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Doug Leier

Doug Leier: Examining the decline of sage grouse in North Dakota

Features, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

I keep three North Dakota OUTDOORS calendars on the wall in my office. When I glance up and see a dark shaded day I know it’s pretty significant.
A season opener or application deadline is reason for a second look. While glancing at September, I recalled how years ago there would be a three day stretch mid-week indicating the open and close of the sage grouse season.
I think back to 30 years ago when the hunting fellas and I would suggest, “We should head west sage grouse hunting.”

Doug Leier: Examining the decline of sage grouse in North Dakota Read More »

Recruiting, retaining and reactivating hunters and anglers remains important in North Dakota, elsewhere

National Fishing, National Hunting /

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out kids who grew up on the beaches of California are more likely to surf than a kid from North Dakota. Fair is fair. If you were raised in the Midwest, I’d suggest your odds of growing into hunting and fishing are more likely than those from Laguna Beach.
Around these parts, even if you don’t buy a hunting and fishing license it’s likely someone in your family or neighbor does. The numbers prove it.

Recruiting, retaining and reactivating hunters and anglers remains important in North Dakota, elsewhere Read More »

Prepare yourself for the fall hunting season

Features, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

With the close of summer, you’ll notice a swing from fishing rods to shotguns. For many it’s a seamless transition and welcomed, even if the tradeoff means we’re one step closer to winter.
People who hunt all fall, starting with early goose, then doves and working through upland game and waterfowl, gradually acclimate their body to extreme temperatures and physical exertion. This natural progression serves as a tune-up for October pheasant and November’s deer season.

Prepare yourself for the fall hunting season Read More »

Dove hunting an underutilized opportunity for North Dakota hunters

Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, North Dakota /

I grew up in an era before the early August goose hunt, and 25 years later it still feels a bit odd to think of hunters swatting mosquitoes and lathering on sunscreen.
Our first hunt of the season was mourning doves in early September. Where birds were plentiful, the sense of accomplishment was a dozen birds from a box of shells. More misses than hits were the norm. Mike Szymanski, North Dakota Game and Fish migratory bird supervisor, is one of those who appreciates the opportunity.
“Dove opener has never been an ‘unofficial holiday’ in North Dakota as it is in other states. It’s a shame because we really do have a lot of dove hunting opportunities and not many dove hunters,” he said.

Dove hunting an underutilized opportunity for North Dakota hunters Read More »

North Dakota studying ways to lower bullhead populations

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, National News, News /

As a kid growing up in the 1980s, fishing to me was about opportunity. Thankfully, North Dakota’s forefathers had set up most communities near waterways for the purpose of transportation of goods.
For me, it was less about necessity and more about my ability to ride a bike to a river where I was certain to catch a pike or a perch. But most often, it was a bullhead at the end of my line.
For most anglers then and now, the bullhead is the equivalent of a dandelion: Both are rather common and neither is appreciated. And like a lover of dandelion-free lawns, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department continues to work toward reducing the number of these pesky but resilient fish.

North Dakota studying ways to lower bullhead populations Read More »

What’s good for the meadowlark is good for North Dakota’s deer

Featured, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, North Dakota /

The Western meadowlark is North Dakota’s state bird but did you know one of it’s closest relatives is the less embraced common blackbird?
Yes, meadowlarks are members of the blackbird family, which also includes orioles and bobolinks. A couple of other interesting facts: one nestling meadowlark consumes one-third pound of insects during its 12 days in the nest.
If you’re not as impressed with its diet then maybe you’ll find yourself more interested to know meadowlarks and deer need and share a similar grassland home.

What’s good for the meadowlark is good for North Dakota’s deer Read More »

Pheasant crowing counts up in North Dakota, conditions not as beneficial for ducks this spring

Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, National News, News /

The lack of snow this winter and late arrival of spring rain was not as helpful for ducks in North Dakota but provided some better conditions for pheasants. Let’s take a closer look.
The number of rooster’s heard crowing during the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2024 spring pheasant crowing count survey was up 37% statewide from last year.
“This is really good news but expected, considering we had such great production last year and the mild winter we had certainly wasn’t hard on birds,” said RJ Gross, Department upland game management biologist.

Pheasant crowing counts up in North Dakota, conditions not as beneficial for ducks this spring Read More »

Doug Leier: A look at how fishing has changed in North Dakota

Fishing, Minnesota, National Fishing /

I took a little good-natured ribbing from fisheries chief Greg Power for a column a little while back referencing his connection to our North Dakota fisheries dating back to Jimmy Carter, bell bottoms and disco music.
While it’s all in jest, the truth is history is one of the best teachers we have.
Power recently gave another history lesson in the March-April issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS. With 75-plus prairie lakes created in the past 20 or so years, coupled with North Dakota’s traditional waters — Sakakawea, Oahe and Devils Lake — fishing in recent years has likely never been better.

Doug Leier: A look at how fishing has changed in North Dakota Read More »

Bighorn sheep population trending upward in North Dakota

National Hunting, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky /

The fish and wildlife variety in North Dakota is impressive.
From paddlefish and pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River, to trophy catfish and the recent repopulation of sturgeon in the Red River. North Dakota is home to mountain lions, moose and elk, and also unique furbearers including river otters, fishers, bobcats and American martens.
While few outside of the state would recognize the variety, North Dakotans take pride in sharing the water and land with these unique residents. One of the more notable is the bighorn sheep.

Bighorn sheep population trending upward in North Dakota Read More »

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