Thanks to rains, North Dakota duck brood numbers see recent bounce-back, spike
This year’s duck brood index was up 37 percent from last year, and showed 5.11 broods per square mile, an increase of 39 percent.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department Reports
With pronghorn numbers up 57 percent, North Dakota bulks up hunting opportunities
North Dakota’s 2018 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 1,075 licenses available in 10 open units. That’s way up from 410 licenses and five open units last year. But if you’re not from North Dakota, you’re out of luck – the hunt is only open to state residents.
North Dakota Game and Fish encouraging anglers to keep fish caught in deeper waters
While catch-and-release is often encouraged under the right conditions, fish reeled in from this depth will likely die if released.
With 50-plus new walleye lakes, North Dakota steps up stocking efforts
“Considering not many went into Lake Sakakawea, this was one of the largest stockings of more than 8 million fingerlings into the smaller fishing waters across the state.”
North Dakota spring pheasant count down sharply from last year
Population index is down 30 percent from the same time last year; number of roosters heard crowing this spring reportedly down statewide, with decreases ranging from 15 to 38 percent in the primary regions holding pheasants.
North Dakota upland bird harvest numbers take a hit
Drought conditions and not as many hunters in the field last fall meant fewer pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge in the bag.
Rainbow smelt die-off hits North Dakota’s Lake Sakakawea
(Conservation Law Foundation)A fish kill affecting adult rainbow smelt is ongoing in portions of the upper half of Lake Sakakawea. Dave Fryda, Missouri River System fisheries supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the cause of the die-off has been documented in the state numerous times in the past. “The vast majority of the dead and dying…
Mostly increases in North Dakota deer license numbers
Antlered mule deer licenses increased by 150 from last year, antlerless mule deer by 550, antlered whitetail by 150 and antlerless whitetail by 150.
Mule deer continue strong recovery in western North Dakota
Biologists counted 2,540 mule deer over 245.8 square miles during this year’s survey. That’s 45 percent above the long-term average, with overall mule deer density in the badlands at 10.3 deer per square mile, down only slightly from 10.9 in 2017, and well above low of 4.6 in 2012.
Three-quarters of North Dakota pronghorn hunters find success
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)Hunter success during last fall’s pronghorn hunting season was 75 percent, according to statistics provided by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish issued 410 licenses (255 lottery and 155 gratis), and 366 hunters took 275 pronghorn – 264 bucks, 10 does and one fawn. Each hunter spent an average of 2.4 days…
North Dakota bighorn sheep population lowest since 2006
Down 11 percent from 2016 and 9 percent below the five-year average. Status of bighorn sheep hunting season will be determined Sept. 1, after the summer population survey is completed.
Tracking whoopers: North Dakota readies for migrating whooping cranes
The whoopers that do make their way through North Dakota are part of a population of about 400 birds that are on their way from wintering grounds at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to their nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada, a distance of about 2,500 miles. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state is asked to report sightings so the birds can be tracked.
North Dakota deer hunters see 61-percent overall success rate in 2017
Mule deer hunters did particularly well, with buck success at 83 percent, antlerless mule deer 86 percent.
North Dakota fishing regulation changes: more angler-friendly paddlefish snagging regs
North Dakota’s 2018-20 fishing proclamation is set, with regulations effective April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2020. Noteworthy regulation changes include: The season for taking of nongame fish with a bow will now be open year-round. The transportation of live white suckers, other than within Richland, Cass, Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh and Pembina counties, is now illegal. The beginning of…
Major spike in North Dakota moose licenses; online applications also available for elk, bighorn sheep
Elk licenses also are up; status of bighorn sheep season to be determined after summer population surveys are completed.
North Dakota bighorn sheep, moose hunters eclipse 90-percent success rate
And of 362 elk hunters, 211 were successful – or 58 percent.
Game and fish violations edge up in North Dakota
The most common violations were boating-related.While game and fish violations were up in 2017, the number of citations has remained relatively consistent in North Dakota from year to year, the state Game and Fish Department said in a news release Monday, Jan. 29. Robert Timian, chief of enforcement for Game and Fish, said there are three basic causes of violations…
Despite frigid weather, Canada geese count up significantly in North Dakota
An additional 16,400 mallards were tallied statewide.
Two deer test positive for CWD in North Dakota
Whitetail buck, mule deer doe were taken during 2017 deer gun season from same unit in southwestern N.D. Since 2009, the total now stands at 11 deer to test positive for CWD in North Dakota – all from the same unit.
Fall survey: North Dakota mule deer numbers down
Biologists counted 2,548 mule deer, down from 3,003 in 2016, in the aerial survey in October. The buck-to-doe ratio of 0.32 (0.48 in 2016) was lower than the long-term average of 0.43 bucks per doe, while the fawn-to-doe ratio of 0.76 (0.90 in 2016) was down from the long-term average of 0.91 fawns per doe.
North Dakota walleye fisheries ‘sitting really well going into winter’
Fisheries biologists have completed fall reproduction surveys, which evaluate natural reproduction, stocking success and forage abundance in many waters across the state. And, mostly, the news is good.
Fair but declining wetland conditions for North Dakota duck hunting
But fair reproduction for ducks in traditional breeding areas this year still makes for good fall hunting potential in the state.
North Dakota prepping for whoopers’ arrival
Whooping cranes are in the midst of their fall migration and sightings will increase as they make their way into and through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these birds as they move through the state is asked to report sightings so the birds can be tracked. Whoopers stand about five feet tall and have a wingspan…
North Dakota pheasant survey: Bird, brood numbers take a tumble
Total pheasants observed per 100 miles are down 61 percent from last year, brood observations down 63 percent, and average brood size down 19 percent from 2016.
Sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge counts down significantly in North Dakota
On the eve of the season opener for both, Game and Fish announces that sharptail numbers are down 29 percent from 2016, while partridge are down 62 percent. So, “in general, hunting will be fair at best.”
Fewer sharptails and Huns, more ruffed grouse expected in North Dakota hunts
Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) standing on his drumming logNorth Dakota’s popular hunting seasons for grouse and partridge will open Saturday, Sept. 9. State Game and Fish Department upland game biologist R.J. Gross says hunters will likely see fewer sharptails and Huns compared to last year, while ruffed grouse numbers are up from 2016. Gross said that hot, dry early summer…
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