The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates good-to-excellent conditions for duck hunting throughout the state.
Andy Dinges, migratory game bird biologist, said the number of duck hunting wetlands are up about 65% statewide from a year ago, largely driven by record fall wetland conditions in the south central and southeast…
The 2019 fall wild turkey lottery has been held and more than 1,000 licenses remain in nine units, according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Unsuccessful applicants will have a refund issued directly to their credit card.
Beginning at 8 a.m. Central Time on Sept. 25, all remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-…
The deadline for submitting entries in the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest is Oct. 1.
The contest has categories for nongame and game species, as well as plants/insects. An overall winning photograph will be chosen, with the number of place winners in each category determined by the number of qualified entries…
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 slows the loss of critical body heat caused by exposure to cold water.
…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 plants and plant fragments from decoys, strings and anchors; remove plants seeds and plant fragments from waders and other equipment before leaving hunting areas; remove all water from decoys, boats,…
Whooping cranes are in the midst of their fall migration and sightings will increase as they make their way into and through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state is asked to report sightings so the birds can be tracked.
The whooping cranes that do make their way through North Dakota each…
Families looking for a fun afternoon filled with outdoor activities are invited to attend Teddy Roosevelt Family Day on Sunday, Sept. 22 at McDowell Dam just east of Bismarck.
The free event runs from 1-4 p.m. and families can come and go at any time. It features many hands-on activities including archery, BB gun shooting, fishing, animal identification,…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters to monitor on- and off-road travel conditions as many hunting seasons will open this weekend.
Recent moisture will make travel difficult on section line trails, unimproved roads and in harvested grain fields where hunting might take place.
Game and Fish strongly…
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 area lakes.
ANS coordinator Jessica Howell said zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces that are left in the water for long periods of time, first…
North Dakota’s roadside surveys conducted in late July and August indicate total pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge numbers are up from last year.
State Game and Fish Department upland game biologist RJ Gross said the survey shows total pheasants observed per 100 miles are up 10% from last year. In addition, broods per 100 miles are up 17%,…
The Game and Fish Department is allocating five bighorn sheep licenses for the 2019 hunting season, two more than last year.
Three licenses are issued in unit B1 and a portion of B3, and one license is valid for units B3 and B4. Also, one license, as authorized under North Dakota Century Code, was auctioned in March by the Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep…
North Dakota’s 2019 waterfowl season opens for North Dakota 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.
Hunters may take six ducks per day with the following restrictions: five mallards…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is once again asking upland game hunters to help biologists monitor hatching dates and reproductive rates by submitting wings and appropriate feathers/legs in wing envelopes this fall.
Harvested birds provide a good random sample that biologists use to assess the ratio of juveniles to adults, and estimate the average…
The deadline for clubs or communities interested in submitting an application to receive a grant to help support a local high school trap team, or for firearm and shooting ranges, is Oct. 1.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department education section leader Marty Egeland said the grant to support North Dakota high school trap teams are for infrastructure to…
A moose that found its way into Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks was immobilized Sept. 3 by campus police and officials from the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton. The adult cow was then moved to a rural area approximately 5.5 miles west of the city.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife chief Jeb Williams said…
Friday, Sept. 13 at noon Central Time signals the start of a nine-and-a-half-day deer hunting season for youth, and hunters are reminded that a 2019 general game and habitat license must be purchased before the state Game and Fish Department mails the youth deer license.
Hunters are encouraged to purchase the required license early, since it takes a couple of days to receive the deer…
North Dakota’s popular hunting seasons for grouse and partridge will open Saturday, Sept. 14.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sharptails, ruffed grouse and Huns each have a daily limit of three and a possession limit of 12.
All hunters, regardless of age, must have a general game and habitat…
North Dakota’s sandhill crane season opens Sept. 14 and runs through Nov. 10.
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 Nov. 2. Beginning Nov. 3, shooting hours are…
North Dakota’s two-day youth waterfowl and special veteran and active military personnel waterfowl weekend is Sept. 14-15.
Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger, and veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking bowhunters who harvest a deer in gun hunting units 3A1 and 3B1 to help the department’s chronic wasting disease surveillance efforts by submitting the head of their animal for testing.
Heads may be dropped off in freezers located at the Game and Fish district office in Williston, and at the Divide County sheriff’s office in Crosby (…