North Dakota Game and Fish Department
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday camping restriction on state wildlife management areas for the Labor Day holiday week.
The removal of the restriction will allow overnight camping Sept. 7-8 on those WMAs that otherwise have the two-day restriction in place.
A complete list, including other WMA regulations, is available on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
North Dakota’s hunting seasons for grouse and partridge will open Saturday, Sept. 11.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sharptails, ruffed grouse and Hungarian partridge 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 license. In addition, hunters 16 and older need a small game license.
Grouse and partridge hunters should refer to the North Dakota OUTDOORS August-September issue for a complete outlook on the fall hunting season, available online by Sept. 8 on the state Game and Fish Department’s website gf.nd.gov.
Hunters are urged to keep up with the daily rural fire danger index, issued by the National Weather Service, to alert the public to conditions that may be conducive to accidental starting or spread of fires. County governments also have the authority to adopt penalties for violations of county restrictions related to burning bans. These restrictions apply regardless of the daily fire danger index and remain in place until each county’s commission rescinds the ban. Information on current fire danger indexes is available through ndresponse.gov.
For other season information and regulations, hunters should consult the North Dakota 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Guide.
It is unlawful to hunt big game over bait, or place bait to attract big game for the purpose of hunting, in deer units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B and 4C.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department strongly discourages recreational feeding of wildlife within these units. The restriction is in place to help slow the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause long-term population declines if left unchecked.
In addition, hunting big game over bait or baiting for any purpose is prohibited on all Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas. Hunting big game over bait is also prohibited on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands, and all North Dakota state trust, state park and state forest service lands.
More information on CWD can be found at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
Big game hunters are reminded of requirements for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota, as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.
Hunters are prohibited from transporting into or within North Dakota the whole carcass of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family harvested outside of North Dakota.
In addition, hunters harvesting a white-tailed deer or mule deer from deer hunting units 3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3F2, 4B and 4C, a moose from moose hunting units M10 and M11, or an elk from elk hunting unit E2, cannot transport the whole carcass outside the unit. However, hunters can transport the whole carcass between adjoining CWD carcass restricted units.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game wardens will be enforcing all CWD transportation laws.
Hunters are encouraged to plan accordingly and be prepared to quarter a carcass, cape out an animal, or clean a skull in the field, or find a taxidermist or meat locker within the unit or state who can assist.
Game and Fish maintains several freezers throughout the region for submitting heads for CWD testing, beginning Sept. 1.
For questions about how to comply with this regulation, hunters should contact a district game warden or other department staff ahead of the planned hunt.
The following lower-risk portions of the carcass can be transported:
Deer hunters should note that beginning this year, there is an exception to the regulation that reads “a deer carcass or boned-out meat must be accompanied by the head to the final place of storage.” The exception is, tag the deer as required, then take two photographs using a cellphone with location, date and time stamp turned on. One photograph of the entire animal at the kill site with tag attached, and a second photograph of a closeup of the tag so that the tag information is readable. If a hunter leaves the head in the field at the kill site, after taking photos and saving them, the ear or antler with the tag attached must be cut off and accompany the meat or carcass while in transport. The photographs of the tagged deer must be shown to any game warden or other law enforcement officer upon request.
Wildlife biologists continue monitoring an ongoing mortality event in white-tailed deer in central North Dakota. Since early August, the state Game and Fish Department has documented whitetail deer deaths attributed to epizootic hemorrhagic disease.
“EHD is a viral disease transmitted by biting gnats,” said Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian. “We see a low level of EHD activity most years, but every so often, environmental factors line up to make for a bad season. Last year, southwest North Dakota was hit relatively hard by EHD. Right now, it appears that the virus is picking up where it left off, with most cases coming from locations on the edge of 2020’s heavily affected areas. The hardest hit area appears to be a 20-mile radius of the Bismarck-Mandan area, but we are also tracking smaller, localized outbreaks elsewhere in the state.”
Game and Fish is asking for assistance to better gauge the extent and severity of this year’s outbreak. The public is encouraged to report any sick or dead deer through an online reporting system.
“In some cases, we may need to collect samples off fresh carcasses, so please notify the department as soon as possible,” Bahnson said.
Hunters should report any dead deer along with photos, if possible, to the Game and Fish Department through the online wildlife mortality reporting system, at gf.nd.gov/mortality-report.
EHD primarily affects white-tailed deer, but other big game species are susceptible. The virus is not a danger to humans, however, hunters should not shoot or consume a deer if it appears sick.
Virgil Schlosser, with Hettinger County Water Resource District, was named the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Management Area Partnership Award recipient for 2021 for his work on Indian Creek WMA.
This is the first year of the award.
Indian Creek Dam WMA is a 1,200-acre property in Hettinger County managed for wildlife, hunting, fishing and camping. A portion of the area is leased to the Hettinger County Water Resource District and Schlosser is their caretaker for this area.
“Virgil does an exceptional job of maintaining this area,” said Bill Haase, Game and Fish Department wildlife resource management supervisor. “He has a very high standard, so you can guarantee the recreational area is immaculate. Virgil’s efforts, with a helping hand at times from his wife, Carol, are appreciated by the department and the sportsmen and women.”
Indian Creek WMA is managed from the department’s Bismarck district office which is more than 2 hours away.
“We continually rely on Virgil for help with garbage clean-up, tree plantings, noxious weed control and mowing,” Haase said. “His local knowledge of the area is a real asset for our wildlife, fisheries and enforcement divisions. He always goes above and beyond what is expected of him and is willing to help whenever and however needed.”
The ongoing extreme drought will likely begin to impact boating access throughout the state. With that in mind, boat owners need to be aware of water levels and exercise patience and caution when launching and loading a boat.
Fisheries development supervisor Bob Frohlich said as water levels decline, the bottom of many ramps lack sufficient water to launch boats and/or cause the ramps to become exposed. In many cases, he said boat ramps have large prop-wash holes and steep drop-offs at the bottom, which can damage boat trailers and axles if backed off the end of the cement.
“Boaters should back their trailer in slowly and be aware of the end of the ramp on lakes with lower-than-normal water levels,” Frohlich said. “And it’s likely that some lakes could still lose another 1-2 feet of water this year given the extremely dry conditions.”
A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older beginning Sept. 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots.
This year’s 2021-22 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, or at license vendors registered with the department’s licensing system. Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors but can still be purchased at many U.S. Postal Service offices.
The electronic stamp is a purchase item like any other hunting or fishing license. When the purchase is completed the electronic stamp is valid immediately. “Federal Duck Stamp” will be printed on the license certificate, along with an expiration date 45 days from the date of purchase. The actual physical stamp will be sent by postal mail.
The physical stamp is processed and sent by the official duck stamp vendor in Texas, and should arrive to the individual buyer well before the expiration date printed on the electronic license. The physical stamp must remain in possession of the hunter after the 45-day electronic stamp has expired. Individuals with questions regarding the status of their physical stamp can contact the federal duck stamp vendor customer service number at 800-852-4897.
The federal duck stamp has a fee of $25. An additional $2 fee is added to cover shipping and handling costs of the physical stamp.
Want to take someone new hunting this fall? If so, the upcoming dove season offers a great opportunity to introduce a new hunter to North Dakota’s outdoors.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has a Virtual Dove Hunting Mentor webpage with all the basics, including license requirements, regulations, gear recommendations and tips for finding a place to hunt.
The season opens Sept.1 and continues through Nov. 29.
All dove hunters regardless of age must possess a general game and habitat license, and hunters 16 and older need a small game license.
Hunters are also reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting any migratory game birds, including doves. Those who already HIP registered prior to hunting the spring light goose or August management take/early September Canada goose seasons in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again.
North Dakota’s deer bow season opens Friday, Sept. 3 at noon and continues through Jan. 2, 2022.
Bowhunters can buy a license online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or at vendors linked to the department’s online licensing system.
Hunters should plan accordingly and allow for time to receive their tag in the mail, as this year the tag will arrive by postal mail and not over the counter while the customer waits. This applies while purchasing a bow license at a license vendor, or at the Game and Fish Department’s main office in Bismarck.
All archery hunters must have a bow tag in possession before hunting.
Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands, ground blinds and game cameras on public hunting areas, including displaying an equipment registration number, or the owner's name, address and telephone number, on all equipment left unattended on Game and Fish wildlife management areas.
In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer hunting units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B and 4C.
Hunters should refer to the 2021 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department needs assistance in identifying populations of flowering rush, an aquatic nuisance species, with separate findings by department staff on the James and Sheyenne rivers.
Ben Holen, ANS coordinator, said fisheries staff are actively looking for flowering rush and other ANS species during regular work activities. In addition to these efforts, fisheries management personnel dedicate time solely to ANS detection and surveillance on waters around the state.
Flowering rush can be identified by its umbel cluster of 25-50 pink flowers and can generally be found along shorelines of slow-moving water, but can also grow deeper than three meters under water in some areas of the country.
“We really want to catch these ANS introductions early, because it allows us to have a full assortment of management options, including eradication in some instances,” Holen said. “The more eyes we have on the landscape, the better.
“Under the right conditions, flowering rush can outcompete native vegetation, restrict lake access for shore anglers and impede boating,” he continued. “In canals and drainage ditches, flowering rush has significantly reduced water flow.”
To report a flowering rush sighting or any other ANS, visit https://gf.nd.gov/ans/report.
For more information about ANS in North Dakota, visit https://gf.nd.gov/ans.
North Dakota’s swan lottery has been held and all 2,200 licenses were issued.
A total of 2,402 applications were received. Unsuccessful applicants received a refund to their credit card.
Individual results are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
