Youth Conservation and Leadership Summer Camp

Thu, 01/16/2025

The 1st Battalion of North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade will be held July 8-12 at the 4-H Center in Washburn. 

NDWTFL is a five-day hands-on immersive learning experience for youth ages 13-17. The camp is designed to educate participants about the importance of wetland ecosystems, waterfowl biology, flock dynamics, shooting skills and safety, stewardship, public speaking, leadership development and more.

The deadline to apply is March 15.

NDWTFL is a program of Texas Brigades, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) focused on educating and empowering adolescents to become conservation ambassadors. 

Additional information, including applications, can be found at www.texasbrigades.org/waterfowl-brigade-nd.

Hunter Education Classes

Thu, 01/16/2025

If you were born after 1961, are 12 years or older, you must take a home study or traditional classroom certified hunter education course before you can get a firearm or bowhunting license in North Dakota.

The home study, or hybrid course, requires 7-10 hours of online and six hours of in-person classroom time. The six hours of classroom time consists of an in-person session prior to starting the online class and at the end of the class to complete testing.

Traditional classroom courses require at least 14 hours of in-person class time, and most classes are held from January through May.

Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2025 must click on the education link at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required. Classes are listed by city and can also be sorted by start date. Classes will be added throughout the year as they become finalized.

Individuals interested in receiving a notice by email or SMS text message when each hunter education class is added, can click on the “subscribe to news and alerts” link below the news section on the Game and Fish home page. Check the box labeled “hunter education” under the education program updates.

Participants must turn 12 during the calendar year to take the home study course, and age 11 during the calendar year to take the traditional class.

Earth Day Patch Contest

Thu, 01/09/2025

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day Patch Contest is an effort to heighten awareness about the environment.

Students who participate will develop a patch design using five colors incorporating an aspect of Earth Day such as environmental awareness, respect Earth, water quality, wildlife, or habitat conservation in North Dakota. 

The contest is open to students in grades K-12. Winners are chosen from four grade categories (K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12). Each winner will receive an outdoor kit, which includes a pair of binoculars and field guides. The grand prize patch design winner is chosen from one of the four winning age categories.

In addition, the grand prize winner will have their design displayed on the recognition patch, be featured in North Dakota OUTDOORS and on the Game and Fish website.

Contest entry deadline is March 1.

Hunting and Fishing Legislation

Thu, 01/09/2025

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will track hunting and fishing issues during the 2025 legislative session.

Outdoor enthusiasts can follow proposed outdoors-related bills by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The webpage will be updated daily as legislation is introduced and bills progress through the session. 

A brief description of each bill will be included. To view the bill in its entirety, click on the linked bill number.

Game and Fish Fills Leadership Positions

Mon, 01/06/2025

Bruce Kreft and Brian Hosek have filled division chief positions for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Kreft, conservation section leader since 2023, was promoted to conservation and communications chief when Greg Link retired after 45 years with the agency.

A Towner native with a zoology degree from North Dakota State University, Kreft started his career with Game and Fish as a fisheries technician from 1989-90; assistant Missouri River biologist from 1990-92; central district fisheries biologist from 1992-2000; and conservation biologist from 2000-2023. 

Link started his career with Game and Fish as a seasonal employee in 1980. In 2011, he assumed leadership of the conservation and communications division. 

The conservation and communications division informs, educates and promotes fish and wildlife related opportunities; manages nongame species and species of conservation priority; and consults with developers to avoid, minimize and offset impacts to fish and wildlife resources. 

Hosek, longtime business operations manager, was named chief of administrative services when Kim Kary announced her retirement after 20 years with the agency. 

A graduate of Emporia State University with a degree in earth and data sciences, Hosek started his Game and Fish career in 2001 as the department’s GIS coordinator, and his role evolved into business operations manager during his tenure. 

Kary began her career with the department as the business manager in 2005, and in 2010 moved into the administrative services division chief position. 

The administrative services division provides policy, planning and support services and is responsible for all game and fish licensing.

Game and Fish Recognizes Employee Efforts

Mon, 12/30/2024

North Dakota Game and Fish Department director Jeb Williams recently honored employees with performance-based awards. The following special recognition awards were presented during the department’s staff meeting in December. 

Paul Bailey, south central district fisheries supervisor, Bismarck, was recognized for his research, and managing Lake Oahe and 90 fishing waters in south central North Dakota.

Dale Repnow, procurement officer, Bismarck, was recognized for his knowledge, work ethic, dedication and willingness to help others.

Greg Freeman, communications supervisor, Bismarck, was recognized for his leadership, innovative ideas and commitment to expanding outreach and marketing.

Justin Mattson, administrative staff officer, Bismarck, was recognized for his contributions to every division and for overseeing several major building projects. 

Kyle Hoge, fisheries development specialist, Bismarck, was recognized for his knowledge of construction, fabrication and equipment operation in the fisheries development program.

In addition to special recognition recipients, Shawn Sperling, district game warden, Minot, was named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year. His district includes lakes Sakakawea, Darling and Audubon, and several smaller lakes. Chief game warden Scott Winkelman said warden Sperling has a passion for boating and boating enforcement, and his patrols are effective at deterring violations and keeping those on the water safe.

Snyder Named Wildlife Officer of the Year

Mon, 12/30/2024

Keenan Snyder, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden in Williston, is the state’s 2024 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Snyder was honored recently by Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.

In a nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Scott Winkelman said Snyder’s district extends from the Missouri River bottoms to the Prairie Pothole Region along the Canadian border.

“Warden Snyder diligently patrols his district and effectively addresses violators at all times of the year,” Winkelman said. “He is also a skilled investigator and consistently makes strong criminal cases. He is always willing to help other wardens with complex investigations to ensure that violators are held accountable.”

Myhre Named Game and Fish Employee of the Year

Mon, 12/30/2024

James Myhre, district game warden for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in New Rockford, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence at the department’s annual staff meeting in December.

Jeb Williams, Game and Fish director, said Myhre has provided exceptional service to North Dakota for 22 years.

“He knows that helping hunters, anglers, trappers and boaters is only part of the job,” Williams said. “James is a farmer and rancher and knows the importance of working with and assisting in his district any way he can. He is one of the highest performers in the enforcement division year after year. He always goes above and beyond in providing exceptional service and represents the department in a way that we all should aspire to.”

Free Ice Fishing Weekend

Thu, 12/19/2024

North Dakota’s free ice fishing weekend is Dec. 28-29. Resident anglers may fish those two days without a license. Residents 15 and younger do not need a fishing license at any time of year. All other winter fishing regulations apply.

The weekend provides a great opportunity to try fishing for the first time or take someone new.

Information on regulations, where to fish and what equipment is needed to ice fish is available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

Habitat and Hunting Access Summit Recording Available

Thu, 12/19/2024

Landowners, hunters, lawmakers, wildlife managers and others gathered in mid-December in Bismarck to discuss the importance of wildlife habitat on the landscape and providing access to hunters across the state.

Approximately 200 people attended the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Habitat and Hunting Access Summit where the evening opened with remarks from Gov. Kelly Armstrong on the importance of hunting to the state’s economy, workforce, but most importantly to North Dakota’s way of life.

“Every single time someone puts their gun away and says they’re done hunting because they can’t find anywhere to shoot a rooster, or just to have an opportunity to shoot a couple ducks, that means the likelihood of their kid hunting is almost zero,” Armstrong said. “And that’s really something that we should work on as landowners, as a government, as sportsmen … we should do everything we can to make sure that happens as few times as possible.”

And there are ways in which we can do this, Armstrong added, and there are ways in which we can have these conversations.

“But none of it’s going to happen overnight. But we have to remember that if we don’t pass this on to the next generation, it will die out,” he said. “It’s too big a part of the fabric of North Dakota to let that happen.” 

Department staff gave presentations on the status of habitat and wildlife populations in the state, followed by moderated panel discussions addressing questions that were submitted by attendees. 

The summit was hopefully only the beginning of what will be further conversations, initiatives and collaboration to address this very important topic to our state.

The summit was recorded and can be viewed here.

Tentative 2025 Season Opening Dates

Thu, 12/19/2024

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2025 include:

Fish House Regulations

Mon, 12/16/2024

Any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that allow it to float. In addition, fish houses do not require a license.

Other fish house regulations include:

• Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration number issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either an address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least 3 inches high.
• Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
• Unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight, March 15.