The number of pheasants taken last year in North Dakota was similar to 2014, according to statistics compiled by the State Game and Fish Department.
Last year, more than 85,000 hunters (up 9 percent) harvested nearly 590,000 roosters (up 0.4 percent). In 2014, 78,000 hunters took 587,000 roosters.
Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken by resident hunters in…
North Dakota’s grouse and partridge hunting seasons open Sept. 10, and hunters can expect somewhat lower bird numbers compared to 2015.
Aaron Robinson, upland game management supervisor for the State Game and Fish Department, said last year’s harvest results suggest a good population heading into the 2015 fall hunting season.
“Hunters were able to find birds last year, and we…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is currently working with landowners in 10 hunting units across the state who would like to host hunters with antlerless deer licenses in 2016.
Participating landowners are located in hunting units 2I, 2J2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3, 3D2, 3F1, 3F2 and 4E.
The program is not intended for buck hunters, but designed to direct hunters with…
The State Game and Fish Department is allocating eight bighorn sheep licenses for the 2016 hunting season, based on data collected from a recently completed summer population survey.
Two licenses are available in Unit B1, two in B3 and three in B4. In addition, one license as authorized under North Dakota Century Code was auctioned in March by the Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep…
North Dakota’s fall turkey season is set with 3,510 licenses available to hunters,145 fewer than last year.
Prospective hunters, including gratis applicants, can apply online, or print out an application to mail, at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications will be available at vendors Aug. 31. The deadline for applying is Sept. 7
In addition,…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is once again asking grouse hunters for help with future bird management by simply collecting some feathers from harvested birds and sending in wing envelopes this fall.
Wing data allows biologists to monitor production, reconcile bird counts and get a better understanding of the harvest ratio of males to females, and juveniles to adults.…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen Guide for 2016 is now available online at the Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, PLOTS Guides will be available at most vendors throughout the state in early September.
The guide will feature about 730,000 PLOTS acres. Because the guide is printed in mid-August, some PLOTS tracts highlighted in the…
North Dakota’s swan lottery has been held and more than 180 licenses remain. Only hunters who do not have a swan license for the 2016 season can apply, as regulations limit hunters to one license per year.
Beginning Sept. 7, all remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Resident and nonresident hunters will be able to apply online, or print out an…
The MacLean Bottoms public shooting range and boat ramp located south of Bismarck will be closed for a scheduled volunteer recognition event on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The shooting range will close Friday at 3 p.m., and will resume normal operation on Sunday. The boat ramp will not be usable Saturday only.
North Dakota’s pronghorn lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the State Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
A total of 730 licenses were available in units 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4C. More than 8,900 applications, including 256 gratis, were received. All licenses were issued.
Unsuccessful applicants who submitted their application…
North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that deer bow licenses and accompanying tags are only available through electronic purchase.
Bowhunters can buy a license online at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov; by calling 800-406-6409; or at vendors linked to the Game and Fish Department’s online licensing system.…
North Dakota’s dove season opens statewide Sept. 1, and hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting.
The daily limit is 15 and possession limit is 45. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. The season is open through Nov. 29.
All dove hunters must possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and a general game…
Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.
The governor’s proclamation relating to chronic…
The North Dakota Community Action Sportsmen Against Hunger program is accepting donations of goose meat taken during the early Canada goose season. In addition, the program will accept Canada and light (snow, blue and Ross’s) goose donations during the regular waterfowl season.
Similar to last year, hunters can bring in their goose meat to participating processors after removing the…
State Game and Fish Department biologists expect a fall duck flight from North Dakota that is similar to last year, based on observations from the annual mid-July waterfowl production survey.
This year’s brood index came in at 3.89 broods per square mile, which is up 11 percent from last year. The statewide average since the survey began in the 1950s is 2.55 broods per square mile.…
Big game hunters are reminded of requirements for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.
Hunters harvesting a big game animal this fall in North Dakota deer unit 3F2 cannot transport a carcass containing the head and spinal column outside of the unit unless it’s…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot.
The event is Thursday, Sept. 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Game and Fish Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park on the grounds of the North Dakota State Fair.
Young outdoor enthusiasts will experience a number of…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department advises hunters to be cautious with their dogs around water this time of year, due to potential health hazards associated with blue-green algae.
Late summer and early fall offer prime conditions for blue-green algae growth in many state waters. Ingestion by a hunting dog while perhaps retrieving a bird during the early goose season, or just…
Women interested in getting hunter education certified prior to the fall hunting season can sign up for a class offered Aug. 17 in Bismarck.
The class will meet from 6-9 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s main office. Evening activities include classroom instruction, self-paced internet classes and a written exam. Participants will have two weeks to complete an online…
Hunters are reminded to check harvested migratory birds for bands this fall and report their findings.
Information from birds with a federal band should be reported online at www.reportband.gov. In addition, the bird banding lab has a new, mobile friendly reporting site that will aid hunters to report bands via mobile devices. Those without access to the internet can report bands by…
