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Outdoors

Hunters be wary of ice conditions

BISMARCK – In some parts of the state, there are smaller waters that show the appearance of safe ice. Hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers, according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Ice can form overnight, resulting in unstable conditions. Ice thickness is not consistent, as it can vary significantly within a few inches. Hunters walking the edge of a cattail slough will not find the same ice thickness in the middle, as the edges firm up faster than farther out from shore. NDGF reminds hunters: – Snow insulates ice, ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Deer Season 2025

North Dakota’s first 2025 deer season opened on Aug. 29 at noon and runs through Jan. 4, 2026. For many hunters the “real deer season” is the gun/rifle season which runs from Nov. 7-Nov. 23. This year 42,300 licenses were available to hunters, down 7,800 from last year. In addition, ...

NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS: Wild Game Care 101

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself standing over a tailgate in November with cold fingers, a pocketknife that could use sharpening, and a few regrets. Whether it’s a whitetail buck from the Sheyenne River breaks, a Badlands muley or prairie fawn, how we handle ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Funding for fishing celebrates 75 years

When I see kids balancing a rod and tackle box while riding a bike to a nearby river or fishing hole, I pause and smile. Years ago, I did that. So did my son. And it’s reassuring to know with all the distractions and noise in this digital age a remnant remains drawn to a worm, a hook, ...

Game and Fish Advisory Board meetings announced

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this fall at eight locations across the state. These public meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. Area meetings include: District 2 – Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward counties Oct. 29 – 7 p.m., Kenmare Fire Hall, 617 Central Ave. N. Host: Goosefest; contact: Scott Ness, 240-3855; advisory board member, Travis Leier, Velva. District 7 – McLean, ...

The state Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail or “any” deer gun licenses in five units in western North Dakota the option of turning those licenses in for refunds. Hunters with antlered whitetail, antlerless whitetail, any antlered and any antlerless licenses, are eligible for refunds in units 3E1, 3F1, 3F2, 4E and 4F. Hunters who return their licenses will have their bonus points restored, if applicable, to the same number of points prior to the 2025 deer gun lottery. Mason Ryckman, wildlife health biologist, said the decision is based on scattered ...