Hunters applying for a 2023 swan license can 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 deadline to apply is Aug. 16.
The statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 30. A total of 2,200 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.
All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license when applying. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license.
Pronghorn Hunting Season Set, Apply Online
North Dakota’s 2023 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 420 licenses available in eight units.
Bruce Stillings, big game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said license numbers are down significantly from last year, when the department allocated 1,970 licenses in 17 units.
“A limited season with a very conservative harvest strategy will be held to provide hunter opportunity while encouraging population growth,” Stillings said.
Hunting units 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A and 7A will be open in 2023. The remaining hunting units will be closed due to low population levels not able to support a harvest at this time.
The July aerial survey indicated the overall pronghorn population is down 40% from last year. The fawn-to-doe ratio of 43 fawns per 100 does was the second lowest on record since 1950. The buck-to-doe ratio of 30 bucks per 100 does remains stable and at population objective, Stillings said.
“Significant snowfall fell in early November and winter conditions persisted into April, putting extreme stress on pronghorn,” he said. “Losses due to malnutrition were significant based on results from our aerial survey. Fawns and older adults are age classes impacted the most during extreme winter conditions.”
Currently, Stillings mentioned, habitat conditions are excellent following above normal winter and summer moisture, which provides ample resources for pronghorn.
“Future population recovery will be dependent on upcoming winter conditions and fawning success in 2024,” he added. “Pronghorn fawn production was the second lowest on record following one of the most extreme winters on record.”
Each unit will once again have a season that is split into an early bow-only portion, and a later gun/bow season.
The bow-only portion of the season is Sept. 1 (noon) – Sept. 24. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.
From Oct. 6 (noon) – Oct. 22, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or archery equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a pronghorn license. Hunters who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points, but will not earn a point for next year. However, hunters who do not want a license in 2023 have the option to purchase a bonus point on the application.
Applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
The pronghorn license fee is $30 for ages 16 and older, and $10 for under age 16. Applicants for a pronghorn lottery license must be at least 12 years of age on or before Dec. 31. The application deadline is Aug. 9.
First-Come, First-Served Deer Gun Licenses Available July 26
More than 2,500 deer licenses are available in five units for North Dakota’s 2023 deer gun season, and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning July 26 at 8 a.m. Central time. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
Hunters who want to purchase additional licenses can Aug. 16 at 8 a.m. Central time. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license, which can be used during the archery season with a bow; deer gun season with a bow, rifle or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. However, youth under age 14 (at the end of the calendar year) will be issued a concurrent season license for archery only.
There is no limit on the number of concurrent season licenses a hunter can purchase.
Hunters with concurrent season licenses are restricted to the type of antlerless deer printed on the license and must stay in the unit in which the license is assigned.
Photographers interested in sending photos for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest must follow guidelines for submitting their work.
Photographers should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/wildlife/watchable-photo-contest. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps both with ease of submitting photos for the photographer and managing those images for department staff.
The contest is open and the deadline for submitting photos is Oct. 2. For more information or questions, contact Patrick Isakson, department conservation biologist, at pisakson@nd.gov.
The contest has categories for nongame and game species, as well as plants/insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category determined by the number of qualified entries.
Contestants are limited to no more than five entries. Photos must have been taken in North Dakota.
By submitting an entry, photographers grant permission to Game and Fish to publish winning photographs in North Dakota OUTDOORS and on the department’s website.
Report Boat Accidents
Regardless of how safe and cautious boaters are on the water, accidents happen. If a boating accident involves injury, death or disappearance of a person, an accident report must be completed and sent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of the occurrence.
If property damage exceeds $2,000, but no deaths or injuries occur, a boat operator has five days to file a report.
These reporting requirements are mandatory whether there is one or more boats involved.
A boat accident form is available on the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, at any Game and Fish office or by contacting a local game warden.
Say Yes to Clean, Drain, Dry
While the effort to stop the introduction and transportation of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota has been mostly successful, challenges remain as not all anglers, pleasure boaters and other water enthusiasts are abiding by the clean, drain, dry message.
For example, last week department game wardens and other department staff inspected over 1,200 watercrafts throughout the state. Unfortunately, these inspections found four watercraft that were transporting zebra mussels. Luckily, in all four incidences, the zebra mussels were determined to be dead.
North Dakota waters remain relatively free of aquatic nuisance species. Besides common carp, most species – zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, flowering rush, curly-leaf pondweed and three species of invasive carp – are only found in a handful of waters in the state.
To keep our waters clean of aquatic nuisance species, the Game and Fish Department reminds all anglers, pleasure boaters and water users to clean, drain and dry all equipment after every use.
Clean and remove all plants and animals from watercraft or equipment prior to leaving any recreational area.
Drain all water from watercraft and equipment before leaving designated access points. Not draining water can be extremely hazardous and may cause negligent transportation of aquatic nuisance species to other locations.
The next guide and outfitter written examination is Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than Aug. 11 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604.
The test is given periodically to anyone interested in becoming a guide or outfitter in the state.
In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a hunting guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations, certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid, and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.
Hunting outfitter eligibility requirements include the guide qualifications, as well as an individual must have held a hunting guide license for two years and must have proof of liability insurance.
Anglers Should Keep Fish Caught in Deep Water
North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel encourage anglers to keep fish caught from depths of more than 25 feet, rather than practice catch-and-release.
Scott Gangl, Game and Fish fisheries management section leader, said with the exceptional fish bite at Lake Sakakawea this summer, anglers should know fish reeled in from this depth will likely die if released.
“As water warms during summer, fish tend to move to deeper, cooler water,” Gangl said. “This is particularly true for walleye in the big lake, where they follow their primary forage of rainbow smelt to deeper depths as summer progresses. Now fish are being caught at depths where barotrauma is a concern.”
Change in water pressure will cause the swim bladder to expand, Gangl said, which means fish can no longer control balance. In addition, he said other internal injuries are likely, such as ruptured blood vessels or damaged internal organs. Because of these other internal injuries, biologists discourage fizzing, the practice of deflating the swim bladder.
Barotrauma can happen in any deep water body such as Devils Lake, Lake Oahe and Lake Sakakawea, Gangl said, but it is especially noteworthy for this time of year in the big lake.
Prior to fishing at least 25 feet deep, anglers should make the decision to keep what they catch.
Put Garbage Where it Belongs
Outdoor recreationists are encouraged to keep it clean this summer by packing out all trash.
All garbage, including used fireworks, should be placed in a proper trash receptacle. If trash cans aren’t available, or full, dispose of trash at home.
It is not uncommon to see garbage piling up around full trash containers. Styrofoam containers are not biodegradable, but are often found wedged in cattails, drifting or washed up on shore.
Tires, mattresses and kitchen appliances have found their way to public use areas. This illegal dumping is costly to clean up and takes a significant toll on the environment. Not only does it spoil the beauty of the land, it destroys habitat, has the potential to pollute North Dakota waters and can injure wildlife.
2023 Deer Lottery Held, Licenses Remain
North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and more than 4,300 licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the lottery can apply for remaining licenses.
Successful applicants can expect to receive their deer license by early August.
More than 68,500 individuals applied for a deer gun lottery license, in addition to over 13,000 gratis applicants. The 2023 deer gun proclamation allows for 53,400 deer gun season licenses.
Unsuccessful applicants can apply online for remaining licenses beginning July 5. The deadline for applying is July 19.
Remaining Deer Gun Licenses
(B = Any Antlerless C = Antlered Whitetail D = Antlerless Whitetail)
Unit
Type
Available
3A1
B
735
3A2
B
507
3B2
D
60
3D1
D
57
3D2
D
56
3E2
D
80
3F1
B
110
3F1
D
337
3F2
B
1,132
3F2
C
280
3F2
D
797
4B
D
36
4F
D
167
Pronghorn Survey Begins
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual aerial pronghorn survey will begin June 28 and is scheduled to be completed within two weeks.
During the survey period, small airplanes will sometimes fly low over some parts of western North Dakota.
The survey determines pronghorn abundance, herd demographics and fawn production. This data is used to set the number of licenses for the fall hunting season.
WMA Regulations Prohibit Fireworks, Camping Restrictions Lifted for Holiday
Outdoor enthusiasts should note that possession or use of fireworks on state wildlife management areas is prohibited.
The primary objective of a wildlife management area is to enhance wildlife production, provide hunting and fishing opportunities, and offer other outdoor recreational and educational uses compatible with these objectives. Only activities that would not disrupt the intentions of how these areas are managed are encouraged, and fireworks are not compatible.
In addition, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday no-camping restriction for the Fourth of July holiday week, which will allow overnight camping July 4-5 on those WMAs that otherwise have this two-day restriction.
A complete list of WMA regulations is available on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department