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September 8, 2008
Watch for Winter Wheat
North Dakota hunters are reminded that regulations prohibit hunting in unharvested crops without a landowner’s permission. Unharvested crops include sprouted winter wheat.
Winter wheat is typically planted in September as a no-till crop. A sign of a seeded winter wheat field is rows of green-colored sprouting wheat, or rows of tilled ground 6-12 inches apart indicating planting has taken place. Stubble from the previous crop will still be in the field.
Early in fall, hunters should distinguish winter wheat fields by evenly cultivated strips of ground in stubble, as recently planted winter wheat plants will not be very tall.
The number of winter wheat fields in North Dakota has increased in recent years. Greg Link, assistant chief of wildlife for the state Game and Fish Department, said winter wheat fields can be useful habitat for wildlife. “Winter wheat provides undisturbed habitat for nesting birds in spring,” he said. “Ducks, pheasants and any ground-nesting bird will benefit from the cover provided on these nesting and feeding grounds.”
Besides winter wheat, other unharvested crops hunters will need landowner permission to access include alfalfa, clover and other grasses grown for seed, in addition to more recognizable standing crops like corn and soybeans.
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