More than 3,500 deer licenses are still available in seven units for North Dakota’s 2022 deer gun season. These licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning July 27 at 8 a.m. Central Time. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online.
Hunters who want to purchase additional licenses will be…
North Dakota’s 2022 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 1,970 licenses available in 17 units.
Bruce Stillings, big game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said license numbers are up slightly from last year, when the department allocated 1,720 licenses.
“Any-pronghorn licenses will be issued in units 9A and 9C for the first time in several…
North Dakota Game and Fish Department upland game biologists summarized the spring survey results for sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse and greater sage grouse.
Summaries from the spring sharp-tailed grouse census indicate a 13% decrease in the number of male grouse counted compared to last year.
Statewide, 2,639 sharptails were observed on spring dancing grounds this year…
North Dakota’s 2021 pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge harvests were down from 2020, according to the state Game and Fish Department.
Upland game biologist RJ Gross said the overall harvest was likely a result of fewer hunters and below average reproduction.
“We anticipated a slight decrease in upland game harvest for the fall in 2021 based on small brood…
Photographers who are 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/photo-contest. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps…
A nationally coordinated effort to educate the public about the dangers of boating under the influence yielded seven BUI of alcohol violations in North Dakota.
Jackie Lundstrom, state Game and Fish Department’s enforcement division operations supervisor, said Operation Dry Water weekend July 2-4 was designed for a heightened enforcement effort directed at boating under the influence…
The next guide and outfitter written examination is Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than Aug. 12 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…
The effort to combat the spread and introduction of invasive zebra mussels in North Dakota waters is going to the dogs.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has partnered with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens who will employ their professionally trained K-9 companions to detect the presence of zebra and quagga mussels on boats being launched in the North Dakota…
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…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will 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 2-4, is the national weekend of heightened enforcement…
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 full, dispose of trash at home.
It is not uncommon to see garbage piling up around full trash containers. Styrofoam containers are…
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 compatible with these objectives. Only activities that…
Watch the spring pheasant crowing count webcast with R.J. Gross.
The number of roosters heard crowing during the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2022 spring pheasant crowing count survey was down 22% statewide from last year.
“The decrease came as no surprise,” said R.J. Gross, upland game management biologist. “We documented below average production from late summer…
North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and more than 5,500 deer gun licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the lottery can apply for remaining licenses.
More than 71,000 individuals applied for a deer gun lottery license, in addition to over 13,600 gratis applicants. The 2022 deer gun proclamation allows for 64,200 deer gun season licenses.
…
Wildlife conservationists in North Dakota and elsewhere applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act earlier this month, lauding the landmark legislation as the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in a generation.
If approved by the Senate, RAWA will provide unprecedented levels of funding for states, along…
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, 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…
Anglers can help fisheries managers by reporting information on tagged fish.
Most tagged fish in North Dakota, except salmon, will have either a metal tag on the jaw bone or a small tag attached near the dorsal fin. Tagged salmon have their adipose fin removed and also have a microscopic coded wire tag embedded in their head. Anglers are asked to drop their tagged salmon heads off at…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages boaters to plan accordingly when launching and loading a boat. Here are a few simple reminders to ensure a fluent transition at the ramp.
Launching
Don't pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch. Prepare for launching in the parking area. Remove covers, load equipment, remove tie downs, attach…The Stanton UPA boat ramp on the Missouri River located just west of the UPA Power Plant on N.D. Highway 200A near Stanton will be closed from sundown on Sunday, June 19 through 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 21 for road and parking area maintenance.
For questions contact the City of Stanton at 701-891-1285.
A bow fisherman from Bismarck has set a new bow/spear state record.
Mitch Estabrook arrowed a 60-pound, 8-ounce buffalo from Heart Butte Reservoir on May 16. It broke the previous record by 3 pounds, taken at Heart Butte Reservoir in 2017 by Derek Larson of Mandan.
Buffalo are a native fish sometimes confused with nonnative and invasive common carp. North Dakota Game and Fish…
