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News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department


News Releases


Register for Game Warden Exam



Individuals interested in taking the exam to select candidates for a full-time temporary district game warden position must register by Dec. 27. Testing locations are scheduled for 10 a.m. Central time at the following locations the first week in January 2024.

  • Jan. 3 – Game and Fish office, Williston.
  • Jan. 4 – Game and Fish office, Bismarck.
  • Jan. 5 – West Fargo Police Department, West Fargo.

Applicants must register by submitting an online application through the North Dakota State Job Openings website.

Applicants must be at least 21, have a bachelor’s degree at time of hire or an associate degree with either 2 years of law enforcement or wildlife experience, have a valid driver’s license and a current North Dakota peace officer license, or eligible to be licensed. Candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check and must not have a record of any felony convictions.

Salary through training is $4,500 per month. For more information, see the district game warden job announcement on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Watford City Advisory Board Meeting Postponed



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s advisory board meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Watford City has been postponed due to inclement weather. A rescheduled date will be announced as details are finalized.

Deer Replacement Tag, Game and Fish Offices Open Until 1 p.m. Nov. 10



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. 10 at 12 noon Central time. This year, observance of Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 10 and state agency offices are normally closed; however, Game and Fish offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

2023 Fall 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.

The first four meetings will be held within the next two weeks. The remaining four are scheduled in late November, including district 7 in Bismarck which will be streamed live on the Game and Fish website.

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 6 – Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells counties
Date: October 23 – 7 p.m.
Location: Library, 87 Eighth Ave. N., Carrington 
Host: Carrington Chamber and Economic Development Corp., and Central Dakota Sportsman Club
Contact: Laurie Dietz, 701-307-0424
Advisory board member: Cody Sand, Ashley

District 2 – Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward counties
Date: October 30 – 7 p.m.
Location: Dakota College of Bottineau – Thatcher Hall Alumni Room, 105 Simrall Blvd., Bottineau
Host: Bottineau County Wildlife Club
Contact: Rick Gustafson, 701-263-5101
Advisory board member: Travis Leier, Velva

District 5 – Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties
Date: November 2 – 7 p.m.
Location: Fire Hall, 13683 54th St. SE, Enderlin
Host: Enderlin-Sheldon Wildlife Club
Contact: Clint Lindemann, 701-730-0334
Advisory board member: Doug Madsen, Harwood

District 1 – Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties
Date: November 14 - 7 p.m.
Location: McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club, 2306 121X Ave NW, Watford City
Host: Pheasants Forever
Contact: Beau Wisness, 701-421-8814
Advisory board member: Beau Wisness, Keene

District 8 – Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark counties
Date: November 20 – 7 p.m.
Location: Dickinson Eagles Club, 31 1st Ave E, Dickinson
Host: Mule Deer Foundation
Contact: Marshall Johnson, 701-989-4488
Advisory board member: Rob Brooks, Rhame

District 7 – Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux counties
Date: November 21 – 7 p.m.
Location: Game and Fish Main Office, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck 
Host: Friends of Lake Sakakawea 
Contact: Jody Sommer, 701-527-2295
Advisory board member: Jody Sommer, Mandan

District 3 – Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner counties
Date: November 27 – 7 p.m.
Location: Fire Hall, 216 Second Ave. N., Esmond
Host: Esmond Fire Department
Contact: Jeff Hagen, 701-351-2237
Advisory board member: Edward Dosch, Devils Lake

District 4 – Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh counties
Date: November 28 – 7 p.m.
Location: American Legion, 208 Main St. N., Fordville
Host: Dakota Prairie Wildlife Club
Contact: Lynn Baier, 701-331-1074
Advisory board member: Karissa Daws, Michigan

Bismarck Office Remains Closed to Walk-In Traffic



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s main office in Bismarck will remain closed to public access until the middle of next week as contractors are completing construction on the agency’s entrance off Bismarck Expressway. A sign is placed near the approach, or call 701-328-6300.

Hunters and anglers can get assistance from licensing staff by calling the listed phone number, or can purchase hunting and fishing licenses, and watercraft registrations online by visiting the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

The pond and nature walk on the outdoor wildlife learning site adjacent to the main office will remain closed to fishing and other activities.

Inspecting for Zebra Mussels



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking 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.

Ben Holen, ANS coordinator, said water recreationists and property owners play a vital role in ANS prevention.

Zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces that are left in the water for long periods of time, first settling in tight spaces and areas that are protected from sunlight, Holen said. Equipment such as boat lifts and docks are high risk vectors for spreading ANS, especially zebra mussels.

“It makes it easier to do a thorough search when equipment is taken out of the water in fall,” he said. “Pay special attention to wheel wells, right angles on frames, and areas otherwise protected from sunlight. 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.

Permit Required to Possess Dead Deer



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 are free and available from North Dakota Game and Fish Department game wardens and local law enforcement offices.

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

If transported out of its respective gun unit of origin, carcass waste must be disposed of via landfill or waste management provider. This requirement does not apply to heads dropped off at chronic wasting disease collection sites, or lymph nodes submitted for CWD surveillance.

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 Report All Poachers.

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.

Fall Mule Deer Survey Begins



The state Game and Fish Department’s annual fall aerial mule deer survey is set to begin early to mid-October 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 survey is used to collect mule deer population data for monitoring demographic trends, such as buck-to-doe and fawn-to-doe ratios.

Bismarck Office to Close to Walk-In Traffic Oct. 6



The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s construction project in Bismarck that will block vehicular traffic to the entrance will start earlier than expected. Therefore, the agency’s main office in Bismarck will close to walk-in traffic Oct. 6. It’s anticipated the building will open Oct. 16.

Licensing staff will be able to provide assistance for hunters and anglers by calling 701-328-6300. 

Hunting and fishing licenses, and watercraft registrations can be purchased online by visiting the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.

The pond and nature walk on the outdoor wildlife learning site adjacent to the main office will remain closed to fishing and other activities.

PLOTS Regulations



Hunting small game, waterfowl, furbearers or big game by nonresidents is prohibited by state law on Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas from Oct. 7-13, the first seven days of the pheasant season. However, nonresidents can hunt on PLOTS land they own during that week.

In addition, leaving equipment on PLOTS overnight, such as tree stands, blinds, decoys, firearms, archery equipment, or trail cameras, is not allowed without written permission from the landowner.

Permission from the landowner is always required for motorized vehicle access on PLOTS, such as for setting decoys in a field, unless specifically designated on the PLOTS sign.

Fall Cleanup Events Eligible for Earth Day Patch



Are you planning a fall cleanup event at your school or in your community? Your cleanup group is eligible for the 2023 Earth Day patch. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has for years encouraged students to design Earth Day patches to bring greater awareness to the environment in the state and elsewhere.

Yet, like Earth Day, which began in 1970 and kicked-started the environmental movement, the concern for our outdoor places isn’t simply a once-a-year-thing, but ongoing.

Understanding this, the Game and Fish Department has initiated Earth Day, Every Day to promote continual awareness about the environment.

Groups that engage in environmental clean-up projects, landscaping or other efforts that promote environmental awareness, will receive an Earth Day patch for all participants.

The patches are used to recognize groups that work to celebrate the Earth Day concept, and everyone is encouraged to participate in Earth Day, Every Day awareness campaign.

For more information about Earth Day, Every Day, or to request patches for your project, contact Sherry Niesar, Earth Day coordinator, at 701-527-3714 or sniesar@nd.gov