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News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

News Releases

Early Ice Awareness

Outdoor enthusiasts need to be aware of early ice conditions before traveling onto and across North Dakota waters.

A few reminders include:

  • Edges firm up faster than farther out from shore.
  • Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, hiding cracks, weak and open water areas.
  • Ice can form overnight, causing unstable conditions. Ice thickness is not consistent, as it can vary significantly within a few inches.
  • Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
  • Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around.
  • Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
  • The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in winter it’s a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck.

And some life-saving safety tips:

  • Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone.
  • Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through.
  • If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit. If that’s not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front.
  • To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport the victim to a hospital.

Mountain Lion Zone 1 Late Season Opens

North Dakota’s early mountain lion season in Zone 1 closed Nov. 20, and the late season, when hunters can pursue lions with dogs, is open. 

During the early season, hunters took four cats from a harvest limit of eight. Under the season structure, a conditional season could open five days after the late season closes for hunters to pursue the additional four mountain lions that were not taken.

The late season in Zone 1 is scheduled to run through March 31, 2023, or until the harvest limit is reached. The late season harvest limit is seven total lions or three female lions, whichever comes first.

Hunters are advised to check the status of the late season by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Zone 1 includes land in western North Dakota south of ND Highway 1804 from the Montana border to the point where ND Highway 1804 lies directly across Lake Sakakawea from ND Highway 8, crossing Lake Sakakawea, then south along ND Highway 8 to ND Highway 200, then west on ND Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 85, then south on U.S. Highway 85 to the South Dakota border.

The mountain lion season in Zone 2, which is the rest of the state outside Zone 1, has no harvest limit and is open through March 31, 2023.

The mountain lion season is open only to North Dakota residents. Hunters need a furbearer or combination license to participate. 

Late Season Hunting Dates

The statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 4. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 10 and continues through Jan. 1.

In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 17 in the eastern zone, Dec. 22 in the western zone and Dec. 30 in the Missouri River zone. Light goose hunting closes statewide Dec. 30.

Archery deer, fall turkey, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, partridge and pheasant hunting seasons continue through Jan. 1.

The season for tree squirrels closes Feb. 28.

Advisory Board Meetings Announced

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this fall at eight locations across the state. In addition, the district 7 meeting in Bismarck will be streamed live on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel.

For the statewide livestream, questions can be submitted via chat during the meeting.

District 1 – Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties

Date: November 21 – 7 p.m.

Location: Community Center, Tioga 

Host: Peaceful Valley Pheasants Forever

Contact: Kelci Hanson, 701-641-2097

Advisory board member: Beau Wisness, Keene

 

District 6 – Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells counties

Date: November 22 – 7 p.m.

Location: Eagles Club, 345 12th Ave. NE, Valley City 

Host: Barnes County Wildlife Federation

Contact: Perry Kapaun, 701-490-1797

Advisory board member: Cody Sand, Ashley

 

District 8 – Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark counties

Date: November 23 – 7 p.m.

Location: Choice Financial Bank, 201 Main St. N., Belfield

Host: Belfield Sportsmen's Club

Contact: Thumper Braun, 701-575-6674

Advisory board member: Rob Brooks, Rhame

 

District 5 – Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties

Date: November 28 – 7 p.m.

Location: Community Center, 14497 42nd St. SE, Embden

Host: Four Corners Wildlife Club

Contact: Kyle Schultz, 701-361-7429

Advisory board member: Doug Madsen, Harwood

 

District 2 – Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward counties

Date: November 29 – 7 p.m.

Location: Mountrail South Complex, 8103 61st St. NW, Stanley

Host: North Dakota Fur Hunters and Trappers Association

Contact: Chris Pulver, 701-629-1475

Advisory board member: Travis Leier, Velva

 

District 7 – Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux counties

Date: November 30 – 7 p.m.

Location: Game and Fish Main Office, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck

Host: Dakota Pheasants Forever 

Contact and advisory board member: Jody Sommer, Mandan, 701-527-2295 

 

District 3 – Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner counties

Date: December 5 – 7 p.m.

Location: Eagles Club, 7 8th St. S., New Rockford

Host: Eddy County Rod and Gun Club

Contact: Duane Duda, 701-302-0510

Advisory board member: Edward Dosch, Devils Lake

 

District 4 – Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh counties

Date: December 6 – 7 p.m.

Location: American Legion Club, 701 Main St. W., Cavalier

Host: Pembina County and Area Sportsmen’s Club

Contact: Roger Furstenau, 701-265-2960

Advisory board member: Bruce Ellertson, Lakota

Administrative Rules Hearing Set Dec. 16

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will hold a public hearing to address proposed new rules and amendments to Title 30 of the North Dakota Administrative Code. The hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 at the agency's main office in Bismarck. 

The purpose and an explanation of the proposed rule changes follow:

Chapter 30-04-03. Section 30-04-03-17. Hunting guide and hunting outfitter examination. An amendment to administer written examination electronically.

Chapter 30-05-03. Section 30-05-03-22. Violations are noncriminal. An amendment to change the fee from thirty-five dollars to seventy-five dollars.

Chapter 30-05-01. Section 30-05-01-02. Boat safety equipment. An amendment to update United States coast guard approved fire extinguishers.

Chapter 30-03-01.1 Section 30-03-01.1-04. License limitations. Amendment to remove a retail bait vendor from losing their license if they had been convicted of a state or federal criminal game or fish violation in the past three years.

Chapter 30-03-01.1 Section 30-03-01.1-05. Assistants covered by license. Amendment to update wholesale bait vendor assistants requirements.

Chapter 30-03-01.1 Section 30-03-01.1-08. Interstate transport. Amendment to add bait vendor import of creek chubs.

Chapter 30-03-01.1 Section 30-03-01.1-13. Prohibited waters for taking legal live aquatic bait. Amendment to update language for bait vendor permitting.

Chapter 30-03-01.1 Section 30-03-01.1-15. Inspections and records. Amendment to give 90 days for wholesale bait vendors to provide required records compared to 30 days in the past and proposed change for licensed wholesale bait vendors to submit their records to the Department before a new license can be issued.

Chapter 30-03-06 Section 30-03-06-01. Equipment.  Amendment to add equipment entering a body of water must be free of aquatic nuisance species, may be inspected by a Game and Fish employee, and boat docks, lifts and related equipment must be dried for a minimum of three weeks before being placed in another water.

Chapter 30-03-06 Section 30-03-06-05. Water prohibited.  Amendment to change state water commission to department of water resources.

Chapter 30-01-01 Section 30-01-01-01. Organization and functions of the game and fish department.  Amendment to update organization of department.

Chapter 30-04-09 Section 30-04-09-01. Electronic posting system.  Create a new chapter relating to electronic posting system.

The proposed rules may be reviewed at the Department’s office at 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095, or website gf.nd.gov. A copy of the proposed rules may be requested in writing from the above address, or by calling 701-328-6305, or emailing ndgf@nd.gov. Written or oral comments on the proposed rules sent to the above mailing or email address, or telephone number and received by Dec. 27, 2022 will be fully considered.

Anyone who will attend the public hearing and need special facilities or assistance relating to a disability should contact the Department at the above address or phone number at least seven days before the public hearing.

Salmon Spawn Completed

Fisheries crews completed their annual salmon spawning operation on the Missouri River System, collecting more than 1.8 million eggs. About 500,000 went to South Dakota to meet their egg collection goal.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department Missouri River System fisheries biologist Russ Kinzler said crews collected enough eggs to stock 400,000 smolts planned for Lake Sakakawea in 2023. 

About 80% of the eggs were collected from Lake Sakakawea and the remainder from the Missouri River below Garrison Dam. Average size of female salmon was 5 pounds, which is about 2.5 pounds smaller than last year. The largest salmon was 21 pounds and was collected in the Missouri River below Garrison Dam.

Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in North Dakota, Game and Fish personnel capture the fish and transport them to Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery where they are relieved of their eggs.

Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend about 6 months in the hatchery before being stocked in Lake Sakakawea.

Hunters Encouraged to Have Deer Tested for CWD

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2022 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the western portion of the state, and unit 2B in the east. 

Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 1, 2B, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3B2, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F.

CWD is a slow-moving brain disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause population-level impacts under high infection rates.

Hunters are encouraged to drop off heads of adult or yearling deer at collection locations. Fawns and head-shot deer cannot be tested. Hunters wishing to keep the heads can bring them to a Game and Fish district office during business hours to have them sampled.

Self-sampling kits are available for hunters who wish to have their deer tested but are unable to drop the head at a collection site. The do-it-yourself kit allows hunters to remove the lymph nodes and ship them to the Department’s wildlife health lab for testing.

Results can be expected within four weeks and will be sent to your Game and Fish My Account inbox.

Hunters should note whole carcasses or heads of deer taken from units 3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3E2, 3F2, 4B and 4C may not be transported to a collection site outside of the unit. Exceptions: lymph nodes extracted from the head for the purpose of CWD testing contained in a sealed, plastic bag; and hunters can transport whole deer carcasses between adjoining CWD carcass restricted units.

More information on CWD, including transportation restrictions, is available at the Game and Fish website.

Check Boat Lifts, Docks for ANS

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department urges water recreationists and property owners to check for zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species when removing boat lifts, docks and other equipment from state waters.

ANS coordinator Ben Holen said everyone plays a vital role in ANS prevention.

“Reports from the public have led to the discovery of numerous ANS populations over the past several years,” Holen said.

Equipment such as boat lifts and docks, Holen noted, are high risk vectors for spreading ANS, especially zebra mussels.

“Zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces left in the water for long periods of time, first settling in tight spaces and areas that are protected from sunlight,” he said.

Holen recommends doing a thorough search when equipment is taken out of the water in fall.

“Pay special attention to wheel wells, right angles on frames, and areas otherwise protected from sunlight,” he added. “Feel for attached organisms that have small hair-like structures holding them in place. Small mussels can feel like rough sandpaper and adults can be as large as 2 inches long.”

Holen said if you think you’ve found a zebra mussel, take photos, write down any relevant information, such as how many were found and where, and report it online at the Game and Fish website gf.nd.gov/ans, or email Holen at bholen@nd.gov.

Deer Replacement Tag Reminder  

Deer hunters who can’t find their deer license should contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department soon to secure their tag before the season opens.

The Game and Fish Department must be contacted by phone at 701-328-6335, or email ndgf@nd.gov, to authorize the online purchase of a replacement tag. Printable applications are not available.

The deer gun season opens Friday, Nov. 4 at 12 noon Central time.

Permit Required to Possess Dead Deer

North Dakota Game and Fish Department enforcement personnel issue a reminder that a permit is required before taking possession of a dead deer found near a road or in a field. Only shed antlers can be possessed without a permit.

Permits to possess are free and available from game wardens and local law enforcement offices.

In addition, hunters are reminded to properly dispose of dead deer. Carcass waste cannot be left on public property, including roadways, ditches or wildlife management areas.

Report Violations with RAP

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages hunters, anglers and landowners who witness a fish or wildlife violation to file a report with the Report All Poachers program.

Witnesses should report a violation by calling RAP at 701-328-9921.

Witnesses should note the vehicle description, including make, color, license plate number and state issued. Description of the violator should also be considered.

The RAP line offers rewards – from $100 to $1,000 depending on the nature and seriousness of the crime – for information leading to the conviction of fish and wildlife law violators. Reports can also go directly to game wardens or other law enforcement agencies. Callers can remain anonymous.

Order 2023 OUTDOORS Calendars

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 2023. Along with color photographs of North Dakota’s wildlife and outstanding scenery, it also includes sunrise-sunset times and moon phases.

To order online, visit the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov., or send $3 for each, plus $1 postage, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095. Be sure to include a three-line return address with your order, or the post office may not deliver our return mailing.

The calendar is the North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine’s December issue, so current subscribers will automatically receive it in the mail.