The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
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As North Dakota's cherished deer gun hunting season opens and closes in November, thousands of hunters end their hunting activities within the regular season's 16.5 days. While the majority of pheasant hunters point toward late October and early November as their preferred time frame for chasing roosters, a couple factors would give good reason to keep the shotgun handy deep into December. First of all, when the opening high of the first few weeks of season wanes, congestion of hunters seems to...
Looking for a gift for a waterfowl hunter this holiday season? You might want to check out the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s “The Duck Factory – A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota.” Authored by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell, the 213-page, soft-cover publication in full color traces the history of waterfowl species and their habitats in North Dakota. Migratory game bird program leader Mike Szymanski said there is a lot of interesting information about the interactions with people and waterfowl in North Dakota. “This book is appeali...
The loss of habitat across North Dakota is impacting game and nongame populations and, consequently, hunting license allocations. Coupled with increased challenges to finding hunting access, the state’s longstanding hunting heritage is suffering. To raise awareness about the need for more wildlife habitat on the landscape in a state that has lost its share over the years, and find productive pathways forward, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is hosting the Habitat and Hunting Access Summit on Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bismarck S...
Daniel Wegener’s bullhead caught Sept. 27 broke a state record for the species that’s been in the books for more than 35 years. The Fort Totten angler reeled in his 4-pound, 9-ounce bullhead from Devils Lake. The previous record of 4 pounds, 1 ounce was established in 1988 by Riley Zavada, a Wolford angler who was also fishing Devils Lake....
I'll be the first to admit how rapidly the world has changed since I was a game warden. No need to explain more than technology has changed. Hunting has changed too. How people report poaching also. What hasn't changed is the spirit of a legal hunter. They don't want their pasttime tainted by an illegal hunting or fishing act. The fishing story or hunting tale is legendary. Giving full details to all within earshot or online is part of the glory and how legends are made. It's the essence of why...
The state Game and Fish Department’s annual fall aerial mule deer survey is set to begin Oct. 14 in western North Dakota. Weather permitting, the survey takes about two weeks to complete. During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of the badlands. Game and Fish biologists have completed aerial surveys of the same 24 badlands study areas since the 1950s. The survey is used to collect mule deer population data for monitoring demographic trends, such as buck-to-doe and fawn-to-doe r...
Since late August, wildlife biologists have been monitoring scattered reports of white-tailed deer found dead in a portion of southwestern North Dakota. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease was confirmed in a number of these cases. “EHD is a viral disease transmitted by biting gnats,” said Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian. “We see a low level of EHD most years. It typically stays fairly localized, but every so often it can intensify into a significant die-off. The combined outbreak in 2020 and 2021 was probably the worst in me...
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." The mutual...
The fall wild turkey lottery has been held and more than 900 licenses remain in 10 units. Unsuccessful applicants will have a refund issued to their credit card. Beginning at 8 a.m. Central time on Sept. 18, all remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters are allowed a maximum of five licenses for the fall season. Resident and nonresident hunters must purchase a license online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The fall turkey season runs Oct. 12 – Jan. 5, 2025. Licenses remain for the following u...
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 a neighbor does. The numbers prove it. In North Dakota, 23% of all residents over the age of 16 boug...
North Dakota’s 2024 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, and most season structures are similar to last year. Noteworthy items include: • Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 21. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Sept. 28. • The prairie chicken and sage grouse seasons remain closed due to low populations. • An area in Grand Forks County is open to sharp-tailed grouse hunting that was previously closed. •Fisher trapping opportunities were expanded...
A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older beginning Sept. 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots. This year’s 2024-25 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, or license vendors registered with the department’s licensing system. As a result of the Duck Stamp Modernization Act, the electronic stamp is now valid for the entire waterfowl hunting season. A physical stamp will be mailed in March 2025 to indiv...
Nonhunters and hunters who don't target Canada geese may be taken a bit off guard when learning those hunters they've seen and heard are out taking part in the early Canada goose season in North Dakota. Relatively speaking, it's one of the most recently added hunting season in North Dakota. Many North Dakota residents can remember a time in the 1960s when seeing a Canada goose was quite a site with a mere 100 wild breeding pairs, which created a multi-pronged approach to raising and restoring...
The fall turkey season is set with 4,545 licenses available to hunters, 110 more than last year. Applicants can apply online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. The deadline is Sept. 4. Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply in the first lottery. The fall wild turkey season runs from Oct. 12 through Jan. 5, 2025....
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...
In the most basic of explanations, the lack of snow this winter and late arrival of spring rain was not as helpful for ducks but better for pheasants. But 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,"...
I have tremendous respect for all our North Dakota game wardens. Their work is under-appreciated and most invaluable to all who spend time outdoors. Long days in remote locations, nights, weekends and holidays. And while you may take every opening day of deer season off, they likely work every deer opener their entire career. For most game wardens, their spouse and kids, it's a way of life and not a job. For some, being known as the "game warden" is a cross to bear and their kids in school will...
Hunters applying for a 2024 swan license can submit an online application through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $30. The application deadline is Aug. 21. The statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 28. A total of 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may h...
I'm not a professional angler. When it comes to tips and tactics on how to land a lunker walleye or fill a stringer in short order, I've got more questions than answers. In the not so recent past I casually refered to myself as the human cold front because of a perceived lack of fishing success whenever I'm around, and I have a few friends who even nod in agreement instead of defending my fishing "expertise." As a biologist with more of a wildlife than fisheries background, when I'm asked about...
The 2024 pronghorn hunting season is set with 1,265 licenses available and all units open. North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game management supervisor Bruce Stillings said license numbers are up significantly from last year, when the department allocated 420 licenses in eight units. "Last winter was mild, resulting in higher adult survival and fawn recruitment from 2023," Stillings said. The July aerial survey indicated the overall pronghorn population is up 31% from last year. The...
Regardless of how safe and cautious boaters are on the water, accidents happen. If a boating accident involves injury, death or disappearance of a person, an accident report must be completed and sent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of the occurrence. If property damage exceeds $2,000, but no deaths or injuries occur, a boat operator has five days to file a report. These reporting requirements are mandatory whether there is one or more boats involved. A boat accident form is available on the Game and Fish...
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. The full magazine feature can be found on the Game and Fish Department's website at gf.nd.gov. With...
Photographers interested in sending photos for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest must follow guidelines for submitting their work. Photographers should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/wildlife/watchable-photo-contest. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps both with ease of submitting photos for the photographer and managing those images for department staff. The contest is open and the deadline for sub...
Outdoor recreationists are encouraged to keep it clean this summer by picking up all trash. It is not uncommon to see garbage piling up around full trash containers. Styrofoam containers are not biodegradable, but are often found wedged in cattails, drifting or washed up on shore. Tires, mattresses and kitchen appliances have found their way to public use areas. Not only does it spoil the beauty of the land, it destroys habitat, has the potential to pollute North Dakota waters and can injure wildlife....
There's never enough time and space to cover all the common questions anglers have. Some are in-depth and the Department does its best to answer these questions via North Dakota OUTDOORS, videos, podcasts, all of which can be found for free on the Department's website at gf.nd.gov. Many topics warrant deep discussion such as size restrictions or trophy regulations. Others are short and simple, yes or no. Yes, you can fish with two lines during open water. No, you may not "help" someone else catc...
