North Dakota Game and Fish Department enforcement personnel are issuing a reminder that a permit is required before taking possession of a dead deer found near a road or in a field. Only shed antlers can be possessed without a permit.
Permits to possess are free and available from game wardens and local law enforcement offices.
In addition, hunters are reminded to properly dispose of dead deer. Carcass waste cannot be left on public property, including roadways, ditches or wildlife management areas. The best place to dispose of carcass waste is via a municipal solid waste landfill.
Issues Resolved, Report Banded Migratory Birds
The Bird Banding Lab sent notice that migratory bird hunters can resume reporting bird bands online at reportband.gov, after recent power outages and down servers have been fixed.
Hunters unable to report any bands while the site was down are encouraged to revisit the site as information received from hunters is critical for management of migratory game birds.
Casey Anderson Appointed Wildlife Chief
North Dakota Game and Fish director Jeb Williams has appointed 20-year department employee Casey Anderson as chief of the wildlife division.
“Casey has certainly proven himself as a leader,” Williams said. “His experience and communication skills will serve the agency well as wildlife chief.”
Anderson has been the assistant wildlife chief since 2014. He has also held private land field coordinator and biologist positions.
A native of the Turtle Lake-Mercer area in McLean County, he has a bachelor’s degree in the fish and wildlife management option of zoology from North Dakota State University.
PLOTS Regulations
Hunting small game, waterfowl, furbearers or big game by nonresidents is prohibited by state law on Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas from Oct. 9-15, the first seven days of the pheasant season. However, a new law allows nonresidents to hunt on PLOTS land they own during that week.
Starting Oct. 16, nonresidents can hunt on PLOTS and WMAs if the appropriate season is open.
In addition, leaving equipment or other provisions on a PLOTS overnight, such as tree stands, blinds, decoys, firearms, archery equipment, or trail cameras is not allowed without written permission from the landowner.
Permission from the landowner is always required for motorized vehicle access on PLOTS, such as for setting decoys in a field, unless specifically designated on the PLOTS sign.
Youth Pheasant Weekend
North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season Oct. 2-3 is a great opportunity to introduce a new hunter to the outdoors with limited competition and hopefully milder weather.
That’s when legally licensed residents and nonresidents 15 and younger can hunt rooster pheasants statewide. An adult at least 18 must accompany the youth hunter in the field. The adult may not carry a firearm.
Resident youth hunters must possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and general game and habitat license. Nonresident youth hunters from states that provide a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents qualify for North Dakota resident licenses. Otherwise, nonresident youth hunters must purchase a nonresident small game license.
Hunters 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course or obtain an apprentice hunter validation, which allows an individual to hunt small game for one license year without completing hunter education.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit and all other regulations for the regular pheasant season apply. See the North Dakota 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Guide for additional information.
And if you’re successful, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Wild Game and Fish Recipes webpage at gf.nd.gov/recipes for ideas on taking your bounty from field to fork.
Motorists Warned to Watch for Deer
Motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways this time of year because juvenile animals are dispersing from their home ranges.
October through early December is the peak period for deer-vehicle accidents. Motorists are advised to slow down and exercise caution after dark to reduce the likelihood of encounters with deer. Most deer-vehicle accidents occur primarily at dawn and dusk when deer are most often moving around.
Motorists should be aware of warning signs signaling deer are in the area. When you see one deer cross the road, look for a second or third deer to follow. Also, pay attention on roadways posted with Deer Crossing Area caution signs.
Deer-vehicle accidents are at times unavoidable. If an accident does happen, law enforcement authorities do not have to be notified if only the vehicle is damaged. However, if the accident involves personal injury or other property damage, then it must be reported.
In addition, a permit is required before taking possession of a road-killed deer. Permits are free and available from game wardens and local law enforcement.
A few precautions can minimize chances of injury or property damage in a deer-vehicle crash:
Always wear your seat belt.
Don’t swerve or take the ditch to avoid hitting a deer. Try to brake as much as possible and stay on the roadway. Don’t lose control of your vehicle or slam into something else to miss the deer. You risk less injury by hitting the deer.
If you spot deer ahead, slow down immediately and honk your horn.
Waterfowl Book Available
Outdoor enthusiasts interested in North Dakota’s waterfowl will want to get their hands on the state Game and Fish Department’s newest book, “The Duck Factory – A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota.”
Authored by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell, the 213-page, soft-cover publication in full color traces the history of waterfowl species and their habitats in North Dakota.
“The Duck Factory” is an important story because of North Dakota’s longtime and continuing contribution to the world of migratory birds, migratory game bird program leader Mike Szymanski said.
“North Dakota is the most important state for breeding ducks,” he added. “The contribution of ducks from North Dakota into the fall flight is unmatched by any other state, and its importance to duck hunters cannot be understated. Describing the history of waterfowl in North Dakota was a story that we felt was certainly worth telling.”
The book is sold only online for $24.99, including shipping, on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, by clicking on Buy and Apply, and then Shop.
Wetland Conditions Fair for Duck Hunting
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates poor to fair wetland conditions for duck hunting throughout the state.
Andy Dinges, Department migratory game bird biologist, said the number of duck hunting wetlands are down statewide about 44% from last fall and are also 45% below the 2003-2020 average.
“We are experiencing fall wetland conditions similar to what occurred from 2006-08, which was our last prolonged dry period throughout the state,” Dinges said.
Dinges said the northeast region has the highest number of duck hunting wetlands this fall, but is still about 30% below average for the region. The south central region is also faring a little better and is only about 17% below the long-term average for the number of duck hunting type wetlands. However, all other regions of the state are experiencing conditions that are at least 50% below average for the number of duck hunting type wetlands observed.
“Most of the remaining wetlands are in fair to good shape, but hunters should certainly expect mud margins around wetlands, possibly making hunting more difficult,” he said.
Wetland conditions were poor in early spring from little to no snow melt, in addition the early and mid-summer were also extremely dry for most of the state, Dinges said.
“We have received some much-needed rainfall in the last month or so, but it hasn’t been enough to really improve wetland conditions,” he added. “Most of the state has only received about 50-75% of normal precipitation since last year when the fall wetland survey was conducted.”
The quality of waterfowl hunting in North Dakota is largely determined by weather conditions and migration patterns. Dinges said waterfowl populations are still doing well for the most part despite drought this year, which still makes for the potential of some good fall hunting in North Dakota.
“Hunters should always scout because of ever-changing conditions and distribution of waterfowl,” he said. “Hunters should also be cautious driving off-trail to avoid soft spots, and while encountering areas of tall vegetation that could be a fire hazard.”
The fall wetland survey is conducted in mid-September, just prior to the waterfowl hunting season to provide an assessment of conditions duck hunters can expect. Duck hunting wetlands are classified as seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands.
Department Continues to Monitor EHD Outbreak
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department continues to monitor an ongoing epizootic hemorrhagic disease outbreak. To date, the most heavily affected area is along a portion of the Missouri River extending from just south of Bismarck/Mandan to the Garrison Dam, as well as a smaller area near Williston.
“With the help of public reports, we are able to get a pretty good idea on where the outbreak is occurring,” said Casey Anderson, Department wildlife division chief. “Tracking an outbreak like this would not be possible without the public's involvement.”
EHD is a naturally occurring virus spread by a biting midge that is often fatal to white-tailed deer, and less commonly to mule deer, pronghorn and elk. Humans are not susceptible to the virus.
The Department would like to thank those who have sent in reports. Based on these continuing reports along the Missouri River of white-tailed deer mortality attributed to EHD, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is now offering refunds for returned licenses from the special herd reduction bow season license holders in south Bismarck/Mandan and northern Burleigh County.
EHD outbreaks rapidly slow after a series of hard frosts kill the midge that transmits the virus. Department personnel will monitor reports they receive through the opening weekend of pheasant season. We will then determine in which units the severity of the outbreak warrants refunds for the gun hunting season for those seeking refunds.
Waterfowlers hunting from boats are encouraged to wear properly fitted life jackets while on the water.
Hunting coats with life jackets already built in are light and comfortable to wear. In addition, wearing a life jacket will not only keep the overboard hunter afloat, but also slow the loss of critical body heat caused by exposure to cold water.
Capsizing and falling overboard from small boats are the most common types of fatal boating accidents for hunters.
Waterfowl Hunters Reminded of ANS Regulations
Waterfowl hunters are reminded to do their part in preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species into or within North Dakota.
Waterfowl hunters must remove aquatic plants and plant fragments from decoys, strings and anchors; remove aquatic plant seeds and plant fragments from waders and other equipment before leaving hunting areas; remove all water from decoys, boats, motors, trailers and other watercraft; and remove all aquatic plants from boats and trailers before leaving a marsh or lake. In addition, hunters are encouraged to brush their hunting dogs free of mud and seeds.
Cattails and bulrushes may be transported as camouflage on boats. All other aquatic vegetation must be cleaned from boats prior to transportation into or within North Dakota.
Drain plugs on boats must remain pulled when a boat is in transit away from a water body.
In addition, hunters are reminded of a state law that requires motorized watercraft, including motorized duck boats, operated on state waters and not licensed in North Dakota, to display an ANS sticker, including an ANS fee of $15 to be paid each calendar year.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and Ducks Unlimited co-sponsor a trailer full of waterfowl hunting gear for families with young hunters.
Purchased by the Game and Fish Department’s Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters grant program, the trailer is designed for families who don’t have the appropriate gear for their young hunters to hunt waterfowl. The equipment is donated by Avery Outdoors.
Use of the trailer is free and is equipped with goose and duck decoys for field hunting, and two bags of floating duck decoys and marsh seats for hunting a wetland.
For more information, or to reserve equipment, contact the Ducks Unlimited office in Bismarck at 701-355-3500.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department