Deer Season Set, Online Apps Available

Wed, 05/10/2017

North Dakota’s 2017 deer season is set with 54,500 licenses available to hunters this fall, 5,500 more than last year.

The number of licenses available for 2017 includes 2,750 for antlered mule deer, an increase of 200 from last year; 1,022 for muzzleloader, an increase of 94 from last year; and 245 restricted youth antlered mule deer, an increase of 20 from last year.

Game and Fish will issue mule deer doe licenses in units 4B and 4C for the first time since 2011. However, for the sixth consecutive year there are no mule deer doe licenses available in unit 4A, due to higher winter mortality which caused a slight decline in numbers from 2016.

North Dakota’s 2017 deer gun season opens Nov. 10 at noon and continues through Nov. 26.

Online applications for regular deer gun, youth, muzzleloader and resident gratis licenses are available through the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Also, paper applications will be at vendors throughout the state by mid-May. The deadline for applying is June 7.

Nonresidents may apply for North Dakota deer licenses only through the Game and Fish website.

A new law passed by the North Dakota State Legislature allows youth who turn age 11 before the end of the calendar year to receive a whitetail doe license valid for only the youth deer hunting season. Therefore, 10-year-olds who turn age 11 in 2017 are eligible to receive an antlerless whitetail license. Hunter education is not required until the youth turns age 12.

State law requires residents age 18 or older to prove residency on the application by submitting a valid North Dakota driver’s license number or a North Dakota nondriver photo identification number. Applications cannot be processed without this information.

Gratis applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline (June 7) will be issued an any-legal-deer license. As per state law, gratis applications received after the deadline will be processed based on licenses remaining after the lottery – generally only antlerless licenses remain.

Total deer licenses are determined by harvest rates, aerial surveys, depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings, and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.

First Fish Certificate

Mon, 05/08/2017

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is reminding parents to capture their little angler’s first catch on a specially designed First Fish certificate.

First Fish has no qualifying weights or measurements. The only requirement is the successful landing of a North Dakota fish. Certificates are available to all who request them, and have ample room for all the important information, such as name, age, lake and a short fish story, plus a blank space for a photograph big enough to contain the smile of the happiest little angler.

Free certificates are available by contacting the Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300, or send an email to ndgf@nd.gov.

RAP Auction May 20

Mon, 05/08/2017

Confiscated hunting and fishing equipment will be sold Saturday, May 20 at the North Dakota Wildlife Federation’s Report All Poachers auction in Minot. The auction is scheduled for 12 noon at the North Dakota State Fair Center’s 4-H hall.

Auction items can be viewed beginning at 10 a.m. Items include more than 60 rifles, shotguns and handguns; fishing equipment, bows, knives, spotlights, coolers and other miscellaneous merchandise.

More information, including a comprehensive list of items for auction, is available by visiting the wildlife federation’s website at http://www.northdakotawildlifefederation.org/.

Proceeds from the auction fund the RAP program. The RAP line, 800-472-2121, offers monetary rewards for information that leads to conviction of fish and wildlife law violators. The RAP line is available 24 hours a day, and callers can remain anonymous.

Boat North Dakota Course

Mon, 05/08/2017

Boat owners are reminded that children ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft alone this summer must first take the state’s boating basics course.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department education coordinator Brian Schaffer recommends all boaters take a boater education course, however state law requires that only youngsters ages 12-15 must pass the course before they operate a boat or personal watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor by themselves. In addition, some insurance companies give adult boat owners who pass the course a discount on boat insurance.

The course is available for home-study from the Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office. Two commercial providers also offer the course online, and links to those sites are found on the department’s website at gf.nd.gov.

While the home-study course is free, students will be charged a fee to take it online. The online provider charges for the course, not the Game and Fish Department. The fee stays with the online provider.

Upon completion of the online test, and providing a credit card number, students will be able to print out a temporary certification card, and within 10 days a permanent card will be mailed.

The course covers legal requirements, navigation rules, getting underway, accidents and special topics such as weather, rules of the road, laws, life saving and first aid.

For more information contact Schaffer by email at ndgf@nd.gov; or call 701-328-6300.

White Suckers Only Legal in Bois de Sioux, Red Rivers

Mon, 05/08/2017

The state Game and Fish Department reminds anglers that live white suckers are not legal baitfish anywhere in North Dakota, except for the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers.

Although anglers can use live white suckers on the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers and tributaries up to the first vehicular bridge, they are illegal elsewhere. Fathead minnows, sticklebacks and creek chubs are the only legal live baitfish outside of the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers. Dead white suckers which have been preserved by freezing, salting or otherwise treated to inactivate reproductive capabilities are legal bait. 

Anglers are also reminded that live baitfish, or other live aquatic bait such as leeches, cannot be transported from another state into North Dakota.

Trout Stocked in Community Fisheries Across the State

Mon, 05/08/2017

Almost 40 local fisheries around North Dakota have a fresh supply of catchable trout, as state Game and Fish Department personnel are wrapping up their annual spring trout stocking efforts.

Fisheries production and development section leader Jerry Weigel said while fisheries statewide are at historic highs, many are not as easily accessible to youngsters, older adults and disabled anglers.

“These stockings put catchable fish in waters that are accessible,” Weigel said. “Many community fisheries have fishing piers, and provide a great opportunity for a first-time anglers to catch fish.”

In addition, Weigel emphasized that trout are kid-friendly and they bite aggressively in the spring before temperatures warm up, so the best time to catch them will be in the next few weeks.

The trout are nice-sized too, Weigel said, as more than 20,000 11-inch rainbow trout were stocked, along with 800 1- to 2-pound cutthroat trout. Following is a list of lakes, by county, to receive trout this spring: 

·         Barnes – Blumers Pond (rainbow), Hatchery Kids Pond (rainbow)

·         Bottineau – Strawberry Lake (rainbow)

·         Bowman – Lutz Dam (rainbow)

·         Burleigh – McDowell Dam (rainbow), OWLS Pond (cutthroat, rainbow), Wilton Pond (cutthroat, rainbow)

·         Cass – Brooks Harbor Pond (rainbow), Casselton Pond (rainbow), North Woodhaven Pond (rainbow)

·         Cavalier – Langdon City Pond (rainbow)

·         Golden Valley – Beach City Pond (rainbow)

·         Grand Forks – Ryan Park Pond (rainbow), Turtle River (rainbow)

·         Hettinger – Castle Rock Dam (rainbow), Mott Watershed Dam (rainbow)

·         McKenzie – Watford City Park Pond (rainbow)

·         McLean – Camp Loop Pond (rainbow), Custer Mine (rainbow), Lightning Lake (rainbow), Riverdale City Pond (rainbow)

·         Mercer – Hazen Creek (rainbow)

·         Morton – Gaebe Pond (rainbow), Krieg’s Pond (rainbow), Little Heart Pond (rainbow), Nygren Dam (rainbow), Porsborg Dam (cutthroat, rainbow)

·         Mountrail – Stanley Pond (rainbow)

·         Oliver – Oliver County Sportsmen’s Pond (rainbow)

·         Ransom – Mooringstone Pond (rainbow)

·         Renville – Glenburn Pond (rainbow)

·         Rolette – Lake Udall (rainbow)

·         Stark – Belfield Pond (rainbow), Dickinson Dike (rainbow, cutthroat)

·         Stutsman – Streeter Lake (rainbow)

·         Ward – State Fair Pond (rainbow), Velva Sportsmen’s Pond (rainbow)

·         Williams – West Spring Lake Pond (rainbow, cutthroat), Kettle Lake (rainbow),

Anglers can refer to the fishing tab at the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, for a complete stocking report.

Paddlefish Snagging Season to Close May 8

Fri, 05/05/2017

Contact: Greg Power, Fisheries Division Chief, 701-328-6323

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is closing the state's 2017 regular paddlefish snagging season, effective at 9 p.m. Central Daylight Time, on Monday, May 8.

Snaggers are reminded that Sunday, May 7 and Monday, May 8 are snag-and-release only days, and in order to participate they must not have already used their tag on a harvested paddlefish.

The 2016-18 fishing proclamation allows for the Game and Fish director to close the snagging season early if it appears the harvest will exceed 1,000 paddlefish.

“Another repeat where snaggers this year have been extremely successful,” said Greg Power, fisheries chief. Power added that a significant proportion of this year’s harvest so far consists of females, which further necessitates the early season closure. The 2017 paddlefish harvest season of four days equals last year as the shortest on record.

An additional four-day snag-and-release season will begin Tuesday, May 9 and run through Friday, May 12. Paddlefish snaggers with an unused paddlefish tag can continue snagging during the additional snag-and-release season, but must release all fish immediately.

Snag-and-release is legal only in that area of the Missouri River starting on the north shore from the Confluence boat ramp then east (downstream) one-half mile, and that area of the Missouri River starting on the south shore from the Confluence with the Yellowstone River then east (downstream) one-half mile (both areas will have boundary signs).

Paddlefish snagging is allowed only from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (CDT) during each day of the additional four-day season. The use or possession of a gaff on snag-and-release days is illegal.

Scholarships Available for Students

Mon, 05/01/2017

The North Dakota Game Wardens Association, Ray Goetz Memorial Fund and Kupper Chevrolet are providing $1,600 in scholarships to a graduating high school senior or current higher education student, majoring in fisheries, wildlife management or law enforcement.

Applicants must be North Dakota residents, and have maintained a 3.25 grade point average. The scholarship will be awarded this fall upon proof of enrollment.

Applications are available by contacting the North Dakota Game Warden’s Association, P.O. Box 3581, Minot, ND 58702; or by email at btupdike@nd.gov. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 15, 2017.

Missouri River Safety Day May 18

Mon, 05/01/2017

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and Townsquare Media are sponsoring Missouri River SPLASH – a recreation and boating safety event for everyone who enjoys the Missouri River.

The event is Thursday, May 18 in Mandan from 3-6 p.m. at Moritz Sport and Marine. Displays, hands-on activities, demonstrations, regulations, registrations and prizes are included.

The event is free, and people of all ages are invited to attend.

State law requires youngsters ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor to first pass the state’s Boat North Dakota safety course. In addition, some insurance companies give adult boat owners who pass the course a discount on boat insurance.

The Boat North Dakota safety course is free and available at the Game and Fish Department.

Hunters, Anglers Take Note of New Legislation

Mon, 05/01/2017

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tracked 28 outdoors-related bills during the 2017 legislative session, 11 of which were passed by both chambers and signed into law.

The following bills take effect Aug. 1, unless the bill includes an emergency clause which indicates it is already in effect.

HB 1017 – Appropriates $83,277,498 to the Game and Fish Department for the biennium beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019. Passed house 72-13. Passed Senate 44-1.

HB 1025 – Provides a guideline for the Director to allocate big game hunting licenses to eligible organizations, and turkey hunting licenses for individuals receiving hunting expeditions from a nonprofit organization. Passed House 84-6. Passed Senate 45-0.

HB 1150 – Allows a resident of North Dakota, who does not want to receive a hunting license issued by lottery, to purchase a bonus point for a fee that is the same as the respective license. The fee is allocated to the Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program. Passed House 90-0. Passed Senate 44-0.

HB 1204 – Reduces the age from 16 to 12 to qualify for an apprentice hunter validation license; allows youth who turn age 11 before the end of the calendar year to receive a whitetail doe license valid only for the youth hunting season without having taken the hunter education course; repeals the eagle language on state law, however, eagles remain protected under federal regulations. Passed House 83-2. Passed Senate 47-0.

HB 1207 – Allows Game and Fish to seize tangible property presumed abandoned on state game refuges, real property leased or managed by the Game and Fish Department, and state game or fish management areas. After 90 days, the Director may dispose of seized, unclaimed, tangible property presumed abandoned, or order it be turned over to the North Dakota Wildlife Federation to be sold for the highest price obtainable. The sale proceeds, after expenses of the seizure and sale are deducted, must be remitted to the North Dakota Wildlife Federation Report All Poachers fund. A report of the sale, supported by proper vouchers covering all deductions made for expenses, must be filed for the record with the Director. Passed House 84-4. Passed Senate 46-0.

HB 1367 – An operator of a personal watercraft is not required to have an observer on board while towing an individual on water skis, kneeboard or an inflatable craft if the personal watercraft is equipped with a mirror on each side with an unobstructed field of vision to the rear; allows an individual who is at least 16 years old to windsurf or boardsail without wearing a personal flotation device; prohibits water skiing or surfboarding between one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. Includes emergency clause. Passed House 87-5. Passed Senate 44-3.

HB 1419 – Gives the Director the option to establish a shooting sports grant program, which may be made available to schools, clubs and organized youth groups. Passed House 85-3. Passed Senate 41-4.

SB 2239 – Repeals the annual inspection of all watercraft used for hire. Includes emergency clause. Passed House 89-2. Passed Senate 47-0.

SB 2284 – A vendor who sells hunting and fishing licenses may add a 3 percent service fee to the total transaction. The service fee does not apply to license purchases or applications made through the Game and Fish Department website. Passed House 91-3. Passed Senate 46-0.

SB 2308 – Allows a fish house and a coyote snare to be identified by a registration number provided by the Game and Fish Department. Previously, the trapper or angler needed to display their name or telephone number. This new law provides a registration number as another option for identifying fish house and snare ownership. Passed House 90-2. Passed Senate 47-0.

SB 2318 – Requires the pheasant hunting season to open no later than October 12. In 2017, the season is tentatively set to open October 7. Passed House 81-10. Passed Senate 46-0.

New State Record Carp

Mon, 05/01/2017

Derek Barnick’s catch on April 21 is the first entry to North Dakota’s list of state record fish in 2017. The Tappen angler took a 31 pound, 9 ounce common carp from Lake Etta-Alkaline with a bow and arrow.

The 36-inch fish broke the old record of 31 pounds taken by Austin Loberg of Thompson from the Sheyenne River in 2003.

Moose and Elk Lotteries Held, Bighorn Sheep in September

Mon, 05/01/2017

North Dakota’s moose and elk lottery results are available online at the state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

Applicants can find individual results by clicking “my account” under the buy and apply link.

Successful applicants will receive a letter the week of May 15, stating the license will be mailed after the successful applicant submits the correct license fee.

The bighorn sheep lottery is scheduled in September, after summer population surveys are completed and total licenses are determined. Once the lottery is held, successful applicants will be contacted to select a hunting unit.