NDGF, USDA Partner to Help Landowners with CRP Offers

Mon, 01/04/2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its voluntary Conservation Reserve Program. Private landowners can sign up at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office through Feb. 12.

This popular USDA program 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 Farm Service Agency to help producers learn more about CRP and options available to them,” said North Dakota Game and Fish private land section supervisor Kevin Kading.  

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. 

Ice Awareness for Anglers

Wed, 12/30/2020

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department urges winter anglers to use extreme caution when venturing on the ice.

Jackie Lundstrom, operations supervisor for the enforcement division, said ice conditions are some of the worst she has seen for this time of the year.

“Especially thickness varying over a short distance,” she said. “Ice thickness is never consistent and can vary significantly on the same body of water.”

And now with the recent snowfall, Lundstrom said it can be difficult to find cracks and weak ice.

“Snow insulates ice, which inhibits solid ice formation,” she added. “With warmer temperatures in the forecast, a layer of crust could build which wouldn’t allow the snow to blow clear.”

A few reminders include:

• Edges firm up faster than farther out from shore.
• Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
• Ice thickness is not consistent and can vary significantly even in a small area. Ice shouldn’t be judged by appearance alone. Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around.
• Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
• The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in the winter it’s a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck.

These tips could help save a life:

• Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone.
• Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through.
• If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit. If that’s not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front.
• To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport victim to a hospital.

Smartphone Apps for Ice Fishing

Thu, 12/24/2020

Advancements in technology, easily retrieved on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, allow ice anglers access to more than 200 lake contour maps, providing yet another tool in the angler’s tackle box.

“Back when we first started mapping in the early 2000s, anglers pretty much had to print a paper lake contour map at home and take it with them to help navigate and find the underwater features,” said Jerry Weigel, Department fisheries production and development section supervisor.

Times have changed.

Anglers now have access to two free smartphone mobile apps on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov, both of which provide interactive functionality and work with a phone’s GPS.

One option, Weigel said, is ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, which requires cellular service to work in the field.

“When you’re out on the lake and you have the app running, it literally has the lake contour lines and everything,” he said. “It’d be the exact same thing you would do with your Lowrance GPS or young Hummingbird GPS when you’re navigating open water in the summer.”

Considering cellular service is iffy, at best, on about 30% of North Dakota’s fishing waters, there are benefits to downloading maps to your mobile device before leaving home using the Avenza Geospatial PDF app.

“With this electronic fishing map information and you see there’s a sunken island out there, you can literally drive right to it on the ice using either of the two technologies,” Weigel said.

Weigel added that there is something anglers need to keep in mind when using this GPS technology on their favorites fishing waters.

“They imply they’re absolute,” he said. “In other words, when it says it’s 15 feet deep, we say that there’s 15-foot depth in that general area. But folks need to keep in mind that their GPS’s are plus or minus 10 feet at the best.”

What’s more certain, if Mother Nature allows, are the opportunities afforded ice anglers this winter across North Dakota’s landscape.

“There have never been stronger populations of fish than there is now,” Weigel said. “It’s amazing. And we literally have twice the number of fishing lakes as there once was.”

Game and Fish Recognizes Employee Efforts

Mon, 12/21/2020

North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand recently honored employees with performance-based awards. 

Ashley Peterson, photographer/videographer, Bismarck, was recognized for her efforts in livestreaming the spring and fall advisory board meetings.

Bob Frohlich, fisheries development supervisor, Bismarck, was recognized for fisheries development projects, specifically with state, federal and local permitting, and federal grant funding and construction plans.

Brett Wiedmann, big game biologist, Dickinson, was recognized for his leadership in coordinating a bighorn sheep translocation from Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana to Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

In addition to special recognition recipients, Drew Johnson, district game warden, Finley, was named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year. His district includes several smaller lakes and reservoirs, along with the Red River. Chief game warden Scott Winkelman said warden Johnson’s work ethic and attitude are exemplified in his passion for boating law enforcement.

Kylor Johnston Named Wildlife Officer of the Year

Mon, 12/21/2020

Kylor Johnston, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden stationed in Hazen, is the state’s 2020 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Johnston was honored recently by Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.

In a nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Scott Winkelman said Johnston’s district contains a variety of wildlife and recreational areas including the state’s largest reservoir, Lake Sakakawea.

“Warden Johnston’s district includes some of the busiest and best open water fishing in North Dakota, as anglers from across the state and country travel to fish the Garrison Dam Tailrace and Lake Sakakawea,” Winkelman said. “Late-season ducks and geese are also highly sought, along with pheasant, grouse and deer. He excels at finding evidence on violations and pushing until the case is complete.”

Mike Anderson Named Game and Fish Employee of the Year

Mon, 12/21/2020

Mike Anderson, video project supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence.

Terry Steinwand, Game and Fish director, said COVID-19 did not stop him from missing a weekly assignment or deadline.

“From traveling to every corner of the state to take his next photo, film his next video, conduct his next interview or package his next story, Mike was able to deliver more than 100 programs this year alone, because of his commitment and passion for his job, this agency and his peers,” Steinwand said. “He is the consummate professional. He spends countless hours knowing and understanding the subject at hand, and he wants this to come across to the viewers, and it does.”

Fish House Regulations

Mon, 12/14/2020

Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made of materials that will allow it to float.

Other fish house regulations include:

• Fish houses do not require a license.
• Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration numberissued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least three inches high.
• Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.
• All unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight, March 15.

Anglers should refer to the North Dakota 2020-22 Fishing Guide for other winter fishing regulations.

2021 North Dakota OUTDOORS Calendar

Mon, 12/14/2020

The 2021 North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar is available for ordering online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

The calendar features outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, and includes season opening and application deadline dates, sunrise-sunset times and moon phases.

Calendars are also available via mail order. Send $3 for each, plus $1 postage, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095.

The calendar is the North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine’s December issue, so current subscribers should have already received it in the mail.

Free Ice Fishing Weekend

Mon, 12/14/2020

North Dakota’s free ice fishing weekend is Dec. 26-27.

Resident anglers may fish that weekend without a license. All other winter fishing regulations apply.

Fishing regulations and information on fishing waters is available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website at gf.nd.gov.

Coyote Catalog Available

Mon, 12/07/2020

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Department of Agriculture are once again opening the Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect committed coyote hunters and trappers with landowners who are dealing with coyotes in their areas.

Landowners can sign up on the Department of Agriculture website, nd.gov/ndda/. 

Hunters and trappers can sign up at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. 

Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their names on the database.  

Throughout winter, hunters or trappers may receive information on participating landowners, and they should contact landowners to make arrangements. 

Landowners experiencing coyote depredation of livestock should first contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. 

The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March 31. 

For more information, contact Ryan Herigstad at Game and Fish, 701-595-4463 or rherigstad@nd.gov; or Jamie Good, at the Department of Agriculture, 701-328-2659 or jgood@nd.gov. 

Waterfowl Book Makes Great Gift

Mon, 12/07/2020

Can’t find a gift for your waterfowl hunter? You might want to check out the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s, “The Duck Factory – A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota.”

Authored by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell, the 213-page, soft-cover publication in full color traces the history of waterfowl species and their habitats in North Dakota.

Migratory game bird program leader Mike Szymanski said there is a lot of interesting information about the interactions with people and waterfowl in North Dakota.

“We wanted to make the book appealing to both waterfowl hunters and people interested in history, and I believe we did that,” Szymanski said. “The book is user-friendly and contains a ton of really cool, old photos of hunting scenes and historical figures.”

“The Duck Factory” is an important story because of North Dakota’s longtime and continuing contribution to the world of migratory birds, Szymanski said. “North Dakota is the most important state for breeding ducks,” he added. “The contribution of ducks from North Dakota into the fall flight is unmatched by any other state, and its importance to duck hunters cannot be understated. Describing the history of waterfowl in North Dakota was a story that we felt was certainly worth telling.”

The book is sold only online for $24.99, including shipping, on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, by clicking on Buy and Apply, and then Shop.

2021 Tentative Season Dates

Mon, 12/07/2020

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2021 include: