North Dakota Outdoors and beyond

North Dakota’s spring turkey season opens Saturday, April 14 and continues through May 20.

Hunters are reminded a 2012-13 hunting license is required, as last year’s 2011-12 licenses expired March 31. In addition to the spring turkey license, hunters must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate, and a general game and habitat license. Also, hunters ages 16 and older must possess a small game license, or combination license.

The governor’s proclamation allows a maximum of two licenses per hunter. Licenses remain in unit 06 (Bowman County) and unit 31 (Mountrail County).

These first-come, first-served licenses are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, or call(701) 328-6300 to request an application. Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply.

Hunters, anglers, landowners–anyone–you are invited to attend a North Dakota Game and Fish Department advisory board meeting in their area.

These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. One of the main agenda items for this round of advisory meetings is North Dakota deer management and possible deer gun license numbers for fall 2012.

The governor appoints eight Game and Fish Department advisors, each representing a multi-county section of the state, to serve as a liaison between the department and public.

Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service must notify the contact person at least five days prior to the scheduled meeting date.

Lottery

District 3 – Counties: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner

Date: April 9 – 7 p.m.

Location: Community Center, Leeds

Host: Leeds/York Wildlife Club

Contact: Rick Darling, 466-2436

Advisory board member: Tracy Gardner, Devils Lake, 662-5639

District 4 – Counties: Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh

Date: April 10 – 7 p.m.

Location: Community Center, Minto

Host: Minto Sportsman’s Klub

Contact: Chris Misialek, 248-3978

Advisory board member: Ronald Houdek, Tolna, 262-4724

District 8 – Counties: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark

Date: April 10 – 7 p.m.

Location: High School, Beach

Host: Pheasants Forever

Contact: Misty Farnstrom, 872-4349

Advisory board member: Wayne Gerbig, Amidon, 879-6353

District 5 – Counties: Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill

Date: April 11 – 7 p.m.

Location: American Legion Hall, Finley

Host: Finley Wildlife Club

Contact: Brian Tuite, 789-0930

Advisory board member: Loran Palmer, West Fargo, 282-8479

District 1 – Counties: Divide, McKenzie and Williams

Date: April 11 – 7 p.m.

Location: Montana-Dakota Utilities, Williston

Host: Upper Missouri United Sportsmen

Contact: Wayne Aberle, 770-6902

Advisory board member: Jason Leiseth, Arnegard, 586-3714

District 6 – Counties: Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells

Date: April 12 – 7 p.m.

Location: Community Center, Litchville

Host: Litchville Wildlife Club

Contact: Joey Botner, 840-2286

Advisory board member: Joel Christoferson, Litchville, 973-4981

District 7 – Counties: Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux

Date: April 12 – 7 p.m.

Location: City Hall, New Salem

Host: New Salem Wildlife Club

Contact: Gordonna Toepke, 843-7681

Advisory board member: Frank Kartch, Bismarck, 751-3414

District 2 – Counties: Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward

Date: April 16 – 7 p.m.

Location: The Club (807 Highway 5 East), Mohall

Host: Mouse River Loop Pheasants

Contact: Brad Moberg, 263-7188

Advisory board member: Robert Gjellstad, Voltaire, 338-2281

Wildlife, shooting, civic and fraternal organizations are encouraged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a grant program developed to assist in recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters.

Grant funds will help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets, and eye and ear protection.

Past funding has enabled several groups to conduct youth pheasant and waterfowl hunts, while others have sponsored trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting.

Any club or organization interested in conducting a youth hunting or shooting event can get more information, including a grant application, from North Dakota Game and Fish Department outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at (701) 328-6332.

The deadline to apply for a 2012 grant is April 21.

2011 Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Elk Harvests

Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2011 season for bighorn sheep was 100 percent, 88 percent for moose and 50 percent for elk.

Four bighorn sheep units were open in 2011. Game and Fish issued one license in unit B1/B2, two licenses in unit B3, and two licenses in unit B4. One additional auction license holder was able to hunt any open area. All six hunters tagged adult rams.

The department issued 163 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 159 hunters harvested 140 animals – 84 bulls and 56 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows:

The department issued 520 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 504 hunters harvested 251 elk – 177 bulls and 74 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows:

Hunter Education Volunteers Recognized

Volunteer instructors for North Dakota’s hunter education program were recognized Feb. 11 for their contributions of teaching students the importance of hunter safety and ethics.

Instructor of the year and years of service awards were presented at the annual hunter education workshop and awards banquet held in Bismarck.

Larry Thompson of Dickinson and Dale Patrick from Bismarck were named instructors of the year.

Recognized for 35 years of service were John Jones, Wishek; Steven Seeger, Turtle Lake; Jim Shulind, Grand Forks; Ernest Trudeau, Jamestown.

Receiving 30-year service awards were Timothy Dewald, Streeter; Jim Gross, Mandan; Rodney O’Clair, Jamestown; Lori Schweigert, Beulah; Lyle Westbrook, Moffit.

Presented with 25-year service awards were Darwin Bucholz, Rolla; Terry Fasteen, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; Allan Goerger, Barney; Juel Halstenson, West Fargo; Richard Harwood, Lemmon, S.D.; Susan Harwood, Lemmon S.D.; Robert Ingold, Manning; Thomas Kempf, Sawyer; Dennis Miller, Mandan; Lynda Miller, Mandan; Scott Mitchell, Rolla; Michael Peterson, Hazen; Robert Schwagler, New Salem; Joe Solseng, Grand Forks; Todd Thingelstad, Grand Forks; Lauren Throntveit, Crosby; Albert Ulmer, LaMoure; Curtis Wittmayer, Parshall.

Honored for 20 years of service were Douglas Bolte, Regent; James Borkowski, Bottineau; Dean Burwick, Dickinson; Dennis Ertelt, Fingal; Gary Ertmann, Devils Lake; Gerard Goldade, Hague; Craig Hoffart, Bottineau; Ruth Hubbard, Minot; James R. Johnson, New Rockford; Alan Klatt, Grand Forks; George Koenig, Gackle; Lynn Lawler, Rolla; Glenn Lemier, Oakes; Richard Leshovsky, Velva; David Meberg, Hebron; Karla Meikle, Bismarck; Brad Pierce, Hatton; Doyle Roeder, Bismarck; Lance Sateren, Bismarck; Daryl Simmons, Garrison; Patricia Stark, Cavalier; Curtis Walen, Carrington.

2012-14 Fishing Regulations Set, New License Required

North Dakota’s 2012-14 fishing proclamation is set, with regulations effective April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014. In addition, anglers are reminded that new fishing licenses are required April 1.

Greg Power, fisheries chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the northern pike daily and possession limits are increased to five and 10 statewide. “The intent is to provide more of an opportunity for those anglers who like to fish for and keep pike,” Power said. “This will not affect the population because the pike fishery is in excellent shape. We have a record number of lakes with pike, many with record populations. Pike anglers should be happy the next few years.”

Another noteworthy change involves opening most waters to darkhouse spearfishing, except for a small number of lakes that contain muskie. “The merits of different criteria were closely assessed, and the existence of muskie was the only criteria used to exclude a lake,” Power said. “We have not observed any significant problems in the past 10 years, and biologically speaking there should be few, if any, in the future.”

Lakes where darkhouse spearfishing is not allowed are Braun Lake, Emmons County; New Johns Lake, Burleigh County; East Park Lake, West Park Lake and Lake Audubon, McLean County; McClusky Canal; Heckers Lake, Sheridan County; Red Willow Lake, Griggs County; Sweet Briar Dam, Morton County; and the Red and Bois de Sioux rivers.

Other noteworthy regulation changes include:

• ·         Added Sundays for snag-and-release only during the paddlefish season.
• ·         Added a 14-inch walleye length restriction to six lakes in southeast North Dakota – Alkali Lake, Buffalo Lake and Tosse Slough in Sargent County; and Lake Elsie, Lueck Lake and West Moran Lake in Richland County.
• ·         Increased the minimum harvest length of a muskie to 48 inches.
• ·         Added Mott Watershed in Hettinger County and Nelson Lake in Oliver County to the list of “no live baitfish” lakes.
• ·         Eliminated the 24-inch minimum length restriction for northern pike at North and South Golden lakes in Steele County.

Fishing licenses can be purchased March 1 at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

The 2012-14 North Dakota Fishing Guide will be available in March at Game and Fish Department offices and license vendors throughout the state.

BISMARCK– A coalition has filed a constitutional initiated measure petition with the North Dakota Secretary of State that would establish dedicated funding for water, land and wildlife conservation in North Dakota.

“North Dakota is at a pivotal moment.  With the state’s rapid development, we have the opportunity now to invest in maintaining our clean water, our unique natural lands and our outdoors heritage,” said, Steve Adair, sponsoring committee chairperson.  “This fund will conserve these resources while they are still intact and help improve natural flood control through the restoration and protection of natural areas along rivers, lakes and streams.”

The constitutional amendment will establish a Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Fund that will receive five percent of the total revenues generated from taxes collected from the production and extraction of oil and gas.  Supporters estimate the fund could generate $50 million annually, based on current state oil production and price projections.

“This measure will provide meaningful conservation tools and programs that will protect and restore habitat throughout North Dakota,” said coalition member Peggy Ladner.

Coalition partners stressed the Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage fund will not adversely affect other programs currently funded through oil tax revenue.  The measure will establish a nine-member citizen board to oversee the distribution of the fund.  Any state agency, local government entity, tribal government or non-profit corporation is eligible to submit a grant application for funding. The measure also calls for all project funds to be only spent in North Dakota to benefit North Dakota’s natural resources. The purposes for the fund include protecting water quality, improving flood control, and conserving habitat for wildlife and people.

“We see the fund creating incentives for farmers, ranchers and other landowners to conserve grass and wetlands, which will help keep water clean and natural areas intact,” Ladner said.

“We North Dakotans tend to take our quality of life for granted – our clean water, open spaces, and abundant wildlife,” said Keith Trego, sponsoring committee member.  “The things that we grew up with are not going to be here unless we take action.”

Trego pointed to the loss of Conservation Reserve Program and native prairie acres across the state. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 145,000 acres of North Dakota native prairie were converted to cropland between 2002 and 2007. North Dakota has lost about 1 million acres of CRP, and another 1.2 million acres are scheduled to expire by the end of 2012.

Once the Secretary of State approves the ballot measure wording, the coalition must gather 26,904 qualified signatures before August 8, 2012, in order for the measure to be placed on the November 6, 2012, general election ballot.

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

A popular question this time of the year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left unattended, it must be able to float; if it’s not able to float, it must be removed when the angler leaves the ice.

Other fish house regulations include:

• Fish houses do not require a license.
• Fish house size is not limited.
• Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have 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.
• Fish houses shall be removed from all waters by midnight, March 15, of each year. They can be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.

Anglers should refer to the 2010-12 North Dakota Fishing Guide for winter fishing regulations.

A mule deer taken from unit 3F2 during opening weekend of the deer gun season has tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

Dr. Dan Grove, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife veterinarian, said a hunter shot a doe in western Grant County and submitted the head for testing as part of the hunter-harvested surveillance program. Testing was performed at Michigan State University. As of Tuesday, Nov. 22, Game and Fish was awaiting verification of initial tests results from a lab at Iowa State University.

“According to the hunter, the animal looked healthy,” Grove said. “It showed no visible signs of having any health issues.”

This is the third deer to test positive for CWD, and all three were from taken from unit 3F2 in southwestern North Dakota. The first two were during the 2009 and 2010 deer gun seasons. All three were within 15 miles of each other.

“The latest positive emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring along with current and expanding CWD restrictions in and around this unit,” Grove said.

The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in specific regions of the state. In addition to unit 3F2, samples during the 2011 deer gun season were collected from units in the central third of the state.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

Sunday closed up the 2011 deer season in North Dakota…the resulting success? Won’t be known unitl later on this winter. We still have the blackpowder season which opens on Friday at 12Noon and the archery season goes until Januayr, so the statewide numbers are months away. Regardless of the statistical breakdown I had reports coming in through the end of Sunday tagging a deer on the final day. Which is why the season is 16.5 day’s and not just consisting of the opening weekend. Those hunters willing to put in more time…should…should…at least see a deer. But as I’ve said the tag just provides the legal opportunity to hunt, it doesnt guarantee a big buck, large doe….it gives you the legal right to go out deer hunting.

Happy Thanksgiving,