The state Game and Fish Department’s annual fall aerial mule deer survey is set to begin Oct. 14 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 areas since the 1950s. The survey is used to collect mule deer population data for monitoring demographic trends, such as buck-to-doe and fawn-to-doe ratios.
Historical Look at Waterfowl in North Dakota
The storied past of waterfowl in North Dakota is uniquely revealed in the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s publication, “The Duck Factory – A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota.”
Certainly of interest to waterfowlers and other outdoor enthusiasts, the 213-page, full color, soft-cover publication is authored by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell. The book 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, said Mike Szymanski, Department migratory game bird management supervisor.
“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.
Motorists Watch for Deer
Motorists should watch for deer along roadways this time of year as juvenile animals disperse 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.
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 roadkill 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.
Wetland Conditions Vary for Duck Hunting
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates variable wetland conditions for duck hunting throughout the state.
Mike Szymanski, Department migratory game bird management supervisor, said the statewide estimate of the number of duck hunting wetlands holding water is nearly double last year’s estimate, and almost 30% above the 2003-23 long-term average.
The number of wetlands (seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands) counted on the survey was the sixth highest since 2003, but conditions vary widely.
The southeast and northwest regions showed declines from last year and are 31 and 43% below average, respectively. Conditions are drying up in the northwestern part of the state and hunters should expect wetlands with wide mud margins in that region. The north central (up 84%), northeast (up more than 200%), and south central (up 26%) regions showed big improvements from last year and are well above their long-term averages.
“We came out of winter pretty dry, but fairly consistent rains started in late-April, helping wetland conditions rebound in many areas,” Szymanski said. “However, precipitation really dropped quickly in some areas, bringing drought conditions to the western third of the state by mid-September. The eastern two-thirds of the state continued to have abundant rainfall, and some localized areas, especially in the north central and northeast regions, received deluge recently creating areas that are still very wet. As a result, conditions within wetlands on the survey were highly variable. Also of note is that wetland conditions improved substantially after spring migration occurred, so we have a lot of water out there right now, particularly in the north central and northeast, that wasn’t really associated with breeding activity this spring.”
Rainfall patterns were spotty, Szymanski added, and while much of the state got a lot of rain over the late spring and summer, some localized areas received much more than others. Hunters should expect wetland conditions east of U.S. Highway 83 to be quite variable as a result.
“The quality of waterfowl hunting in North Dakota is largely determined by weather conditions and migration patterns,” he said. “North Dakota saw meager duck production in most regions of the state this year and somewhat low numbers of ducks in the state during late summer. This will lead to spotty hunting opportunities that will vary at small, local scales. Hunters will really need to do their scouting to find the better opportunities. As always, our wetland conditions are highly dynamic, and hunters should look at areas they plan to hunt as they may have changed quite a bit from last year.”
Hunters need to be cautious of soft areas in fields and roads from recent rains, but at the same time be cautious of tall, dried vegetation that could be a fire hazard.
The fall wetland survey is conducted in mid-September to provide an assessment of conditions duck hunters can expect.
Hunting from Duck Boats
Waterfowlers hunting from boats are encouraged to wear properly fitted life jackets while on the water.
Hunting coats with life jackets 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.
Inspecting for Zebra Mussels
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking water recreationists and property owners to check for zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species when removing boat lifts, docks and other equipment from state waters.
Ben Holen, ANS coordinator, said water recreationists and property owners play a vital role in ANS prevention.
Zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces left in the water for long periods of time, first settling in tight spaces and areas that are protected from sunlight, Holen said. Equipment such as boat lifts and docks are high risk vectors for spreading ANS, especially zebra mussels.
“It makes it easier to do a thorough search when equipment is taken out of the water in fall,” he said. “Pay special attention to wheel wells, right angles on frames, and areas otherwise protected from sunlight. Feel for attached organisms that have small hair-like structures holding them in place. Small mussels can feel like rough sandpaper and adults can be as large as 2 inches long.”
Holen said if you think you’ve found a zebra mussel, take photos, write down any relevant information, such as how many were found and where, and report it online at the Game and Fish website gf.nd.gov/ans, or email Holen at bholen@nd.gov.
Game Wardens Association Offers Scholarships
The North Dakota Game Wardens Association is sponsoring scholarships for enrolled higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field.
Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to update or improve their existing shooting range must have the application in no later than Oct. 1.
Shooting range enhancements include berms, benches, target hanger and throwers, storage buildings, sanitary facilities and lighting.
To qualify for a grant, clubs must be a nonprofit in good standing with the state, must either own or have a long-term lease on the property, and the range must be open for public use.
Whooping cranes are migrating 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 are part of a population of about 500 birds on their way from nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada to wintering grounds in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, a distance of about 2,500 miles.
Whoopers stand about 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of about 7 feet from tip to tip. They are bright white with black wing tips, visible only when the wings are outspread. In flight, they extend their long necks, while their long, slender legs extend behind the tail. Whooping cranes typically migrate singly, or in groups of two to three birds, and may be associated with sandhill cranes.
Other white birds such as snow geese, swans and egrets are often mistaken for whooping cranes. The most common misidentification is pelicans, because their wingspan is similar and they tuck their pouch in flight, leaving a silhouette similar to a crane when viewed from below.
Anyone sighting whoopers should not disturb them, but record the date, time, location and the birds' activity. Observers should also look for and report colored bands, which may occur on one or both legs. Whooping cranes have been marked with colored leg bands to help determine their identity.
Whooping crane sightings should be reported to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices at Lostwood, 701-848-2466; Audubon, 701-442-5474; the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, 701-328-6300; or to local game wardens across the state. Reports help biologists locate important whooping crane habitat areas, monitor marked birds, determine survival and population numbers, and identify times and migration routes.
Youth Pheasant Weekend
North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season Oct. 5-6 is a great opportunity to introduce a new hunter to the outdoors with limited competition.
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.
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.
Since late August, wildlife biologists have been monitoring scattered reports of white-tailed deer found dead in a portion of southwestern North Dakota. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease was confirmed in a number of these cases.
“EHD is a viral disease transmitted by biting gnats,” said Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian. “We see a low level of EHD most years. It typically stays fairly localized, but every so often it can intensify into a significant die-off. The combined outbreak in 2020 and 2021 was probably the worst in memory, with extensive mortality across much of western North Dakota. So far, we’re nowhere close to that level, but we have received around 20 reports, primarily focused across northern Stark County. We’re hopeful that cold temperatures over the weekend will help slow things down, but it typically takes a series of hard frosts to kill the gnats and completely end an outbreak.”
Game and Fish is asking for assistance to better track the extent and severity of this year’s outbreak. The public is encouraged to report any sick or dead deer through an online reporting system.
“In some cases, we may need to collect samples off fresh carcasses, so please notify the department as soon as possible,” Bahnson said.
Hunters should report any dead deer along with photos, if possible, to the Game and Fish Department through the online wildlife mortality reporting system at gf.nd.gov/mortality-report.
EHD primarily affects white-tailed deer, but other big game species are susceptible. The virus is not a danger to humans, however, hunters should not shoot or consume a deer that appears sick.
2024 Waterfowl Season
North Dakota’s waterfowl season opens for residents Sept. 21, while nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl Sept. 28.
The season for swans opens Sept. 28 for both residents and nonresidents who have purchased a swan license.
Shooting hours for all geese are one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day.
Extended shooting hours for all geese are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of each season. Starting Dec. 1, all day hunting is also allowed on Sundays through the end of each season.
A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older. As a result of the Duck Stamp Modernization Act, the electronic stamp is now valid for the entire waterfowl hunting season. A physical stamp will be mailed in March 2025 to individuals who purchased the e-stamp. Hunters wanting to support conservation by purchasing extra duck stamps, or prefer a physical stamp, should visit the Amplex website.
Hunters who do not HIP certify when they buy a North Dakota license can add it through the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. Those who registered to hunt North Dakota’s spring light goose season or August Management Take/Early September Canada goose season do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required in each state only once per year.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department