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News Releases

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

News Releases

Open Fires Banned on Oahe WMA, Surrounding Areas

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is prohibiting open burning this spring on public property it manages south of Bismarck and Mandan, as a means to reduce potential for wildfires on a heavily wooded recreation area along the Missouri River.

Bill Haase, wildlife resource management supervisor, said all open burning, including campfires, is banned until further notice on the Oahe Wildlife Management Area along both sides of the Missouri River. While the use of portable grills is allowed, extreme caution is advised due to the heavily vegetated area.

Haase said these woodlands are prone to wildfires prior to spring green-up. Mild temperatures and a high fuel load in the river bottoms are a cause for concern, he said, in addition to being a high use area for anglers, campers and other outdoor recreationists.

In addition to Oahe WMA, surrounding areas included in the open burn ban include Kimball Bottoms and Maclean Bottoms managed by Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, Desert Off Road Vehicle Area managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Graner Park managed by Morton County Parks.

Oahe WMA covers more than 16,000 acres along Lake Oahe south of Bismarck-Mandan, in portions of Burleigh, Emmons, and Morton counties. Burning restriction signs are posted at all entrances to the WMA.

Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep Applications Online

Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is March 24.

A total of 523 elk and 474 moose licenses are available to hunters this fall, the same as last year.

Moose units M4 and M1C will remain closed due to a continued downward population trend in the northeastern part of the state.

As stated in the chronic wasting disease proclamation, hunters harvesting an elk in unit E2, or a moose in units M10 and M11, cannot transport the whole carcass, including the head and spinal column, outside of the unit. More information on CWD is available by visiting the Game and Fish website.

A bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled for 2021, depending on the sheep population. The status of the bighorn sheep season will be determined Sept. 1, after summer population surveys are completed. The season was closed in 2015 due to a bacterial pneumonia outbreak. 

Bighorn sheep applicants must apply for a license at the same time as moose and elk, but not for a specific unit. Once total licenses are determined for each unit in late summer, the bighorn lottery will be held and successful applicants contacted to select a hunting unit.

Because the bighorn sheep application fee is not refundable as per state law, if a bighorn season is not held, applicants would not receive a refund.

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.

Deadline to Remove Fish Houses

Anglers are reminded unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters beginning March 15 until ice-out.

Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.

Anglers are advised to use caution while accessing area lakes because mild weather conditions can quickly result in unstable ice conditions that can make removing a fish house with a vehicle difficult or dangerous. Ice conditions can vary from region to region, between lakes in the same region, and even on the same lake.

Grants Support High School Trap League

Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to support a high school trap shooting team must have the application in before April 1. Existing teams that have received a grant in the past are not eligible.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department offers a grant of up to $1,000, with funds designed to purchase gear such as eye and hearing protection, vests, shell bags and magnetic barrel rests.

Interested applicants can print out the high school trap league grant application online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

For more information, contact Game and Fish education section leader Marty Egeland at 328-6612, or email megeland@nd.gov.

Scholarships Available for Students

The North Dakota Game Wardens Association and the Ray Goetz Memorial Fund are sponsoring scholarships for graduating high school seniors or current higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field.

Applicants must be North Dakota residents, be in good academic standing and have an interest in wildlife law enforcement or a related field. Scholarships will be awarded in fall upon proof of enrollment.

Applications are available by contacting the North Dakota Game Warden’s Association, ndgamewardens@gmail.com. Applications must be received no later than May 31.

Spring Turkey Drawing Held, Licenses Remain

The 2021 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and individual results are available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

The Game and Fish Department will mail the spring turkey licenses to successful applicants after they purchase a valid 2021-22 hunting license. All spring turkey hunters regardless of age are required to have a general game and habitat license in addition to their spring turkey license. Hunters age 16 and older must also have a small game license, or a combination license. The 2021-22 licenses are available for purchase beginning March 15.

Spring turkey hunters are encouraged to purchase their other necessary licenses well in advance so their turkey tag arrives before the season opener on April 10.

A total of 486 spring turkey licenses remain in seven units. Remaining licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning 8 a.m. Central Time on March 17.

Hunters are allowed two licenses for the spring season.

Licenses remain in unit 06, Bowman County; unit 13, Dunn County; unit 19, Grant and Sioux counties and portions of Morton County; unit 31, Mountrail County; unit 44, Slope County; unit 45, Stark County; and unit 51, Burke County and portions of Renville, Bottineau and Ward counties.

Applications must be submitted online at the Game and Fish website. Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply.

Spring Light Goose Conservation Order

North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 20 and continues through May 9.

Residents must have a valid current season 2020-21 (valid through March 31) or 2021-22 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Resident youth under age 16 only need the general game and habitat license. The 2021-22 license is available for purchase beginning March 15.

Nonresidents need a 2021 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and is valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in spring remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring license does not count against the 14-day fall waterfowl hunting season regulation.

In addition, nonresident youth under age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee if their state has youth reciprocity licensing with North Dakota.

A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents.

Resident and nonresident licenses are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by calling 800-406-6409.

Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number can be obtained online, or by calling 888-634-4798. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota’s spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota’s fall hunting season.

The spring conservation order is only open to light geese – snows, blues, and Ross’s. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The conservation order is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

For more information on regulations refer to the 2021 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations and the North Dakota 2020-21 Hunting and Trapping Guide. 

Darkhouse Spearers Reminded to Register, Practice Safety

Individuals who are required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to participate in darkhouse spearfishing are reminded to first register with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Free registration is available at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

All holes greater than 10 inches left in the ice must be marked with a natural object or a brightly painted or colored wooden lath, and visible from a minimum of 150 feet.

In addition, spearers are asked to be aware of the placement of spear holes in relation to access sites onto the ice, including boat ramps. The Game and Fish Department has received complaints about holes cut in the middle of these entry/exit points. The department is asking spearers to cut holes away from access sites, so safety is a priority and access isn’t an issue.

North Dakota’s darkhouse spearfishing season closes March 15.

CRP General Signup Extended

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the open enrollment of its voluntary Conservation Reserve Program by continuing to accept offers past the original Feb. 12 deadline. Private landowners can sign up at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department private land section leader Kevin Kading said the extension gives USDA time to evaluate the program and look for ways to increase enrollment.

“The extension will also allow USDA additional time to work with private landowners who have already submitted an offer who wish to adjust or resubmit their offer to take advantage of any changes USDA makes,” Kading said.

CRP provides options for environmentally sensitive land by reducing soil erosion and improving water quality, but it also provides significant benefits to wildlife populations through the habitat it creates. The habitat created by CRP makes it a great fit for the Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program.

Game and Fish has partnered with the USDA FSA to help producers learn more about CRP and the options available.  

Landowners are encouraged to visit https://gf.nd.gov/landowner/2021-crp-contact-request to answer a few questions that will direct them to their local FSA county office for more detailed information and to apply for CRP. Landowners can also request to be contacted by a Game and Fish private land biologist to learn more about additional incentives and cost-share for allowing walk-in hunting access to their CRP through PLOTS. 

Game and Fish Violations Tallied

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s enforcement division has tallied the number of hunting, angling and boating citations for 2020, and failure to carry a license was the number one violation.

Game wardens issued more than 2,600 citations last year. Counties with the most violations were Ramsey (320), Williams (163) and McKenzie (128). 

The most common violations and number issued were:

  • Boating (659): inadequate number of personal flotation devices (261); use of unlicensed/unnumbered boat (138); and failure to display boat registration (108).
  • Licensing (515): failure to carry license (306) and hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license (182).
  • Small game (377): using shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (96) and exceeding limit (68).
  • Fishing (315): aquatic nuisance species violations (84) and exceeding limit (65).
  • Miscellaneous (227): criminal trespass (76); minor in possession (46); and possession of a controlled substance (33).
  • General (226): hunting on posted land without permission (72); loaded firearm in vehicle (59); and use of motor vehicle in restricted area (47).
  • Big game (170): illegal taking/possession of big game (72); tagging violations (17); and failure to wear fluorescent orange (15).
  • Wildlife management areas/refuge (165): PLOTS access violations (60) and failure to obey posted regulations (57).
  • Furbearer (21): use/possession of illegal snares (8) and harassing with motor vehicle (6).

While wardens issued more than 2,600 citations in 2020, that number hardly compares to the number of people who were contacted by wardens and no citations were issued. These license checks, boating safety inspections, public safety calls, wildlife issues, the list goes on, are as important as the number of citations issued.

For instance, between Sept. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020, there were nearly 12,000 contacts made by game wardens and about 1,000 citations issued.

A summary of 2020 violations is printed in the Game and Fish Department’s February issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

Spring Turkey Apps Due

Spring turkey applicants are reminded the deadline to submit applications is Feb. 10.

Hunters can apply online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Applications can also be submitted by calling 800-406-6409. 

A total of 7,005 wild turkey licenses are available, 775 more than last year. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) remains closed due to lack of turkeys in the unit.

First-time spring turkey hunters ages 15 or younger are eligible to receive one spring license valid for any open unit. To be eligible, the youth hunter must be 15 or younger on opening day of spring turkey season and have never received a spring turkey license in North Dakota.

Spring turkey licenses are available only to North Dakota residents. The season opens April 10 and continues through May 16. 

Paddlefish Snagging Season Expected

North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials anticipate a normal paddlefish snagging season in 2021, unless COVID-19 safety concerns deem the activity unsafe.

The season in 2020 was canceled because of pandemic concerns.

The Game and Fish Department will further update those interested in the paddlefish snagging season, which is scheduled to open on May 1, on the status of the season.