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 2025. Along with color photographs of North Dakota’s wildlife and outstanding scenery, it also includes sunrise-sunset times and moon phases.
The calendar is the North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine’s December issue, so current subscribers will automatically receive it in the mail.
Permit Required to Possess Dead Deer
A permit is required before taking possession of a dead deer. Only shed antlers can be possessed without a permit.
Permits are free and available from North Dakota Game and Fish Department game wardens and local law enforcement offices.
In addition, hunters should properly dispose of dead deer. Carcass waste cannot be left on public property, including roadways, ditches or wildlife management areas.
If transported outside of its respective gun unit, carcass waste must be disposed of via landfill or waste management provider. This requirement does not apply to heads dropped off at chronic wasting disease collection sites, or lymph nodes submitted for CWD surveillance.
Hunters, Recreationists Asked to be Aware of Fire Conditions
State wildlife and outdoor recreation agency officials said a weekend of historic fires in western North Dakota delivered a stark reminder to hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts about the need to be acutely aware of dry conditions while recreating outdoors.
While the need to be aware of the daily fire index is standard for hunters and state park visitors in North Dakota in fall, it’s especially true now considering the conditions and the fact that many hunters will be in the field for the pheasant season opener and hundreds of campers will visit North Dakota state parks this weekend.
“While hunters are always our eyes and ears in North Dakota’s rural areas in fall, it will be especially true this weekend with the highly anticipated pheasant season opening,” said Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director. “We encourage hunters who spot a fire caused by whatever means to report the situation immediately to law enforcement officials. We also encourage hunters to carry fire extinguishers, shovels, water and other tools. And it goes without saying to extinguish and discard smoking materials appropriately, not from a vehicle.”
Williams added that individuals who are not trained firefighters should not attempt to fight a fire that is out of control.
“Anyone recreating outdoors is asked to remain vigilant as dry conditions and wildfire risk remains high,” said North Dakota Parks and Recreation Director Cody Schulz. “We are grateful for the numerous first responders, local officials, and landowners for their efforts to battle these wildfires, and we encourage everyone that if they see something – a spark that ignites nearby grasses, or smoke in any vegetation or trees – to say something immediately by calling 9-1-1.”
An elevated fire danger index in most counties will likely influence outdoor activities. The most current wildfires and fire danger index can be found at NDResponse.gov. Conditions can change daily depending on temperature, wind and precipitation forecasts.
For those recreating outdoors this fall:
Be aware of current burn restrictions.
Make sure your chains aren't dragging when hauling boats, campers or trailers.
Don't drive or park vehicles on dry grass - this includes OHVs.
Never leave campfires unattended and be sure they are completely extinguished.
The daily rural fire danger index is issued by the National Weather Service to alert the public to conditions that may be conducive to the accidental starting or spread of fires. In addition, county governments have the authority to adopt penalties for violations of county restrictions related to burning bans. These restrictions apply regardless of the daily fire danger index and remain in place until each county’s commission rescinds the ban.
Fall Mule Deer Survey Begins
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.
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. 12-18, the first seven days of the pheasant season. However, nonresidents can hunt on PLOTS land they own during that week.
In addition, leaving equipment on 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.
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.
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.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department