The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated about 99,000 Canada geese in the state.
Andy Dinges, migratory game bird biologist, said that number likely would have been higher, but the blizzard that hit North Dakota in late December undoubtedly…
The state Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day awareness campaign is accepting entries for design of a 2019 Earth Day patch. North Dakota students ages 6-18 are eligible to participate. The deadline to submit entries is March 15.
The Game and Fish Department will announce a winner in…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 6,025 wild turkey licenses for the 2019 spring hunting season, 370 more than last year.
Eleven of the 22 hunting units have more spring licenses than in 2018, seven have fewer and three remain the same. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) is again…
Mountain lion hunting during the late season in Zone 1 is closed immediately. The zone’s late-season harvest limit of either seven total cats or three females was reached after the seventh cat was taken.
A conditional season in Zone 1 will open Jan. 28 for hunters to pursue the additional six mountain lions…
The North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament is scheduled for March 22-23 at the State Fair Center in Minot. The tournament will feature competition in Bullseye or Olympic style, and 3-D.
The tournament consists of team and individual competition in elementary,…
Hunters are reminded that tree stands, blinds, steps and other personal items such as cameras, must be removed from all wildlife management areas by Jan. 31.
Items not removed by Jan. 31 are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
A push to encourage open-water anglers to keep fish caught from deep waters should carry over into the ice fishing season, according to the State Game and Fish Department.
Catch-and-release fishing, no matter the time of year, is discouraged for fish caught in 30 feet or more of water because fish reeled in…
North Dakota citizens with an interest in supporting wildlife conservation programs are reminded to look for the Watchable Wildlife checkoff on the state tax form.
The state income tax form gives wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to support nongame wildlife like songbirds and birds of prey, while at the…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 607 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2019.
Applicants must apply online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications are not available. The deadline for applying is March 1.
…The 2019 North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar is available for ordering online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
The calendar features outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, and includes season opening and application deadline dates, sunrise-sunset times and…
Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2019 are reminded to register early as most classes are held the first few months of the calendar year.
Interested students must click on the education link at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Classes are listed by city…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will once again track hunting and fishing issues during the 2019 legislative session.
Interested outdoor enthusiasts can follow proposed outdoors-related bills by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
A brief description of each bill will be included…
Three deer taken during the 2018 North Dakota deer gun season have been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease, according to Dr. Charlie Bahnson, wildlife veterinarian for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. While two of the positive deer were taken in unit 3F2, an area of North Dakota known to have CWD, the third was taken from Divide County in deer unit 3A1, previously…
North Dakota’s free ice fishing weekend is Dec. 29-30.
Resident anglers may fish that weekend without a license. All other ice fishing regulations apply.
Those interested in darkhouse spearfishing that weekend must…
Individuals interested in darkhouse spearfishing can sign up for a workshop offered Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge office northwest of Minot.
Sponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, participants will learn about…
Sandra Johnson, conservation biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence during the Department’s annual meeting Dec. 6 in Bismarck.
Terry Steinwand, Game and Fish director, said Johnson was instrumental in the…
Jerad Bluem, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden stationed in Steele, is the state’s 2018 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Bluem was honored recently by the Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.
…North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand recently honored a number of employees with performance-based awards. Steinwand presented the following employees with special recognition awards at the department’s annual staff meeting Dec. 6.
Levi Jacobson, private land biologist, Bismarck,…
To help North Dakota hunters prepare for hunting seasons in 2019, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates for the coming year.
Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2019 include:
…Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float.
A popular question this time of year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left…