Looking for a gift for a waterfowl hunter this holiday season? You might want to check out the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s “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.
Migratory game…
The statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 5. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 11 and continues through Jan. 2.
In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 18 in the eastern zone, Dec. 23 in the western zone and Dec. 31 in the Missouri River zone. Light goose hunting closes statewide Dec. 31.
Archery deer, fall turkey, sharp…
North Dakota’s early mountain lion season in Zone 1 closed Sunday, Nov. 21, and the late season, when hunters can pursue lions with dogs, is open.
During the early season, hunters took one cat from a harvest limit of eight. Under the season structure, a conditional season could open five days after the late season closes for hunters to pursue the additional seven mountain lions that…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings on site this fall at eight locations across the state.
These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel.
Topics to be discussed include: 2022-24 fishing…
Fisheries crews completed their annual salmon spawning operation on the Missouri River System, collecting more than 1.8 million eggs.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department Missouri River System fisheries biologist Russ Kinzler said crews collected enough eggs to stock 400,000 smolts planned for Lake Sakakawea in 2022.
The majority of eggs were collected from Lake Sakakawea,…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s fall mule deer survey indicated the drought had a big influence on fawn production.
Biologists counted 2,163 mule deer in the aerial survey in October. The ratio of 60 fawns per 100 does was significantly lower than last year (82/100) and the long-term average (88/100), while 38 bucks per 100 does was similar to 2020 (36/100) and long-term (…
Following Wednesday’s announcement from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources of a suspected case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer southwest of Climax, Minn., the state Game and Fish Department is increasing its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance efforts to include Unit 2B in eastern North Dakota.
Hunters in deer gun Unit 2B are encouraged to submit the head of their…
Every year the North Dakota Game and Fish Department receives questions from deer hunters who want to clarify rules and regulations. Some common questions are listed below. Hunters with further questions are encouraged to visit the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov., or call 701-328-6300, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays.
I have a concurrent season license. When can I use it? …
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2021 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the central and western portion of the state.
Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 2H, 2I, 2J1, 2J2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3B3, 3C, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B and 4C…
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 of a replacement tag. Printable applications are not available.
The deer gun season…
The state Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail or “any” deer gun licenses in several units in western North Dakota the option of turning those licenses in for refunds.
Casey Anderson, wildlife chief, said the decision is based on continuing reports of white-tailed deer mortality caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and evidence of moderate to significant deer…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages hunters, anglers and landowners who witness a fish or wildlife violation to file a report with the Report All Poachers program.
Witnesses should report a violation by calling the RAP telephone number at 701-328-9921.
Witnesses should note the vehicle description, including make, color, license plate number and state issued.…
Whooping cranes are in the midst of their fall migration and sightings will increase as they make their way through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state should report sightings so the birds can be tracked.
The whooping cranes that do travel through North Dakota in fall are part of a population of about 500 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.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking orders for its 2022 North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar, the source for all hunting seasons and application dates. 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 website, gf.nd.gov., or send $4…
Educators in need of additional professional development credits should consider Habitats of North Dakota, five online-only courses available through North Dakota State University.
Select one or all: Wetlands, Badlands, Riparian, Woodlands and Prairie habitats, each is one credit. Work at your own pace and develop a list of concepts and a lesson plan that will implement the key…
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…
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 the same 24 badlands study…
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…
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…
