The state Game and Fish Department’s annual spring aerial mule deer survey is set to begin April 1 in western North Dakota. Weather permitting, the survey takes about two weeks to complete.
During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of the badlands.
Game and Fish biologists have completed aerial surveys of the same 24 badlands study areas since the 1950s. The purpose of the survey is to determine a population index to assess mule deer abundance in the badlands.
Wildfire Potential High in Spring
Outdoor enthusiasts need to be aware of ground conditions while enjoying spring activities.
As outdoor activity increases in spring, so does the risk of wildfires. An increase in human outdoor activity, combined with dead ground vegetation and high winds, make this time of year highly susceptible to wildfires.
Because of highly variable weather patterns, North Dakota experiences a distinct spring fire season every year. With that in mind, it’s important to pay attention to the fire danger index, and to follow the appropriate measures.
Hunters and anglers 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.
In addition, county governments 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.
The fire danger index can change daily depending on temperature, wind and precipitation forecasts. If the index reaches the extreme category, open burning is prohibited; off-road travel with a motorized vehicle is prohibited, except for people engaged in a trade, business or occupation where it is required; and smoking is restricted to inside of vehicles, homes or in approved buildings and on hard surfaces.
The next guide and outfitter written examination is May 1 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than April 23 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604.
In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations; certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid; and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.
Hunting outfitter eligibility requirements include the guide qualifications, as well as an individual must have held a hunting guide license for two years; and must have proof of liability insurance.
The test is given periodically to anyone interested in becoming a guide or outfitter in the state.
Invasive Zebra Mussels Found in Aquarium Moss Balls, Quarantine Issued
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are urging pet stores, aquarium owners and plant enthusiasts to take action after invasive zebra mussels were found in moss ball plants in North Dakota and other states.
The moss balls (Aegagropila linnaei), also known as Marimo balls, are sold at many aquarium and pet supply stores, as well as some floral shops and nurseries.
Anyone in possession of these moss balls should take the following actions to safely destroy and dispose of the products.
“Proper disposal of infested moss balls is critical. Do not dispose of moss balls down drains, or in streams, ponds or lakes,” North Dakota Game and Fish Director Terry Steinwand said. “Once in our waters, zebra mussels reproduce rapidly and have negative impacts to fish and wildlife populations and water quality.”
DESTROY in one of three ways:
Freeze - Place the moss ball into a sealable plastic bag and freeze for at least 24 hours.
Boil - Place the moss ball in boiling water for at least 1 full minute.
Bleach / Vinegar - Submerge the moss ball in regular, unscented bleach, diluted to 1/3 cup per gallon of water, for 10 minutes; or undiluted white vinegar for 20 minutes.
DISPOSE of the moss ball and any packaging in a sealed plastic bag in the trash. If vinegar, boiling water, or bleach was used, the liquid can be disposed down a household drain — never down a storm drain where it could enter and damage local waterways.
“Zebra mussels are a very destructive aquatic invasive species causing significant damage to native fauna and impact ecosystems throughout the United States,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “A zebra mussel outbreak would be highly devastating to North Dakota lakes and waterways.”
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine on the moss ball plants and any other aquatic species found to be infested with zebra mussel to prevent the spread of the invasive mussels to or within North Dakota. The temporary regulations and its associated rules are effective immediately and the quarantined area includes all states, districts and territories of the United States. Any person violating the regulations is subject to penalties in accordance with North Dakota Century Code chapter 4.1-23-08.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking for help locating active bald eagle nests.
Conservation biologist Sandra Johnson said the department is looking for locations of nests with eagles present, not individual eagle sightings.
Eagles lay eggs in early to mid-March, which hatch about a month later. Johnson said it’s easy to distinguish an eagle nest because of its enormous size.
Nearly 300 active bald eagle nests can be found in more than three-quarters of the counties in the state. Historically, Johnson said nests were found along river corridors, but that’s not the case today.
“Bald eagles have proven to be quite adaptable and will nest in trees out in the middle of pastures, fields or anywhere they’ve got a food source nearby,” she said.
Nest observations should be reported online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Observers are asked not to disturb the nest, and to stay a safe distance away. Johnson said foot traffic may disturb the bird, likely causing the eagle to leave her eggs or young unattended.
Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep Apps Due March 24
North Dakotan’s who want to hunt elk, moose and bighorn sheep in 2021 are reminded the deadline for submitting applications is March 24.
Applicants can apply online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery in the past are not eligible to apply for that species again.
R3 Grant Application to Assist Hunters
Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations are urged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters.
The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organizational events and projects each year, with an average grant of $1,550.
Grant funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets; and eye and ear protection.
Past funding has enabled groups to conduct pheasant and waterfowl hunts, or sponsor trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting. Game and Fish has a separate grant program that supports new high school trapshooting teams.
Any club or organization interested in conducting a hunting or shooting event can get more information, including a grant application, from the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by contacting outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at 701-328-6332.
The deadline to apply for a 2021 grant is April 27.
Whooping Crane Migration
Whooping cranes are in the midst of their spring migration and sightings will increase as they make their way through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state is asked to report sightings so the birds can be tracked.
The whooping cranes that do travel through North Dakota in spring are part of a population of about 500 birds on their way from wintering grounds at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada, a distance of about 2,500 miles.
Whoopers stand about 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of about 7 feet from tip to tip. They are bright white with black wing tips, which are visible only when the wings are outspread. In flight, they extend their long necks forward, while their long, slender legs extend out behind the tail. Whooping cranes typically migrate singly, or in groups of 2-3 birds, and may be associated with sandhill cranes.
Other white birds such as snow geese, swans and egrets are often mistaken for whooping cranes. The most common misidentification is pelicans, because their wingspan is similar and they tuck their pouch in flight, leaving a silhouette similar to a crane when viewed from below.
Anyone sighting whoopers should not disturb them, but record the date, time, location and the birds' activity. Observers should also look closely for and report colored bands, which may occur on one or both legs. Whooping cranes have been marked with colored leg bands to help determine their identity.
Whooping crane sightings should be reported to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices at Lostwood, 701-848-2466; Audubon, 701-442-5474; the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, 701-328-6300; or to local game wardens across the state. Reports help biologists locate important whooping crane habitat areas, monitor marked birds, determine survival and population numbers, and identify times and migration routes.
2021-22 Licenses Needed April 1
North Dakota anglers, trappers and hunters are reminded that new licenses for the 2021-22 season are required beginning April 1.
Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download the license to a smart phone or mobile device, which is helpful when asked to show proof of license while hunting or fishing in rural areas that lack cellular service.
Licenses can also be purchased at more than 140 vendor locations throughout the state, or by calling 800-406-6409. The 2021-22 small game, fishing and furbearer licenses are effective April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
Zebra Mussels Found in Moss Balls at Pet Stores
Zebra mussels were recently found in moss balls at some pet stores in North Dakota and several other states. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging customers who recently purchased moss balls to properly dispose of them by placing in a bag, freezing solid and discarding into the trash. It’s important to not put moss balls down the toilet or drain.
North Dakota pet stores that received the contaminated shipment have been notified and have removed the moss balls from shelves.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will have 780 any-deer bow licenses available to nonresidents in 2021.
Applicants can apply online beginning March 15 on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is April 15.
Up to five hunters can apply together as a party. A lottery will be held if more applications are received than licenses available. A total of 1,486 people applied in 2020.
The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15% of the previous year’s mule deer gun license allocation.
Landowners Interested in Wildlife Food Plot Seed
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering free seed for the 2021 growing season to landowners interested in planting wildlife food plots for pheasants.
Rather than traditional corn or sunflower food plots, Game and Fish is offering a diverse species, multi-season seed mix that will attract insects, the major diet component of pheasant chicks. Additionally, the mix will provide needed cover during spring and summer, as well as a winter food source.
Private lands biologist Ryan Huber, Riverdale, said the Game and Fish Department is offering the seed as an outreach to landowners to help with habitat, as well as provide food for pheasants, deer, turkeys and a variety of other animals.
“Landowners have been very receptive,” Huber said. “We had several landowners contacting us throughout the summer wanting to show us. They are so proud of it.”
Wildlife food plot seed cooperator DJ Randolph from Velva is one such landowner. “I think it’s a great program,” Randolph said. “I like a variety of seed in a food plot blend. One, you're providing different food at different stages of the year for a variety of wildlife. So whether it's too hot, wet, dry, something in that food plot blend is going to come up and grow and provide what your wildlife need.”
Most Game and Fish food plots are part of the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, but this food plot campaign does not require a PLOTS contract.
Game and Fish does ask participating landowners to allow reasonable public access, such as opening land to youth hunters. Another option simply could be putting up Ask Before You Enter signs. Landowners participating in the promotion cannot charge a fee for hunting.
Randolph provided youth hunters access to his food plots. “Youth hunters were able to harvest both deer and turkey last fall,” he said.
The Game and Fish Department will provide enough seed to cover up to a maximum 5-acre planting at no cost to the landowner.
“Any time you can get something that’s going to benefit wildlife at no charge to you, why wouldn’t you try to put that in?” Randolph said. “You can go on the website and sign up for it, contact the Game and Fish and they’ll arrange a distribution point for you to pick up the seed.”
Landowners interested in receiving the food plot seed must sign up online by March 31. Seed will be available in April at Game and Fish offices in Bismarck, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Harvey, Dickinson, Williston and Riverdale.
Game and Fish private land biologists can provide technical assistance on food plot location and site preparation.
Landowners who are interested in additional financial incentives may be considered for the PLOTS program as well. More information is available by contacting a private land biologist at any Game and Fish office in the state, or email ndgf@nd.gov.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department