Latest news with #NorthDakotaGameandFishDepartment
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Game and Fish announces reduction in North Dakota deer gun licenses
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—BISMARCK — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 42,300 licenses for the 2025 deer gun season, down 7,800 from last year. In addition, muzzleloader licenses decreased by 150 and restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses remained the same. Game and Fish announced the license reduction — which wasn't unexpected — Wednesday, May 7, in a news release. According to Casey Anderson, wildlife division chief for Game and Fish in Bismarck, population, harvest and survey data indicate the state's deer population is stable to decreasing throughout the state. "The state's deer population continues to recover from the 2021 EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) outbreak and the severe winter of 2022-23, which limited population growth despite reduced gun licenses during 2023 and 2024 hunting seasons," Anderson said. "Modest license allocations are intended to maintain hunting opportunities while encouraging population growth in the state." High-quality deer habitat is not abundant, which has limited the potential for population recovery. If contracts for land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program continue to expire, Anderson said 85% of the once-3.4 million acres present in 2007 will be lost by 2026. The spring mule deer survey showed western North Dakota's mulie population is 14% lower than last year, despite a reduced harvest and consecutive mild winters. North Dakota's 2025 deer gun season opens at noon Nov. 7 and continues through Nov. 23. Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth and muzzleloader can apply online through the Game and Fish Department's website at . The deadline for applying is midnight June 4. Those who didn't apply last year will lose accrued points by not applying or purchasing a point this year, the department said. State law allows residents ages 11, 12 and 13 to obtain any antlerless licenses, except in units 3B1, 3B2 and 4A through 4F, where mule deer doe licenses are restricted. Total deer licenses are determined by harvest rates, aerial surveys, depredation reports, hunter observations, input at advisory board meetings and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff. Game and Fish reported in March that hunters shot approximately 23,300 deer during the 2024 gun season. Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 49% and 44% for antlerless whitetails. Mule deer success was 80% for bucks and 78% for antlerless mule deer. Game and Fish offered 50,100 licenses for the 2024 deer gun season.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor signs bill on hunting deer with bait in North Dakota
Deer congregate near the Red River. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong has signed a bill that forbids state wildlife managers from restricting the use of bait for hunting deer on private property. Senate Bill 2137 prevents the North Dakota Game and Fish Department from banning deer hunting over bait. The agency has imposed baiting bans in some areas of the state as it tries to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, which can be fatal in deer. 'We can deal with wildlife management and respect private property rights,' Armstrong, who is a hunter, said in a statement. Many hunters testified in favor of the bill sponsored by Sen. Keith Boehm, R-Mandan, though some joined the Game and Fish Department in opposing it. Other outdoors related bills signed this week include House Bill 1470 that raises the price of hunting, fishing and boating licenses, Senate Bill 2216 that creates a $5 waterfowl hunting stamp to pay for habitat improvement and Senate Bill 2245 that changes rules on hunting waterfowl from a boat. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Game and Fish reports 17 new cases of CWD in North Dakota
Feb. 20—BISMARCK — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tested 1,456 animals for chronic wasting disease during the 2024 sampling season. Game and Fish confirmed 17 deer tested positive for CWD, 15 of which were taken by hunters and two were clinical deer confirmed through diagnostic examination. Positive cases came from units 3A1 (seven mule deer), 3E1 (one mule deer), 3E2 (one mule deer), 3F2 (four mule deer and two whitetails), 3B2 (one mule deer) and 3B3 (one whitetail). CWD was not previously detected in units 3B2 or 3B3. Sampling efforts fell short of the 10% goal in units where CWD surveillance was concentrated. Game and Fish will use its 2024 surveillance data to guide CWD management moving forward. Regulations related to CWD are set annually by proclamation. CWD is a fatal disease of deer, moose and elk that remains on the landscape and can cause long-term population impacts as infection rates climb. More information about CWD can be found by visiting the department's website,
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
By calendar, at least, North Dakota spring light goose hunt opens Feb. 15
Feb. 11—BISMARCK — Spring appears to be a ways off, if this week's temperatures are any indication, but North Dakota's spring light goose conservation order opens Saturday, Feb. 15, and continues through May 11, the Game and Fish Department said in a news release. Residents must have a 2024-25 (valid through March 31) or 2025-26 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Resident youth under age 16 only need the general game and habitat license. The 2025-26 license is available for purchase beginning March 15. Nonresidents need a 2025 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in spring remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring license does not count against the 14-day fall waterfowl hunting season regulation. In addition, nonresident youth under 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee. A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents. Resident and nonresident licenses are available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, . Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota's spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota's fall hunting season. The number can be obtained online on the Game and Fish website. The spring conservation order is only open to light geese — snows, blues and Ross's. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The conservation order is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds. For more information on regulations refer to the 2025 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations .
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Dakota Game and Fish Department seeks contractors for work on private lands
Jan. 28—BISMARCK — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is seeking contractors to perform habitat work on Private Land Open To Sportsmen program lands across the state and encourages businesses to add their names to a list of available contractors. PLOTS is an agreement between the department and private landowners to open their lands to walk-in hunting. Game and Fish also encourages private landowners to establish or enhance habitat on PLOTS land with grass plantings, food plots and similar types of wildlife-friendly practices. However, if a landowner does not have the necessary equipment for the work, a contractor is usually needed. There is a shortage of contractors or equipment to perform habitat work in some parts of the state. The bulk of the habitat work is planting native and introduced grasses, which requires a tractor, operator and a grass drill. Other work may include spraying, food plots, tree removal, prescribed burning and construction of grazing infrastructure such as fences and water sources. Contractors or businesses interested in being added to the list can check out the Game and Fish website at or call (701) 328-6265. This is not a guarantee for work, but as projects come along, the department will refer landowners to the list of available contractors.
