North Dakota Outdoors and beyond

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department urges deer hunters to find their license and check it for accuracy.

In addition, landowners interesting in applying for a gratis license are encouraged to submit the application early. It is not possible to process the application the same day; applications are processed in the order received and the license will be mailed out the next day.

Every year the Game and Fish Department’s licensing section receives last-minute inquiries from hunters who can’t find their license. When that happens, it’s difficult to try to get a replacement license in time for the season opener.

Another reason to check the license now is to make sure the unit and species is what you thought it should be.

Deer hunters in need of a replacement license can print out a duplicate (replacement) license application from the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov, or can call (701) 328-6300 to have an application mailed or faxed.

The form must be completely filled out and notarized, and sent back in to the department with a fee.

Antlerless deer licenses are still available in units 2D, 3F1, 3F2 and 4F. Hunters should access the Game and Fish website to apply online or for an updated list of licenses available. There is no limit to the number of deer licenses a hunter can receive.

As of Sept. 26, interested deer and fall turkey hunters still have time to purchase a license for the 2011 hunting seasons. Hunters should check the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov for an updated list of licenses available.

While more than 97 percent of North Dakota’s deer licenses have been issued, nearly 2,500 antlerless licenses remain for the 2011 season. Doe licenses are available in units 2D, 2L, 3F1, 3F2 and 4F. There is no limit to the number of deer licenses a hunter can receive.

These remaining antlerless licenses – and doe licenses that have already been issued and are printed with second, third or additional concurrent season designations – can be used during any open season: bow season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. Hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

In addition, remaining licenses in units 3F1, 3F2 and 4F can be used during the special herd reduction season, which is open Sept. 23 through Oct. 7.

North Dakota’s 2011 deer gun season runs from Nov. 4-20. The archery season extends through Jan. 8, 2012, and muzzleloader season is Nov. 25 – Dec. 11. License fees are $20 for residents and $55 for nonresidents.

Nearly 350 fall turkey licenses remain for the following units: Unit 03, Benson and Ramsey counties and a portion of Pierce County; Unit 25, McHenry County and portions of Pierce and Ward counties; Unit 51, Burke County and portions of Renville, Bottineau and Ward counties; and Unit 99, Mercer and Oliver counties. There is a limit of 15 wild turkey licenses per hunter.

The fall turkey season opens Oct. 8 and continues through Jan. 8, 2012. Turkey licenses are $8 for residents and $80 for nonresidents.

Resident and nonresident deer and fall turkey hunters can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website. Applications are also available by calling the Department’s Bismarck office at (701) 328-6300.

Deer Season for Youth Ages 12-15 Opens Sept. 16

Friday, Sept. 16 at noon signals the start of a nine-and-a-half day deer hunting season for youth ages 12-15.

Licensed youth ages 12 and 13 are allowed to hunt statewide, but only for antlerless white-tailed deer. Deer hunters age 14 or 15 with a “youth season” license can hunt statewide for any deer, except for restricted licenses and units in western North Dakota.

In addition, 14- and 15-year-olds with special “youth season” licenses can use additional concurrent season antlerless deer licenses during this youth deer season. Hunters must follow the unit and species restrictions listed on the license.

After opening day, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Solid daylight fluorescent orange vests or coats, and hats are required for all young hunters and their adult mentors.

Each youth deer hunter must be under direct supervision of an adult while in the field.

In addition to the deer license, hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and hunting certificate.

The youth deer season closes Sunday, Sept. 25.

Wildlife biologists believe recent reports of white-tailed deer deaths in western North Dakota could indicate the presence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

Dr. Dan Grove, State Game and Fish Department wildlife veterinarian, said the reports have characteristics similar to previous EHD events, though biologists have not yet confirmed the cause of the deer deaths.

“Deer losses to EHD occur periodically,” Grove said. “Sometimes the incidents are isolated and affect few animals, and in other cases the disease is spread over a large geographic region.”

As of Aug. 30, less than 20 dead deer have been reported in four counties – McKenzie, Hettinger, Slope and Golden Valley.

Game and Fish is urging bow hunters and elk hunters in the field in early September to report any observations of dead deer, Grove said, and to report locations quickly so biologists can gauge distribution and severity. “To isolate the EHD virus, the animal cannot have been dead for more than 24 hours,” he added.

Information needed from each report is the species, age, sex and location. “It would be nice if we could get the legal description of the land, or a GPS coordinate, and a photograph if possible,” Grove said. “At the very least, we will need the number of miles and direction from the closest town.”

EHD primarily affects white-tailed deer, and is most noticeable in western North Dakota when high whitetail populations combine with a hot and humid late summer and early fall. Most deer that die from this are infected before the first hard frost, which kills the biting midges that spread the disease, Grove said.

The last time North Dakota had significant deer deaths from EHD was 2005.

EHD causes dehydration and a high body temperature, causing deer to seek water prior to death. Other clinical and behavior symptoms may include respiratory distress; swelling of head, neck, and tongue; lesions on tongue and roof of mouth; indifference to humans; and in later stages, hemorrhaging from body orifices.

EHD is not a danger to humans. However, hunters should not shoot or consume a deer if it appears sick.

Hunters should report any dead deer observations to the Game and Fish Department at ndgf@nd.gov, or (701) 328-6351.

Hunters waiting for their second and third deer lottery results shouldn’t have to wait much longer.

State Game and Fish Department staff worked well into the night on Friday to hold the second lottery drawing and print those licenses, according to Kim Molesworth, administrative services division chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The third lottery for concurrent season antlerless deer licenses is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Aug. 30, with licenses likely mailed on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

“We apologize for the delay,” Molesworth stated. “We know that some bowhunters are anxious to get their concurrent season licenses to use when archery season opens Sept. 2. We’re trying to get those out as soon as possible.”

Bowhunters who are travelling through Bismarck prior to the opener, and don’t want to risk not receiving their license before they leave, can call or email the department’s Bismarck office by noon on Wednesday, Aug. 31 to request us to hold their license, Molesworth said. Game and Fish would then hold the license at its Bismarck office until the hunter picked it up.

Contact the Bismarck Game and Fish licensing section office at (701) 328-6335, or email ndgf@nd.gov and write “Hold concurrent season license” in the subject line.

Game and Fish will mail gratis licenses after the third lottery drawing is held.

The second and subsequent lottery drawings were later than usual this year because of the one-week extension of the deer application deadline, and an initial shipment of special license paper that didn’t meet specifications, Molesworth said. The second shipment of paper arrived in early August, Molesworth added, and the first lottery licenses were printed and mailed first.

After the third lottery drawing is held, Game and Fish will issue any remaining licenses on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hunters can use additional concurrent season doe licenses during the archery season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. These licenses are for antlerless deer only, and hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

In addition, youth deer license hunters ages 14 and 15 may purchase additional concurrent season doe licenses to use during the youth season.

North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas.

The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with. Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff’s department.

Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2.

The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2012. Hunters should refer to the 2011 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is currently working with 30 landowners in 19 hunting units across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2011. The current list of landowners has nearly 350 openings for doe hunters.

Participating landowners are located in hunting units 2C, 2D, 2G2, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4B,4D, 4E and 4F.

The program is not intended for buck hunters, but designed to direct hunters with antlerless licenses to specific areas to reduce deer populations.

Interested hunters can get their name on a list of possible participants by accessing the Game and Fish Department’s website atgf.nd.gov. Hunters who do not have Internet access can call the department’s main office in Bismarck at (701) 328-6300.

Hunters will provide their address, hunting unit(s) where they hold valid antlerless licenses, and if using rifle, muzzleloader or bow. From this list the department will select the number of hunters landowners have agreed to host. These hunters will be sent the landowner’s name, phone number and any information relating to the landowner’s specific situation.

Not everyone who signs up will end up with a new place to hunt, because not everyone’s schedule will match up with a landowner’s, and more people will likely put their name on the list than there are openings.

North Dakota’s 2011 regular deer gun season runs from Nov. 4-20. In addition, the archery season extends from Sept. 2 through Jan. 8, 2012; the youth season is from Sept. 16-25; and muzzleloader runs from Nov. 25 – Dec. 11.

The Bismarck Police Department will not issue trespass permits for this fall’s special herd reduction deer and turkey bow seasons within the city limits, due to water still covering a large portion of the hunting zone and associated recovery efforts from this year’s flood.

A special herd reduction season on antlerless deer was scheduled to run in Bismarck from Sept. 2 – Jan. 31, 2012. In addition, up to 25 hunters licensed to bow hunt deer within the city could have received a turkey license to help control a growing population of birds in residential areas.

The city bow hunt is a cooperative effort between the city of Bismarck and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Hunters are required to receive a trespass permit from the Bismarck Police Department before receiving a hunting license from the Game and Fish Department.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION! This will ensure you the best chance of drawing the tag you want as well as avoiding filling out the wrong application.

IF YOU WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE 1ST DEER LOTTERY –

1.       Wait for blue application for the 2nd lottery to arrive in the mail, apply the label, and supply your unit and deer choice. Mail the application back to us. You may not apply through our web site for the 2nd lottery.

2.       You may apply online using the 1st through 3rd Deer Gun Application (3rd Lottery).

3.       DO NOT USE the 4th Deer Gun application (3rd Lottery) as you are currently only allowed up to 4 deer licenses.

4.       If you don’t wish to use the blue application, in order to take advantage of the additional concurrent seasons, you may apply using the 1st through 4th Deer Gun Applications (3rd Lottery).

IF YOU FAILED TO APPLY IN THE 1ST DEER LOTTERY –

1.       You may apply online using the 1st through 4th Deer Gun Application (3rd Lottery).

IF YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THE 1ST DEER LOTTERY –

1.       DO NOT USE the 1st Deer Gun application (3rd Lottery) since you’ve already been issued a license.

2.       You may apply online using the 2nd through 4th Deer Gun Application (3rd Lottery).

Online applications may be submitted by going to our online services page at

https://secure.apps.state.nd.us/gnf/onlineservices/lic/public/online/main.htm and clicking “Apply Online”

Flooding along the Missouri River north and west of Bismarck has prompted the State Game and Fish Department to put an experimental deer herd reduction hunt on hold.

The agency was going to start issuing up to 200 special antlerless licenses on Aug.1, but Department officials have postponed that process due to uncertainties over habitat condition and deer availability after floodwaters recede.

“This experimental season was designed to reduce deer numbers on private land in a relatively small area,” Randy Kreil, Game and Fish wildlife division chief said. “We had good support from landowners who were committed to hosting hunters, but most of them are dealing with flooding issues. Our agency and the landowners feel it’s better to wait a year and hope that normal conditions will return.”

The experimental season was set up so Game and Fish could match interested hunters with participating landowners. Randomly selected hunters would need to secure written permission from landowners before Game and Fish would issue a special license. The special antlerless licenses would have been valid in all open seasons with the appropriate firearm or archery equipment within the designated unit.

The experimental hunt area included land west of River Road and State Highway 1804, north and west of Bismarck, with Wilderness Cover Road near Pioneer Park as the southern boundary and 149^th Ave. NW (north of Double Ditch Indian Village) as the northern boundary. During the regular deer season, much of this area is not open to hunting with centerfire rifles.

While Game and Fish will not issue special licenses, the experimental hunt area is still open to archery and gun hunting for those with appropriate bow or firearm season licenses.