Inspect All Boats, Docks and Lifts Before Buying or Selling

Mon, 06/29/2026

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department urges people to check boats, trailers, docks, lifts, and all other water-related equipment for aquatic nuisance species before buying or selling. During summer, there is an elevated risk of having ANS, like zebra mussels, attached to submerged equipment.

North Dakota requires all docks, lifts and related equipment to be dried and left out of the water for at least 21 days before being placed in another water.

Ben Holen, Game and Fish Department ANS coordinator, said “While often overlooked, docks and lifts are one of the highest risk vectors for starting new zebra mussel infestations.  Following the 21-day out-of-water rule is critical to preventing the spread of mussels to cabin lakes in North Dakota.” 

Protecting our waters is everyone’s responsibility. Please remember to follow all North Dakota regulations:

• Remove aquatic vegetation before leaving the water access and do not import into North Dakota.
• Drain all water before leaving the water access.
• Remove drain plugs and devices that hold back water and leave open and out during transport.
• Do not import aquatic bait into the state. For Class I ANS Infested waters, aquatic bait cannot be transported away from the water during the open-water months. At all other waters, bait must be transported in a container that holds 5 gallons or less. It is illegal to dump unused bait on shore or into the lake. 

For more information on aquatic nuisance species, visit the department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

Operation Dry Water: Heightened Boating Enforcement July 3-5

Mon, 06/29/2026

As boating traffic increases over the Fourth of July weekend, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, will increase on-the-water patrols and enforcement as part of Operation Dry Water, a national campaign focused on preventing boating under the influence. From July 3–5, officers will take part in the initiative in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Alcohol use remains the leading contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities. As part of Operation Dry Water, Game and Fish will focus on public education, compliance checks, and enforcement efforts designed to identify and remove impaired vessel operators from the water. Boaters can expect an increased law enforcement presence, including targeted patrols and sobriety checks in high-traffic areas.

"The Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest times of the year on the water," said Jackie Lundstrom, Department enforcement operation supervisor, "Boating under the influence is completely preventable, and it puts everyone at risk. Our wardens will be actively enforcing BUI laws to help ensure a safe holiday weekend for all waterway users."

Regardless of whether you are operating a vessel or riding as a passenger, alcohol- or drug-impaired boating increases the risk of incidents, injuries and fatalities. In North Dakota, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher. The department urges boaters to always boat sober and utilize a life jacket when on or near water.

Visit operationdrywater.org or gf.nd.gov for more information about safe boating.

Grouse Surveys

Thu, 06/25/2026

Each spring, North Dakota Game and Fish Department staff count the number of male sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie chickens and greater sage grouse dancing on leks, while also tallying the number of male ruffed grouse drumming in suitable aspen habitats. 

These surveys serve as relative indices of spring breeding populations. 

“The sharp-tailed grouse counts were mixed across the state this spring, which resulted in an unchanged statewide count compared to 2025,” said Jesse Kolar, department upland game management supervisor. 

This result was better than expected following poor reproduction and decreases in adult sharptail densities in last summer’s roadside surveys and the 24% decrease in hunter harvest last fall. 

“Thus, we expected to see very poor numbers for lek counts this spring, but we suspect that our mild winter led to minimal mortality and helped minimize losses after the cool and wet summer of 2025,” Kolar said.  

By district, observers saw 4.9 males per square mile in the southwest, down 8% from 2025; 5 males per square mile in the prairie potholes, up 2%; and 2.9 males per square mile in the drift prairie, up 10% from last year. The only remaining survey block in the Red River Valley is Grand Forks County, which is not a primary region for sharptails but was up 9% from last year. 

Ruffed grouse survey results indicated an uptick in drums heard in the Turtle Mountains (+40%) and a decrease in the Pembina Hills (-15%) compared to 2025.

“In contiguous forest habitats, ruffed grouse numbers usually rise and fall in cycles, but because habitat in North Dakota is isolated and fragmented, we have not seen these peaks, but the population has been increasing slightly since 2019,” Kolar said. 

Small greater prairie chicken populations remain in Grand Forks County and the Sheyenne National Grasslands but overall, North Dakota no longer holds enough suitable, intact tallgrass prairie to support a huntable population. 

Only one male and one female sage grouse were observed in 2026. Both sage grouse and greater prairie chicken hunting seasons will remain closed. 

Overall, the long-term outlook for our native prairie grouse remains a concern due to grassland conversion, fragmentation and woody encroachment on prairies. 

Deer Lottery Held, Licenses Remain

Wed, 06/24/2026

North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held. More than 72,000 individuals applied for a deer gun lottery license, in addition to over 12,000 gratis applicants. The 2026 deer gun proclamation allowed for 39,100 deer gun season licenses.

More than 1,200 licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the lottery can apply online for remaining licenses beginning July 1, with a deadline of July 15.

Licenses will be mailed to successful applicants in early August.

Remaining Deer Gun Licenses:

Fireworks Prohibited on WMAs, Camping Restrictions Lifted for Holiday

Mon, 06/22/2026

With Independence Day approaching, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds outdoor recreationists fireworks on state wildlife management areas are prohibited.

The primary objective of a wildlife management area is to enhance wildlife production, provide hunting and fishing opportunities, and offer other outdoor recreation compatible with these objectives. Activities that do not disrupt the intentions are encouraged, and fireworks are not compatible.

In addition, the department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday no-camping restriction for the Fourth of July holiday week, which will allow overnight camping June 30 and July 1 on those WMAs that otherwise have this two-day restriction.

Pronghorn Survey Begins

Mon, 06/22/2026

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 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.

Crowing Counts Up Statewide

Thu, 06/18/2026

The number of roosters heard during the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2026 spring pheasant crowing count survey was 23.2 crows per stop, up 9% statewide from last year.

“Overwinter survival of adult pheasants has been outstanding. Typically, we lose up to 75% of our pheasant population each winter, but that has not been the case as of late,” said RJ Gross, Department upland game management biologist.

By region, observers heard 32.7 crows per stop in the southwest, up 5% from 2025; 22.2 crows per stop in the northwest, up 4%; and 23.1 crows per stop in the southeast, up 24% from last year. The count in the northeast, which is not a primary region for pheasants, was 9.3 crows per stop, up 43% from 2025.

Crowing counts are just one part of the picture, providing a glimpse of the population going into the breeding season. But Gross expects more good news as the peak of the pheasant hatch approaches.

“Entering the nesting season, residual grass cover looked good,” Gross said. “We have received ample precipitation that has led to increased growth in nesting and brood rearing cover across the state. Combined with high overwinter survival over the past three years and near ideal nesting habitat conditions, things are looking great for pheasants in North Dakota.”

Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the number of roosters heard crowing. The number of pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

As always, the late summer roadside counts conducted in July and August will give a better idea of brood production and the hunting outlook for fall. 

For the full story, watch this week’s North Dakota Outdoors Webcast with R.J. Gross.

Zebra Mussels Discovered in Horseshoe Lake

Wed, 06/17/2026

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has confirmed invasive zebra mussels in Horseshoe Lake, Richland County, after detecting zebra mussel veligers in routine plankton tow net samples. 

Department aquatic nuisance species coordinator Ben Holen said subsequent follow-up sampling found additional adult mussels in the lake.

The 275-acre lake is located 5 miles southwest of Hankinson and is near Lake Elsie, which has had zebra mussels present for a number of years.

Horseshoe Lake is now considered a Class I ANS Infested waters. Emergency rules will go into effect immediately to prohibit the movement of water away from the lake, including water for transferring bait. Notices will be posted at lake access sites. 

Zebra mussels are just one of the nonnative aquatic species that threaten our waters and native wildlife. After using any body of water, people must remember to follow North Dakota regulations:

• Remove aquatic vegetation before leaving the water access and do not import into North Dakota.
• Drain all water before leaving the water access.
• Remove drain plugs and devices that hold back water and leave open and out during transport.
• Do not import aquatic bait into the state. For Class I ANS Infested waters, aquatic bait cannot be transported away from the water during the open-water months. In all other areas, bait must be transported in a container that holds 5 gallons or less. It is illegal to dump unused bait on shore or into the lake. 
• All docks, lifts and related equipment must be dried and left out of water for at least 21 days before being placed in another water.

In addition to North Dakota regulations, the Game and Fish Department strongly recommends the following:

• Avoid mooring watercraft in zebra mussels infested waters. 
• Clean – remove plants, animals and excessive mud prior to leaving a water access.
• Drain – drain all water prior to leaving a water access.
• Dry – allow equipment to dry completely before using again or disinfect.

For more information about ANS in North Dakota, options for disinfection, or to report a possible ANS, visit https://gf.nd.gov/ans. 

Breeding Duck Numbers Down Again

Thu, 06/11/2026

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 79th annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.4 million birds, down 9.5% from 2.66 million birds in 2025 and 2.9 million in 2024.

The 2026 breeding duck index dipped below the 1948-2025 average for the first time since 1993, according to John Palarski, department migratory game bird supervisor.

In these spring waterfowl surveys, Palarski said they’re counting a portion of what remains of last year’s fall flight. Duck production in North Dakota has been poor in recent years and midcontinent duck populations continue to decline.

“Waterfowl here in North Dakota have to have those wetlands in order to nest. But many species like mallards, pintails and blue-winged teal that are upland nesting ducks, also need grass,” he said.  “And so, we've seen a couple million acres of grass in the form of CRP come off the landscape in recent years. Between those declines and wetland loss due to drainage and consolidation, that's going to impact our ability to produce ducks into the future which has acute impacts for waterfowl hunters here in the state, but also has continental impacts, because North Dakota is the Duck Factory.”

Historically, duck numbers in North Dakota paralleled wetland conditions closely. In the heydays of North Dakota duck hunting from 1994-2016, the breeding duck index frequently topped 4 million birds, but it is unlikely for that to happen again, even in the wettest years, until habitat availability improves.

Indices for individual species were variable. Mallards (up 6.8%), pintails (up 23.7%) and green-winged teal (up 20.9%) indices increased from 2025 while blue-winged teal, gadwall, widgeon and most diving duck species decreased. Although mallards are up from 2025, they’re still down 15.3% from their long-term average. 

Palarski and crew covered more than 1,800 miles of transects counting wetlands and waterfowl down to the species and social grouping on both sides of the road. This spring, the wetland count was similar to last year but 34.9% below the long-term average.

As always, the July brood survey will give a better idea of duck production and insight into what to expect this fall.

For the full story, watch this week’s North Dakota Outdoors Webcast with John Palarski.

Navigation Change on BNSF Bridge Project

Wed, 06/10/2026

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announces a navigation change through the BNSF railroad bridge project on the Missouri River near Bismarck-Mandan.

The navigation channel through the construction zone will be moved towards the east side of the project area. This movement will occur this week, prior to June 13.

This is an idle speed only area and the navigation channel is marked with red and green buoys.  The remainder of the safety zone is marked with several lighted, floating buoys and encloses an area, from the west bank of the Missouri River, north of the project staging area to approximately 400 feet to the east, and then south approximately 600 feet and back to the west bank of the river. The buoys are marked with “No Boats” symbols, yellow flashing lights for night visibility, and always restricts boat access within the enclosed area.

It’s a violation if a boat enters the safety zone without authorization. A violation of the regulatory buoys is considered noncriminal and is subject to a fine.

Deer Application Deadline

Mon, 06/01/2026

The application deadline for the 2026 deer gun season is June 3.

Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth and muzzleloader can apply online through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

Prairie Day

Mon, 06/01/2026

In tribute to the cultural and biological importance of North Dakota’s diverse grassland ecosystems, Gov. Kelly Armstrong proclaimed June 6, 2026, Prairie Day.

Native prairie is worth celebrating every day, but Prairie Day gives us one moment each year to raise awareness for a habitat that is often overlooked and undervalued, yet essential to North Dakota’s identity, economy and ecological future.

Events are being hosted by local organizations across the state throughout the month of June to celebrate the prairie.