The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2020 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from units in the western third of the state.
Samples from hunter-harvested deer taken will be tested from units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3 (that portion…
Based on continuing reports of white-tailed deer mortality in western North Dakota caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, the state Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail licenses in units 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F the option of turning those licenses in for refunds. Hunters who return their licenses will have…
Deer hunters who can’t find their deer license should contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department soon to make sure they have their tag before the season opens.
The Game and Fish Department must be contacted by phone at 701-328-6300, or email ndgf@nd.gov, to authorize the online purchase for a replacement tag. Printable…
Channel A as it enters Devils Lake is now open to fishing, since U.S. Highway 2 west of Devils Lake is now open to four-lane traffic.
This area was closed to both shore and boat fishing since May due to safety concerns, while the highway was under construction from Devils Lake to Church’s Ferry.
Clubs or communities interested in submitting a grant application to help support a local high school trap team, or for firearm and shooting ranges, should submit their applications soon.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department education section leader Marty Egeland said the grants to support North Dakota high school trap teams are for infrastructure to support…
The state Game and Fish Department’s annual fall aerial mule deer survey is set for mid-October in western North Dakota. Weather permitting, the survey takes about two weeks to complete.
During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of the badlands.
Game and Fish biologists have completed aerial surveys of…
With pheasant hunting season opening this Saturday and thousands of hunters taking to the field, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters to be aware of the daily fire danger index.
Recent high daytime temperatures, combined with typical dry, late-summer and early-fall ground conditions, have caused an elevated fire danger index in some…
Investigations supervisor Scott Winkelman was named chief game warden for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department Oct. 1, following the retirement of longtime chief Robert Timian.
Winkelman started his career with the department in 2003 as a district game warden in Bottineau. In 2007, he relocated to Bismarck to work in investigations.
…The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking orders for its North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar, the source for all hunting season and application dates for 2021. Along with outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, it also includes sunrise-sunset times and moon phases.
To order online, visit buy and apply at the Game and Fish…
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…
Wildlife biologists have been monitoring an ongoing mortality event in white-tailed deer in western North Dakota.
Since late August, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department has documented white-tailed deer deaths attributed to epizootic hemorrhagic disease in Emmons, Grant, Morton, Dunn, Billings, Stark, Hettinger and Adams counties.
…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 along roadways. Most deer-…
North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season is Oct. 3-4. Legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger may hunt roosters statewide.
Resident youth hunters, regardless of age, must possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and general game and habitat license. Nonresident youth hunters from states that provide a reciprocal…
Out-of-state hunters are reminded that state law does not allow nonresidents to hunt on North Dakota Game and Fish Department owned or managed lands during the first week of pheasant season.
Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas are open to hunting by resident hunters only from Oct. 10-16. Nonresidents, however, can still…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates fair to good wetland conditions for duck hunting throughout the state.
Andy Dinges, Department migratory game bird biologist, said the number of duck hunting wetlands are down about 38% statewide from very wet conditions last fall, but still only 2% below the long-term average.…
North Dakota’s 2020 waterfowl season opens for residents Sept. 26, while nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl Oct. 3.
The season for swans opens Oct. 3 for both residents and nonresidents who have purchased a swan license.
Hunters may take six ducks per day with the following restrictions: five mallards of which two may…
North Dakota’s sandhill crane season opens Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 15.
Limits are three daily and nine in possession in unit 1 (west of U.S. Highway 281), and two daily and six in possession in unit 2 (east of U.S. Highway 281). Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day through Oct. 31. Beginning Nov. 1, shooting hours are…
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 plants seeds and plant fragments from waders and other equipment before leaving hunting areas; remove all water from…
Waterfowlers hunting from boats are encouraged to wear properly fitted life jackets while on the water.
Hunting jackets 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.
…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…
