North Dakota Outdoors and beyond

North Dakota waterfowl hunters are reminded the statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 4. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 10 and continues through Jan. 1, 2012.

The high plains unit is that portion of North Dakota found west of the following line: beginning at the South Dakota border, then north on U.S. Highway 83 and I-94 to ND Highway 41, then north on ND Highway 41 to ND Highway 53, then west on ND Highway 53 to U.S. Highway 83, then north on U.S. Highway 83 to U.S. Highway 2, then west on U.S. Highway 2 to the Williams County line, then north and west along the Williams and Divide county lines to the Canadian border.

Waterfowl hunters are reminded to do their part in preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species into or within North Dakota.

Waterfowl hunters must clean boats, decoys, waders and other hunting equipment before leaving a water body. Hunters must also drain water from all hunting equipment prior to leaving the water, and are encouraged to brush their hunting dogs free of mud and seeds.

Cattails, phragmites, bulrushes and terrestrial plants may be transported as camouflage on boats. All other aquatic vegetation must be cleaned from boats prior to transportation into or within North Dakota.

Detailed ANS information and prevention regulations can be found by accessing the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates good to excellent wetland conditions statewide for duck hunting.

Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird biologist, said hunters will need to scout because birds may be spread out with all the water and potential places to hunt.

“Most areas of the state have similar conditions to last year, with the exceptions of the northwest and southeast areas,” Szymanski said. “The number of wetlands in the northwest part of the state holding water during the survey nearly tripled from last year.  However, on the flip side, the southeast part of the state has about half as many wetlands with water in them. Nonetheless, there are still abundant opportunities for duck hunters in southeast North Dakota.”

Unfortunately, hunters wishing to venture to northwest North Dakota may have some difficulty. For various reasons, lodging in that part of the state is scarce, Szymanski said, and hunters should definitely call ahead to check the status of availability. In addition, hunters should use caution on roadways as fall can be an especially busy time of year.

Three consecutive winters with significant snowfall refilled wetlands, and considerable rainfall this past summer has maintained water levels in more temporary-type wetlands, Szymanski said. “There was some drying during a nearly three-week period without rain prior to the survey,” he added. “Immediately following the survey, much of the northern tier of the state experienced 1-4 inches of rain, refilling wetlands that were beginning to dry up.”

Soft ground conditions will greet hunters in many areas of the state, so Szymanski urges caution when driving in or across fields this fall. Moreover, there are many closed roads, and hunters may need to spend some time figuring out how to get to some of their favorite areas.

“As always, the quality of the waterfowl hunting season in North Dakota is predicated on weather conditions,” Szymanski said. “But strong reproduction for both ducks and geese, and excellent wetland conditions point toward a good fall.”

The wetland survey is conducted in mid-September just prior to the waterfowl hunting season, to provide an assessment of conditions duck hunters can expect.

Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 24 for ducks, coots, mergansers and geese. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Oct. 1.

Waterfowlers hunting from boats are encouraged to wear properly-fitted life jackets while on the water.

Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said there are comfortable jackets available with life jackets already built in.

“They are no longer too bulky to wear, you can’t even tell you have one on,” Boldt said.

Eight people have drowned in state waters since 1998 while hunting from a boat, and none were wearing life jackets. Boldt wants to make sure a duck hunter doesn’t become another statistic.

“Capsizing and falling overboard from small boats are the most common types of fatal boating accidents for hunters,” Boldt added. “With all the gear in the boat, including dogs, it can quickly become unbalanced.”

In addition, wearing a life jacket will not only keep the overboard hunter afloat, but also help him or her to slow the loss of critical body heat caused by exposure to cold water.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s May and July waterfowl surveys indicate hunters can expect a large fall flight similar to recent years. Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 24 for ducks, coots, mergansers and geese. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Oct. 1.

Mike Johnson, game management section leader, said North Dakota’s fall flight – breeding ducks and the young they produce in the state – is based on data from the May breeding duck survey and the July brood survey. “This year’s production was down from last year, however, there are strong indications of an exceptional late hatch of ducks this year,” Johnson said. “Since our surveys have been completed, observers have been seeing large numbers of newly hatched ducks throughout the state.”

The brood index from the Game and Fish Department’s annual mid-July survey was down 26 percent from 2010, but was 19 percent above the long-term average. Average brood size was 7.7 ducklings, up 1.0 from last year. The long‑term average is 7.1 ducklings per brood. The water index observed during the survey was up 52 percent from last year and 105 percent above long-term.

Results from the May breeding duck survey indicated the duck index was down 9 percent from 2010, but exceeded the long-term average by 85 percent. Water conditions in May were up 31 percent from 2010 and 128 percent from the long-term average.

Resident hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. In addition, hunters age 16 and older must have a small game license and federal duck stamp.

Nonresidents must purchase a nonresident waterfowl license, including the general game and habitat license, and certificate. Hunters age 16 and older must possess a federal duck stamp. Nonresident youth hunters from states that provide a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents, qualify for North Dakota resident licenses. See the 2011 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide for details.

All migratory bird hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Hunters who purchase a license through the state Game and Fish Department website (gf.nd.gov) or instant licensing telephone number (800-406-6409) can easily get HIP certified.

Otherwise, hunters must call (888) 634-4798, or access the department’s website, and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose season or the early Canada goose season in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year in each state hunted.

Hunters should refer to the waterfowl hunting guide for season regulations including licensing requirements, dates, bag limits, season zones and nonresident hunting zones.

Youth Waterfowl is Sept. 17-18, License Required

North Dakota’s two-day youth waterfowl season is Sept. 17-18. Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers statewide.

The daily bag limit and species restrictions for the youth season are the same as for regular duck and goose seasons.

Resident and qualifying nonresident youth waterfowl hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Nonresidents from states that do not provide a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents must purchase the entire nonresident waterfowl license package.

In addition, all youth hunters must be Harvest Information Program certified, and youth ages 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course. Hunters age 15 and younger do not need a federal duck stamp.

Hunters who purchase a license through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department can easily get HIP certified. Otherwise, hunters must call (888) 634-4798, or log on to the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov, and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate.

Shooting hours for the youth waterfowl season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the resident youth hunter into the field, and a licensed adult is required to accompany a nonresident youth hunter. The two-day weekend hunt does not count against a nonresident adult hunter’s 14-day regular season waterfowl dates.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of more than 4.1 million birds, down slightly (-9 percent) from last year but 85 percent above the long-term average (1948-2010). The 2011 index is the ninth highest on record.

Wigeon (+15 percent), blue-winged teal (+12 percent) and pintails (+4 percent and the highest since 1970) were the only ducks to show an increase from last year. However, all species except scaup were well above the long-term average.

Shovelers were down 13 percent from last year’s record high. Mallards were down 4 percent, but had the sixth highest count on record. Indices for all other species were below that of 2010, with the most significant decreases for ruddy ducks (-62 percent), lesser scaup (-58 percent) and redhead (-33 percent).

“Redheads and ruddy ducks were at record highs last year, and scaup numbers were also well-above average,” said Mike Johnson, game management section leader. “So their decline was not surprising.”

The spring water index was up 31 percent from 2010 and 128 percent above the long-term average. It was the second highest in survey history and the highest since 1999. The water index is based on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the amount of water contained in wetlands.

“Water conditions were exceptional throughout the state, with abundant snow cover and significant spring rains filling most basins,” Johnson said.

Additionally, reports indicate that all of the Prairie Pothole Region in the United States and Canada (from Iowa to Alberta) has excellent water conditions this year. “To our knowledge this is an unprecedented occurrence, at least since surveys have been conducted,” Johnson said.

However, nesting cover in North Dakota continues to decline. During the survey, Johnson noted many large tracts of grassland and Conservation Reserve Program land that had been converted to cropland since last year, or were in the process of being plowed. “North Dakota currently has about 2.6 million acres of CRP, which is down about 22 percent from 2007,” Johnson added. “Projections are that nearly 400,000 acres will be lost in 2011, and an additional 1 million acres will be lost in 2012-13. The loss of critical nesting cover will be disastrous for breeding ducks and hunting opportunities in the future.”

The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production and insight into expectations for this fall. Observations to date indicate prospects for high production across the state due to excellent water conditions and increased wetland availability for brood production.

First weekend of October & it looks to be a a great one. Non-resident waterfowl hunters are open to North Dakota this Saturday morning. Many times the Minnesota opener and the ND non-rez opener are on back to back weekends. This year it’s the same, so Minnesota hunters will need to pick which opener.

It’s the 2nd weekend for North Dakota duck & goose hunters and in some area’s things have began to dry out from the wet of several inches of rain. This weekend is the youth pheasant hunt as well.

And oh by the way…October fishing is….is….is for me…better than June. Get out, stay safe & enjoy!

Wetland Conditions Favor Duck Hunters

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates approximately 43 percent more wetlands available for duck hunting than last year.

Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird biologist, said wetland conditions are looking good statewide. “Hunters will need to scout because the birds may be spread out with all the water and potential places to hunt,” Szymanski said.

Wetland conditions have rebounded extremely well from the dry conditions of 2008, when much of the state had virtually no wetlands with water. Szymanski said the drying cycle was important to reset food webs within wetlands, and many wetlands in the state now have abundant food resources for waterfowl.

“Back-to-back winters with significant snowfall refilled wetlands, and considerable rainfall this past summer has maintained water levels in more temporary-type wetlands,” Szymanski said.

Soft ground conditions might greet hunters in many areas of the state, so Szymanski urges caution when driving in or across fields this fall. “As always, the quality of the waterfowl hunting season in North Dakota is predicated on weather conditions,” he added. “But strong reproduction for both ducks and geese, and excellent wetland conditions point toward a good fall.”

The wetland survey is conducted in mid-September just prior to the waterfowl hunting season, to provide an assessment of conditions duck hunters can expect.

Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 25 for ducks, coots, mergansers and geese. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Oct. 2.

North Dakota’s two-day youth waterfowl season is Sept. 18-19. Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers statewide.

The daily bag limit and species restrictions for the youth season are the same as for regular duck and goose seasons.

Resident and qualifying nonresident youth waterfowl hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. (Nonresidents from states that do not provide a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents must purchase the entire nonresident waterfowl license package.) In addition, all youth hunters must be Harvest Information Program certified, and youth ages 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course. Hunters age 15 and younger do not need a federal duck stamp.

Hunters who purchase a license through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department can easily get HIP certified. Otherwise, hunters must call (888) 634-4798 and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate.

Shooting hours for the youth waterfowl season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the resident youth hunter into the field, and a licensed adult is required to accompany a nonresident youth hunter. The two-day weekend hunt does not count against a nonresident adult hunter’s 14-day regular season waterfowl dates.