Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2011 season for bighorn sheep was 100 percent, 88 percent for moose and 50 percent for elk.
Four bighorn sheep units were open in 2011. Game and Fish issued one license in unit B1/B2, two licenses in unit B3, and two licenses in unit B4. One additional auction license holder was able to hunt any open area. All six hunters tagged adult rams.
The department issued 163 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 159 hunters harvested 140 animals 84 bulls and 56 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit is indicated in the chart at right.
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MDN Graphic
The department issued 520 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 504 hunters harvested 251 elk 177 bulls and 74 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit is indicated in the chart at right.
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A see-through paddlefish
The fish appears to be an albino, but it is not. It genetically lacks pigment, a defect that gives the fish its nearly transparent appearance. Several such paddlefish are being held in indoor raceways at the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery for visitors to observe.
The fish will not be used for spawning purposes nor released into the wild where they would be very visible prey for predators. The white line running perpendicular to the fish's paddle is the reflection from overhead lighting.
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Spearfishing closes March 15
Michael O'Clair, Mohall, poses with his dog, Dumas, and a 15 pound, 1 ounce pike that he pulled from Lake Darling during a day of spearfishing Feb. 20. The pike measured 36.5 inches. O'Clair speared two other pike that day, measured at 28 and 30 inches respectively.
"The spearfishing had been pretty good, so I decided to wait for a double-figure fish," O'Clair said. "Alicia saw it enter the spear hole. We were in about eight feet of clear water."
Alicia Livingston, Kenmare, was accompanying O'Clair during the successful spearfishing trip.
The darkhouse spearfishing season closes March 15, the same date that is the deadline for anglers to remove permanent fish houses from state waters.
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Regs: Remove permanent fish houses soon
State law requires permanent fish houses to be removed from North Dakota waters by midnight March 15.
Nancy Boldt, water safety coordinator for the state Game and Fish Department, said anglers should exercise caution because mild weather conditions this winter have resulted in unstable ice conditions in many areas of the state.
"It is always important to check ice thickness, but even more so this year because of the unseasonably mild temperatures over the past two months," Boldt said. "In addition, warm temperatures with a high sun will rapidly deteriorate ice conditions this time of the year."
Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.