure to display boat registration - 121
• Operating without lights at night - 35
• Inadequate number of PFDs - 255
• Water skiing violations - 24
• Reckless or negligent operation - 4
• Operating vessel under influence/intoxicated - 11
• Other boating violations - 55
• Total - 643

Fishing

• Fishing with excessive lines - 53
• Exceeding limit - 87
• Fishing in closed/restricted area - 5
• Failure to attend lines - 11
• No identification on fish house - 8
• ANS violation - 130
• Paddlefish violations - 8
• Other fishing violations - 46
• Total - 348

Furbearer

• Shining (using artificial light) - 13
• Illegal possession/taking - 2
• Harassing furbearers with motor vehicle - 10
• Other furbearer violations - 10
• Total - 35

General

• Use of motor vehicle off established trail - 15
• Use of motor vehicle in restricted area - 38
• Harassing wildlife with motor vehicle - 5
• Hunting on posted land without permission - 59
• Hunting before/after legal hours - 16
• Wanton waste - 7
• Aid in concealment of unlawful game - 8
• Hunting in wrong unit/closed area - 5
• Loaded firearm in motor vehicle - 64
• Discharge of firearm within/on motor vehicle - 6
• 440 yard violation - 5
• Littering - 52
• Other general violations - 16
• Total - 296

Licensing

• Failure to sign/affix stamp - 18
• Hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license - 235
• Failure to carry license on person - 334
• Misrepresentation on license or application - 21
• Other licensing violations - 14
• Total - 622

Wildlife Management Areas/Refuge

• Failure to obey posted regulations - 29
• Camping - 21
• Tree stand violations - 10
• Possession of glass beverage containers - 14
• Baiting on WMA - 4
• Prohibited uses of motor vehicles - 12
• Other WMA/refuge violations - 4
• Total - 94

Miscellaneous

• Possession of controlled substance - 13
• Possession of drug paraphernalia - 13
• Open container - 28
• Minor in possession - 17
• Criminal trespass - 28
• Other miscellaneous - 27
• Total - 126

Commercial

• Commercial violations - 25
• Total - 25

Incidents 2017 - Top 10 Counties

(An incident is defined as any situation that requires a response from a game warden. It does not have to be a crime. The situation could be, for example, a stranded angler.)

• Burleigh - 251
• Ramsey - 234
• McLean - 206
• McKenzie - 175
• Morton - 172
• Richland - 168
• Ward - 162
• Cass - 154
• Williams - 141
• Mountrail - 138

Citations 2017 - Top 10 Counties

• Ramsey - 266
• Williams - 136
• Burleigh - 136
• McKenzie - 133
• Benson - 103
• Richland - 99
• McLean - 98
• Mountrail - 97
• Stutsman - 89
• Barnes - 84

Grants Support High School Trap League

Mon, 01/22/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is launching a program that will provide grants to local clubs or communities that offer high school trap shooting.

Game and Fish education section leader Marty Egeland said the grants are designed to support the North Dakota high school trap league.

“The grants are to be used for the infrastructure to support youth shooting, for example trap throwers, trap houses, sidewalks and voice pulls,” Egeland said.

Interested applicants can print out the range grant application online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline is April 1.

For more information, contact Egeland at 328-6612, or email megeland@nd.gov.

NASP Tourney March 23-24

Mon, 01/22/2018

The North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament is scheduled for March 23-24 at the State Fair Center in Minot.

The tournament will feature team and individual categories in elementary, middle school and high school, including awards and prizes, and up to $20,000 in college scholarships available to the top 10 boys and girls in each grade division.

Additionally, the top 10 boys and girls qualify for NASP nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

The state tournament and all other local and regional NASP tournaments are open to any student in grades 4-12 who attend a school that offers NASP lessons during the school day. If a school has an after-school club, third-graders are also welcome, with permission from the coach and principal.

For a complete listing of tournaments in North Dakota, go to the Official NASP Tournament website. A certified NASP archery instructor must register 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 701-328-6322.  

North Dakota Earth Day Patch Contest

Mon, 01/22/2018

The state Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day awareness campaign is accepting entries for design of a 2018 Earth Day patch. North Dakota students ages 6-18 are eligible to participate. The deadline to submit entries is March 15.

The Game and Fish Department will announce a winner in three age categories – 6-9, 10-13, and 14-18. Each winner will receive a pair of binoculars. The final patch design will be chosen from the three winners.

The winning design will be used on a patch given to members of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs and any school participating in Earth Day cleanup projects on state-owned or managed lands in North Dakota in April and May.

The patch should incorporate some aspect of Earth Day – celebrated April 22 – or keeping North Dakota clean. It must be round and three inches in diameter. There is a limit of five colors on the patch, and lettering must be printed. Name, address, age and phone number of the contestant must be clearly printed on the entry form. Only one entry per person is allowed.

Earth Day contest rules and entry forms are available on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. For more information, contact Pat Lothspeich by email at ndgf@nd.gov, or call 701-328-6332.

Pressure Ridges Cause for Concern

Mon, 01/22/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds ice anglers that caution is always advised when traveling on frozen waters, even though recent ice conditions may appear safe.

Education coordinator Brian Schaffer said extreme cold temperatures have created much better ice conditions in most of the state, but driving or fishing near pressure ridges should be avoided.

“Pressure ridges are a way of life when it comes to ice fishing, but this year there appears to be more of them, especially in south central North Dakota,” Schaffer said.

Pressure ridges, cracks, and slushy or dark areas signal thinner ice. 

“The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush and embankments, especially under bridges,” Schaffer said.

In addition, Schaffer said snow hides blemishes, such as cracked, weak and open water areas.

“Simply put, anglers need to be aware of the current conditions, and continue to monitor ice conditions as winter moves along,” he added. 

Hunter Education Classes

Fri, 01/12/2018

Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2018 are reminded to register early as most classes are held the first few months of the calendar year.

To register for a hunter education course, students need to sign up online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. Many classes will be added over the next several weeks, and the rest will be added throughout the year as they are finalized.

After accessing the Buy and Apply link, click on the hunter education link and “list of hunter education courses.” Classes are listed by city, and can also be sorted by start date. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required.

Individuals interested in receiving a notice by email when each hunter education class is added can click on the “subscribe to news and alerts” link found below the news section on the Game and Fish home page. Check the box labeled “hunter education” under the education program updates.

In addition, SMS text notifications of new classes can be sent directly to a cell phone. Simply text “NDGF HunterClass” to 468311 to subscribe to this feature.

State law requires anyone born after December 31, 1961 to pass a certified hunter education course to hunt in the state. Hunter education is mandatory for youth who are turning 12 years old, and children can take the class at age 11.

Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses

Fri, 01/12/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 502 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2018.

Applicants must apply online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications are not available. The deadline for applying is March 1.

Up to five applicants can apply together as a party. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. Any remaining licenses after March 1 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15 percent of the previous year’s mule deer gun license allocation. The Game and Fish Department issued 3,350 mule deer licenses in the 2017 deer gun license lottery. 

Watchable Wildlife Checkoff on State Tax Form

Mon, 01/08/2018

North Dakota citizens with an interest in supporting wildlife conservation programs are reminded to look for the Watchable Wildlife checkoff on the state tax form.

The state income tax form gives wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to support nongame wildlife like songbirds and birds of prey, while at the same time contributing to programs that help everyone enjoy all wildlife.

The checkoff – whether you are receiving a refund or having to pay in – is an easy way to voluntarily contribute to sustain this long‑standing program. In addition, direct donations to the program are accepted any time of year.

To learn more about Watchable Wildlife program activities, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.

Game Warden Exam Set for Feb. 23

Mon, 01/08/2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has scheduled an examination to select candidates for the position of a full-time temporary district game warden in Bismarck. The test is at 10 a.m., Feb. 23, at the department's main office in Bismarck.

Applicants must register to take the exam no later than Feb. 19 by submitting an online application through the North Dakota State Job Openings website.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a bachelor’s degree at time of hire (tentative hire date is May 1), have a valid driver’s license and a current North Dakota peace officer license, or be eligible to be licensed. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal skills in communications and writing, and must not have a record of any felony convictions.

District game wardens enforce game and fish laws and related regulations in an assigned district and other locations as determined by the department. Wardens normally work alone under varied conditions, at all hours of the day, night and weekends. In addition to law enforcement duties, wardens assist in the areas of public relations, education programs, and hunter and boat safety education.

Salary through training for a district game warden is $3,800 per month. For more information, see the district game warden job announcement on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Darkhouse Spearfishing Workshop Scheduled Feb. 3

Tue, 01/02/2018

Individuals interested in darkhouse spearfishing can sign up for a workshop offered Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge office northwest of Minot.

Sponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, participants will learn about ice safety, the tradition of darkhouse spearfishing and required gear. In addition, there will be time spent on the ice for spearfishing with a mentor.

Registration is limited to 18 participants, with a minimum age of 12. Cost of the workshop is $25, and all equipment is provided.

For more information or to register, contact Game and Fish Department education coordinator Brian Schaffer at 328-6312. Online registration is not available.