The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is prohibiting open burning this spring on public property it manages south of Bismarck and Mandan, as a means to reduce potential for wildfires on a heavily wooded recreation area along the Missouri River.
Bill Haase, wildlife resource management supervisor, said all open burning, including campfires, is banned until further notice on the Oahe…
Anglers are reminded unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters beginning March 15 until ice-out.
Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.
Anglers are advised to use caution while accessing area lakes because mild weather conditions can quickly result in unstable ice conditions that can make removing a fish house with a vehicle difficult or…
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is March 24.
A total of 523 elk and 474 moose licenses are available to hunters this fall, the same as last year.
Moose units M4 and M1C will remain closed due to a continued downward population trend in the northeastern…
Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to support a high school trap shooting team must have the application in before April 1. Existing teams that have received a grant in the past are not eligible.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department offers a grant of up to $1,000, with funds designed to purchase gear such as eye and hearing protection, vests, shell bags and…
The North Dakota Game Wardens Association and the Ray Goetz Memorial Fund are sponsoring scholarships for graduating high school seniors or current higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field.
Applicants must be North Dakota residents, be in good academic standing and have an interest in wildlife law enforcement or a related field.…
The 2021 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and individual results are available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
The Game and Fish Department will mail the spring turkey licenses to successful applicants after they purchase a valid 2021-22 hunting license. All spring turkey hunters regardless of age are required to have a general game and habitat…
Individuals who are required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to participate in darkhouse spearfishing are reminded to first register with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Free registration is available at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
All holes greater than 10 inches left in the ice must be marked with a natural object or a brightly painted or…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s enforcement division has tallied the number of hunting, angling and boating citations for 2020, and failure to carry a license was the number one violation.
Game wardens issued more than 2,600 citations last year. Counties with the most violations were Ramsey (320), Williams (163) and McKenzie (128).
The most common violations and…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the open enrollment of its voluntary Conservation Reserve Program by continuing to accept offers past the original Feb. 12 deadline. Private landowners can sign up at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department private land section leader Kevin Kading said the extension gives USDA time to evaluate…
North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 20 and continues through May 9.
Residents must have a valid current season 2020-21 (valid through March 31) or 2021-22 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Resident youth under age 16 only need the general game and habitat license. The 2021-22 license is available…
Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2021 must click on the education link at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
Hunter education coordinator Brian Schaffer said students wanting to take an in-person class are reminded to register early, as most classes are held the first few months of the calendar year.
“We are holding…
North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials anticipate a normal paddlefish snagging season in 2021, unless COVID-19 safety concerns deem the activity unsafe.
The season in 2020 was canceled because of pandemic concerns.
The Game and Fish Department will further update those interested in the paddlefish snagging season, which is scheduled to open on May 1, on the status of…
Spring turkey applicants are reminded the deadline to submit applications is Feb. 10.
Hunters can apply online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Applications can also be submitted by calling 800-406-6409.
A total of 7,005 wild turkey licenses are available, 775 more than last year. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) remains closed due to lack…
The state Game and Fish Department’s annual Earth Day awareness campaign is accepting entries for design of a 2021 Earth Day patch. North Dakota students ages 6-18 are eligible to participate. The deadline for submitting entries is March 15.
The Game and Fish Department will announce a winner in three age categories – 6-9, 10-13 and 14-18. Each winner will receive a pair of binoculars…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 7,005 wild turkey licenses for the 2021 spring hunting season, 775 more than last year.
Fifteen of the 22 hunting units have more spring licenses than last year and six remain the same. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) is again closed due to lack of turkeys in the unit.
One noteworthy change from last year is…
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated about 165,000 Canada geese in the state.
Andy Dinges, department migratory game bird biologist, said an estimated 67,200 Canada geese were observed on the Missouri River from MacLean Bottoms Wildlife Management Area south of Bismarck to Garrison Dam. An additional 65,100 Canada…
With most chronic wasting disease testing completed, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reports 18 deer tested positive during the 2020 hunting season.
Fourteen were from hunting unit 3F2, two were from unit 3A1 and one was from unit 4B. A white-tailed deer harvested in unit 3A2 also tested positive and was the first detection in the unit.
CWD is a fatal disease of deer…
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 same time contributing to programs that help everyone enjoy all wildlife.
…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.
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 third female was taken.
A conditional season in Zone 1 will open Jan. 24 for hunters to pursue the additional six mountain lions that were not taken during the early season. The Zone 1 early season harvest…
