The 2016 May issue of North Dakota Outdoors magazine is available FREE online right now.

It’s a “catch” with a feature Walleye Tagging Study Delivers Answers  by editor Ron Wilson.  On a cold, windy April morning better suited for telling fishing stories indoors, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists tagged and released 21 walleye caught in trap nets anchored in Lake Oahe’s Cattail Bay.

Ron also updated the continued fight involved in Blocking Zebra Mussel Movement and the monthly feature A Look Back revisits White Earth Bay spawning in 1989.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s hunter education program graduated it’s 200,000 student in 2015. Volunteers Continue to Fuel Hunter Education  looks at the decades of success of the Hunter Education program has had in creating safer hunting for all participants.

Check these stories and more for free in the full May issue available right here or here http://gf.nd.gov/publications

​North Dakotans who want to give fishing a try are reminded they can fish for freeJune 4-5.

That is the state’s Free Fishing Weekend, when all residents age 16 and over can fish any North Dakota water without a license. Residents age 15 and under do not need a fishing license at any time of year.

“It’s a great chance for people who may be new to fishing, to give it a try,” said Greg Power, fisheries chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. “There are lots of diverse, quality fishing opportunities scattered across the state.”

Fishing regulations and information on fishing waters is available on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov, and in the current regulations guide available at license vendor locations.

Boaters are reminded to exercise patience and plan accordingly when heading to a lake or river this summer.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department receives a number of complaints every year about overly aggressive behavior at boat ramps. A few simple reminders will help ensure a fluent transition when launching and loading a boat.

Launching

• Don’t pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch.
• Prepare for launching in the parking area. Remove covers, load equipment, remove tie downs, attach lines and put in drain plug, before backing onto the ramp.
• When ready, pull into line to launch. Wait your turn. Be courteous.
• It takes at least two people to efficiently and courteously launch a boat: one to handle the boat and one to take care of the tow vehicle.

Loading

• Don’t block the loading area with your boat until your tow vehicle is ready to load. Wait until you are clear of the launch area to unload gear.
• As soon as your trailer is in the water, load and secure your boat to the trailer.
• Remove boat and trailer from the water as quickly as possible.
• Get clear of the ramp. Pull into the parking area to finish securing your boat, unloading gear, draining all water and inspecting for and removing any vegetation. Remember to leave plugs out when transporting boat.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department emphasizes a simple message to well-intentioned humans who want to pick up and rescue what appear to be orphaned baby animals – don’t touch them. Whether it is a young fawn, duckling, cottontail rabbit or a songbird, it is better to just leave them alone.

More often than not young animals are not abandoned or deserted, and the mother is probably watching nearby. Young wildlife are purposely placed into seclusion by their mothers to protect them from predators.

Anytime a young wild animal has human contact its chance for survival decreases significantly. It’s illegal to take wild animals home, and captive animals later returned to the wild will struggle to survive because they do not possess learned survival skills.

The only time a baby animal should be picked up is if it is in an unnatural situation, such as a young songbird found on a doorstep. In that case, the young bird could be moved to the closest suitable habitat.

Citizens should also steer clear of adult wildlife, such as deer or moose that might wander into urban areas. Crowding stresses animals, and this could lead to a potentially dangerous situation.

In addition, motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways. June is one of the peak months for deer‑vehicle accidents because young animals are dispersing from their home ranges. With deer more active during these months, the potential for car‑deer collisions increases.

The 2016 May issue of North Dakota Outdoors magazine is available FREE online right now.

It’s a “catch” with a feature Walleye Tagging Study Delivers Answers  by editor Ron Wilson.  On a cold, windy April morning better suited for telling fishing stories indoors, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists tagged and released 21 walleye caught in trap nets anchored in Lake Oahe’s Cattail Bay.

Ron also updated the continued fight involved in Blocking Zebra Mussel Movement and the monthly feature A Look Back revisits White Earth Bay spawning in 1989.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s hunter education program graduated it’s 200,000 student in 2015. Volunteers Continue to Fuel Hunter Education  looks at the decades of success of the Hunter Education program has had in creating safer hunting for all participants.

Check these stories and more for free in the full May issue available right here or here http://gf.nd.gov/publications

North Dakota deer hunters are reminded the deadline for submitting applications for the 2016 gun season is June 1. Hunters are encouraged to apply online at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

The deadline applies to muzzleloader, regular gun, gratis and nonresident landowner, and youth antlered mule deer applications (specifically for antlered mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2, and 4A-4F).

New this year is the option for unsuccessful applicants to donate their refund to the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program. The North Dakota State Legislature created this option in 2015 with nearly unanimous support. Donations are not tax deductible.

Proceeds from donations to PLOTS will focus on deer habitat and hunting access to deer habitat.

State law requires residents age 18 or older to prove residency on the application by submitting a valid North Dakota driver’s license number or a North Dakota nondriver photo identification number. Applications cannot be processed without this information.

Gratis applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline (June 1) will be issued an any-legal-deer license. As per state law, applications received after the deadline will be issued based on licenses remaining after the lottery – generally only antlerless licenses remain.

The application deadline for regular statewide youth deer licenses is Sept. 1.

Many are taking advantage of the open waters and beautiful spring weather to get outside and do some fishing.

Transporting Fish

In this week’s North Dakota Game and Fish Department webcast, district game warden Corey Erck talks about some of the North Dakota fishing regulations and about how to properly transport the fish you catch.

Watch the video right here or here: http://gf.nd.gov/publications/television/outdoors-online-webcast
Full North Dakota Fish regulations can be found right here or here http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/fishing-regulations-guide

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has many opportunities for volunteers to help with education efforts this summer.

Anyone interested in helping Game and Fish’s conservation education efforts, and volunteering time to sustain the state’s outdoor heritage, can call Game and Fish at701-328-6615.

Volunteer fishing camp instructors must become an official Game and Fish Department volunteer, become a Lure ‘Em For Life member ($10 annually) and pass a background check. Contact Jeff Long, department education coordinator, at 701-328-6322 to begin this process.

Some other volunteer opportunities coming this summer include:

·         National Guard Fish Camp, June 5-8, at Camp of the Cross, Garrison. The camp is conducted as a partnership between Lure ‘Em For Life, North Dakota Game and Fish, and the North Dakota National Guard and is open to kids ages 9-14 whose parent or parents are active North Dakota National Guard members. Volunteers are needed to teach classes such as knot tying, fish identification and shore-fishing. Volunteers with boats are also needed to take kids on the water.

·         Camp of the Cross Ministries Fish Camp, June 20-23, at Camp of the Cross, Garrison. The camp is organized and run by CCM, but volunteers are needed to help with fishing. This three-day camp was developed by CCM as a “specialty camp,” focusing on one of three areas, including fishing.

·         Summer Fish Camp, Aug. 7-12, at Lakewood Bible Camp, Devils Lake. Similar to the June camp in Garrison, but this four-day camp is open to anyone ages 8-14.

·         North Dakota State Fair, July 22-30, Minot. The Game and Fish Department operates an outdoor skills area during the State Fair where kids of all ages have an opportunity to fish, and shoot pellet guns and bows. There is also a furbearer and many other educational displays. The Outdoors Skills Park is open 1-7 p.m. daily and is operated by volunteers and Game and Fish staff. Lodging and per diem are provided to volunteers working two or more consecutive days.

·         Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site, Bismarck. Family fishing days are Saturdays and Wednesdays from June through the end of August, located adjacent to the department’s Bismarck office, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to answer questions and check out equipment.

have you read?

The 2016 May issue of North Dakota Outdoors magazine is available FREE online right now.

It’s a “catch” with a feature Walleye Tagging Study Delivers Answers  by editor Ron Wilson.  On a cold, windy April morning better suited for telling fishing stories indoors, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists tagged and released 21 walleye caught in trap nets anchored in Lake Oahe’s Cattail Bay.

Ron also updated the continued fight involved in Blocking Zebra Mussel Movement and the monthly feature A Look Back revisits White Earth Bay spawning in 1989.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s hunter education program graduated it’s 200,000 student in 2015. Volunteers Continue to Fuel Hunter Education  looks at the decades of success of the Hunter Education program has had in creating safer hunting for all participants.

Check these stories and more for free in the full May issue available right here or here http://gf.nd.gov/publications

Outdoor water recreationists are once again reminded to help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota.

Current regulations require:

·         All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats, personal watercraft, trailers and fishing equipment such as fishing poles, bait buckets, lures and waders before leaving a body of water. That means “vegetation free” when transporting watercraft and/or equipment away from a boat ramp, landing area or shoreline. Time out of the water needed to remove aquatic vegetation at the immediate water access area is allowed.

·         All water must be drained from boats and other watercraft, including bilges, livewells, baitwells and motors before leaving a water body.

·         All drain plugs that may hold back water must be removed, and water draining devices must be open, on all watercraft and recreational, commercial and construction equipment bilges and confined spaces, during any out-of-water transport of same.

·         Transportation of fish in or on ice is allowed.

·         Live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation may not be transported into North Dakota.

·         All legal live aquatic organisms used by anglers, including legal baitfish (fathead minnows), amphibians (salamanders and frogs), invertebrates (crayfish and leeches) and insects must be purchased and/or trapped in North Dakota.

·         Anglers may not transport live bait in water away from the Red River (Class I ANS infested waters). All water must be drained from bait buckets as anglers leave the shore, or remove their boat from the water. Anglers must properly dispose of unused bait away from the river, as dumping bait in the water or on shore is illegal.

·         In all other waters not infested with Class I ANS species, anglers can transport live bait in water in containers of five gallons or less in volume.