Mountain lion hunting during the late season in Zone 1 is closed after the harvest limit of seven total cats was reached.
The mountain lion season in Zone 2, which is the rest of the state outside Zone 1, has no harvest limit and is open through March 31.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently paid more than $729,000 in taxes to counties in which the department owns or leases land. The 2022 in-lieu-of-tax payments are the same as property taxes paid by private landowners.
The Game and Fish Department manages more than 200,000 acres for wildlife habitat and public hunting in 51 counties. The department does…
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications must be submitted online before midnight, March 29.
Applicants can apply by visiting My Account at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery in the past are…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking for help locating active bald eagle nests.
Conservation biologist Sandra Johnson said the department is looking for locations of nests with eagles present, not individual eagle sightings.
Eagles lay eggs in early to mid-March, which hatch about a month later. Johnson said it’s easy to distinguish an eagle nest because of its…
Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters.
The program supports projects and events that provide a positive environment to develop the skills and confidence…
North Dakota anglers, trappers and hunters are reminded that new licenses are required beginning April 1.
Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download the license to a smart phone or mobile device, which is helpful when…
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is March 29.
A total of 603 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 40 from last year.
Licenses in units E1E and E1W increased due to a stable to increasing elk population. Licenses in elk units E2, E3,…
With most chronic wasting disease testing completed, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reported 24 deer from the 2022 hunting season tested positive.
Eight deer were from hunting unit 3F2; eight from unit 3A1; two from unit 4B; and one from units 3B1 and 3E2. Single positive deer were also found in four new units – 3A3, 3E1, 3F1 and 4F – where the disease had not been previously…
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…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 862 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2023.
Applicants can apply online beginning March 15 on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline to apply is April 15.
Up to five hunters can apply together as a party. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. A total of 1,…
Volunteer instructors for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department were recently recognized at the annual banquet in Bismarck.
Gary Knotts, Fargo, was recognized as Hunter Education Instructor of the Year and Heather Retzer, Wahpeton, was named Volunteer of the Year. Minot instructors Jon Hughes, Justin Hughes and Harold Capaci were recognized as Team of the Year.
Thirty-year…
Anglers are reminded unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters beginning March 15.
Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily, when not occupied.
In addition, anglers are encouraged to look around and clean up the site if any trash is found left behind.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will again offer free seed for the upcoming growing season to landowners interested in planting wildlife food plots for pheasants.
Rather than a traditional corn or sunflower food plot, this seed mix provides increased plant diversity, including flowering plants from spring through fall, which will attract insects, the major diet component of…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its voluntary Conservation Reserve Program. Private landowners can apply at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office through April 7.
Cropland not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered during this general enrollment period. In addition, producers with CRP contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2023, may also be eligible.
…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department developed a new mobile app that allows outdoor enthusiasts instant access in the field to their licenses, hunting and fishing regulations and other important information.
To download the app, go to Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search NDGF or North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Brian Hosek, Department business operations…
Update 3/2023: All licenses have been sold.
The 2023 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and 760 licenses remain in nine units. Remaining licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning 8 a.m. Central time on Feb. 23.
Hunters are allowed two licenses for the spring season.
Licenses remain in unit 06, Bowman County; unit 13, Dunn County…
Spring turkey applicants should note the deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
Applicants can apply online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
Spring turkey licenses are available only to North Dakota residents. The season opens April 8 and continues through May 14.
North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 18 and continues through May 14.
Residents must have a 2022-23 (valid through March 31) or 2023-24 (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 2023-24 license is available for purchase beginning…
The North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament is scheduled for March 17-18 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 school and high school divisions, with $40,000 in prizes awarded including $20,000 in higher…
The next guide and outfitter written examination is April 1 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than March 24 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604.
In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish…
