This weeks North Dakota Outdoors Webcast with fisheries biologist Russ Kinzler will help you learn more about the salmon fishing prospects on Lake Sakakawea this summer, and tell you how you can help with an ongoing salmon study. You can watch the video right here: or http://gf.nd.gov/publications/television/outdoors-online-webcast
More video’s are available right here or http://gf.nd.gov/video
And more details to read about tagged salmon are right here:
Prospective pronghorn hunters are reminded the deadline to apply for the 2016 hunting season is Aug. 3.
Applicants can apply online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by calling 800-406-6409. Paper applications are available for printing off the website, and from license vendors.
A total of 730 licenses are available in seven open units – 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4C. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn.
The bow-only portion of the season is from Sept 2 (noon) – Sept. 25. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.
From Sept. 30 (noon) – Oct.16, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or archery equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a 2016 pronghorn license. People who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points.
Individuals interested in taking the district game warden exam scheduled for Aug. 5are reminded to register no later than Aug. 1, by submitting an online application through the North Dakota State Job Openings website.
The test is at 10 a.m. at the department’s main office in Bismarck.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a bachelor’s degree at time of hire (tentative hire date is Oct. 1), have a valid driver’s license and a current North Dakota peace officer license, or be eligible to be licensed. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal skills in communications and writing, and must not have a record of any felony convictions.
District game wardens enforce game and fish laws and related regulations in an assigned district and other locations as determined by the department. Wardens normally work alone under varied conditions, at all hours of the day, night and weekends. In addition to law enforcement duties, wardens assist in the areas of public relations, education programs, and hunter and boat safety education.
Salary through training for a district game warden is $3,800 per month. Upon successful completion of training, the monthly salary ranges are $4,260 – $7,100. Wardens also receive the state benefits package, including travel allowance. Uniforms and other equipment are provided.
Anglers who catch a tagged salmon are reminded to turn in the heads and report information to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.Anglers can identify a tagged salmon by looking at the adipose fin – a small fleshy lobe found on the back toward the tail. If the fin is missing it was likely removed by Game and Fish biologists and the salmon probably has a micro-tag embedded in its head. There is no external tag.
Micro-tags are inserted into a sample of young salmon before being stocked into Lake Sakakawea. This microscopic tag is implanted near the snout, and contains a code that identifies stocking information.
Heads can be turned into Game and Fish, or local bait shops in Riverdale and Pick City. Anglers will be provided information about the fish when tags are extracted and read by biologists.
North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the State Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
More than 1,600 antlerless deer gun licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the first lottery can apply for remaining licenses.
The first lottery application process – deer gun, muzzleloader, youth and landowner – had more than 102,000 applicants, and over 51,000 were unsuccessful.
An option for unsuccessful applicants to apply online for remaining licenses will be available Aug. 3. Paper applications for remaining licenses will be mailed to individuals the week of Aug. 1. The deadline for applying is Aug. 24.
Have you read?
The 2016 July issue of North Dakota Outdoors magazine is available FREE online right now here.
Ron Wilson has an in depth look at the population of moose in North Dakota with a story on Moose May Warrant Future Protection In late March, resident hunters applied for a record 202 moose licenses in North Dakota. In June, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the subspecies of moose found in North Dakota and three other states could eventually warrant federal protection.Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief, said news of possible federal protection of North Dakota’s moose population is puzzling to people, considering the state has a stable to increasing population.
You’ll also want to be sure to check out a feature on the North Dakota grasslands, Focus on Grasslands in a Prairie State
Tallgrass prairie once covered much of the central United States and Canada and occupied roughly the eastern one-fourth of North Dakota. It is estimated only 3 percent of it remains unplowed, and North Dakota”s remaining tallgrass prairie is found almost exclusively in the Red River Valley.
The North Dakota State High School Clay Target League held its season-ending event, the 2016 Clay Target League state tournament June 18 at The Shooting Park in Horace.
Shooting Clays at State by Ron Wilson explores the growing popularity and interest of the North Dakota High School Sporting Clays. In 2016, more than 400 student athletes representing 23 high schools competed in the spring season. The state tournament attracted more than 360 participants vying for team and individual honors. Additionally, more than 1,000 spectators attended the event.
Pronghorn numbers are up 34% from last year. Find out what that means for this year’s pronghorn season in this week’s webcast with big game management supervisor Bruce Stillings.
You can watch the video right here: or http://gf.nd.gov/publications/television/outdoors-online-webcast
More video’s are available right here or http://gf.nd.gov/video
And more details to read are right here:
Adults and children looking to take a hunter education class in 2016 are reminded to enroll at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov.
Hunter education coordinator John Mazur said the majority of classes were held by the end of May. However, he said classes will still be added throughout the year as they become finalized.
“Our volunteer instructors will be adding classes, but not nearly as many as we move toward the fall,” Mazur said. “That’s why it is important to monitor our website and to act quickly when a class suits your needs.”
To register, click on the hunter ed enrollment link and “list of hunter education courses.” Classes are listed by city, and can also be sorted by start date. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required.
Those who do not have access to the Internet and want to sign up for a class can call the hunter education program in Bismarck at 701-328-6615.
Individuals interested in receiving a notice by email when each hunter education class is added can click on the “subscribe to news, email and text alerts” link found below the news section on the department’s home page. Check the box labeled “hunter education class notification” under the education program updates.
In addition, SMS text notifications of new classes can be sent directly to a cell phone. Simply text “NDGF HunterClass” to 468311 to subscribe to this feature.
State law requires anyone born after December 31, 1961 to pass a certified hunter education course to hunt in the state. Hunter education is mandatory for youth who are turning 12 years old, and children can take the class at age 11.
The next guide and outfitter written examination is Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. The test is given periodically to anyone interested in becoming a hunting guide or outfitter in the state.
In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations; certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid; and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.
Hunting outfitter eligibility requirements include the guide qualifications, as well as an individual must have held a hunting guide license for two years; and must have proof of liability insurance.
Interested individuals are required to preregister by calling the Game and Fish Department’s enforcement office at 328-6604.
North Dakota’s 2016 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 730 licenses available in seven open units, according to Jeb Williams, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department.
Along with units 3B, 4A and 4C, which were the only open units in 2015, units 1A, 2A, 2B and 3A will hold a limited number of licenses.
“Overall, our pronghorn numbers are up 34 percent from last year, with better fawn production of 66 fawns per 100 does compared to 52 per 100 in 2015,” Williams said. “With an average winter, the foundation is set for an even larger increase next year as many other units are doing well and are close to opening with the observed population levels. But we are continuing to be conservative to ensure steady population growth throughout the pronghorn range.”
A total of 110 licenses are available in 1A, 60 in 2A, 40 in 2B, 35 in 3A, 110 in 3B, 300 in 4A and 75 in 4C. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn.
Similar to last year, each unit will have a season that is split into an early “bow-only” portion, and a later gun/bow season.
The bow-only portion of the season is from Sept 2 (noon) – Sept. 25. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.
From Sept. 30 (noon) – Oct.16, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or bow equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a 2016 pronghorn license. Williams said people who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points.
In addition, state law allows youth who turn age 12 on or before December 31, 2016 to apply for a license.
Applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.govstarting Monday, July 18. Paper applications will be available by July 22 for printing off the website, and from license vendors, or by calling 800-406-6409.
The pronghorn license fee is $30, and the deadline for submitting applications isAug. 3.
