News

Swan hunters interested in applying for a 2020 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 for applying is Aug. 12.

North Dakota’s early Canada goose season dates are set, with bag limits and licensing requirements the same as last year.

Opening day is Aug. 15 in all three zones. Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone, Sept. 15 in the western zone and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone.

Early Canada goose limits are 15 daily and…

North Dakota’s 2020 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set and most season structures are similar to last year.

Noteworthy items include:

North Dakota’s 2020 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 1,790 licenses available in 15 open units.

Bruce Stillings, big game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said license numbers and open units are up from last year, when the department allocated 1,330 licenses and had 12 open units.

The recently completed aerial survey indicated the…

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel are finishing stocking a record 180 lakes across the state with nearly 12 million walleye fingerlings.

Fisheries production and development supervisor Jerry Weigel said the number of lakes bested the previous high by nearly 30 waters.

“There is record water across the…

North Dakota residents who were unsuccessful in the initial deer lottery are reminded the deadline to apply for a remaining license is July 22.

Unsuccessful applicants must apply online by visiting the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Only residents who applied and didn't receive a license are eligible.

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A field day for students who have taken and passed an online bowhunter education course is Saturday, Aug. 1 from 1-5 p.m. at the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site, located adjacent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s main office in Bismarck.

An online course must be completed prior to taking the field day class. Students can enroll by visiting the…

The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is sponsoring a fur harvester education class in Bismarck for anyone interested in trapping or hunting furbearers.

The class is scheduled for Aug. 4 and 6 from 5-9 p.m., and Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The course is free and takes 16 hours to complete.

Students…

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department confirmed the presence of invasive zebra mussels in Lake LaMoure after a local game warden reported the finding earlier this week.

Aquatic nuisance species coordinator Ben Holen said follow-up sampling confirmed well-established populations of zebra mussels of various ages, especially near the dam. It is unknown how…

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 while catch-and-release is often encouraged under the right conditions, fish reeled in from this depth will likely die if…

North Dakota’s spring pheasant population index is up 15% from the same time last year, according to the state Game and Fish Department’s 2020 spring crowing count survey.

R.J. Gross, upland game management biologist, said the number of roosters heard crowing this spring was up statewide, with increases ranging from 1% to 18% in the primary regions holding…

Deer Lottery Held, Licenses Remain

North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

Chief of administrative services Kim Kary said moving to an online lottery has resulted in reducing the time between the application deadline and the lottery run date.

“It’s a major…

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will again participate in Operation Dry Water as part of a nationally coordinated effort to increase knowledge about the dangers of boating under the influence. The goal is to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with alcohol and drug use on state waterways.

ODW weekend, July 3-5, is the national…

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds outdoor recreationists 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 are full, take the trash and dispose of it at home.

It is not uncommon to see…

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds citizens 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 that are compatible with…

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual aerial pronghorn survey will begin July 1 and is scheduled to be completed within two weeks.

During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of western North Dakota.

The survey determines pronghorn abundance, herd demographics and…

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department completed its 73rd annual spring breeding duck survey in May despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and results showed an index of nearly 4 million birds, up 18% from last year.

Migratory game bird supervisor Mike Szymanski said despite most waterfowl surveys in North America being canceled this spring, Game and Fish was able…

Boaters are reminded to exercise patience, practice physical distancing and plan accordingly when heading to a lake or river this summer.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department receives a number of complaints every year about overly aggressive behavior at boat ramps. A few simple reminders will help ensure a fluent transition when launching and loading a…

While contest guidelines for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest have change little from previous years, photographers are reminded to follow the guidelines for submitting their work.

Photographers who want to submit photos to the contest should go the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/photo-contest. Then…

In order to maintain social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19, those planning to attend the public hearing to address proposed rule changes to North Dakota Administrative Code Title 30 are asked to contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300 prior to 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 16 so that we may plan for the number of attendees.

The…