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2024 deer season summarized

A total of 42,416 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 23,300 deer during the 2024 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish made available 50,100 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 55%, with each hunter spending an average of 4.7 days in the field. Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 49% and 44% for antlerless whitetails. Mule deer buck success was 80% and 78% for antlerless mule deer. Hunters with any antlered or any antlerless licenses generally harvest ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Sharing stories from area warden

Like many growing up hunting, fishing and trapping, my memories of our North Dakota game wardens were my first exposure to natural resource law enforcement. In LaMoure, it was Harold Bellin. In Valley City, Delbert Tibke. Prior to becoming a game warden myself, I rode along with Ken Skuza who ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Fish hatcheries important in ND

Years ago in grade school we took a field trip to Valley City National Fish Hatchery. Even now I don’t think I fully appreciated what was right in our own backyard. I know back then I certainly didn’t. What I did know is that I loved to fish. I was fascinated by the hatchery setting ...

Drain plugs must remain out during transport

As open water fishing on the Missouri River picks up during the spring bite, anglers should note that the drain plug must always remain out of the boat during transport, whether going to or away from the river. In addition, to keep waters clean of aquatic nuisance species, all water users should clean, drain and dry all equipment after every use. – Clean and remove all plants and animals from watercraft or equipment prior to leaving any recreational area. – Drain all water from watercraft and equipment before leaving designated access points. Not draining water can be extremely ...

Grant application to assist R3 efforts

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters. The program supports projects and events that provide a positive environment to develop the skills and confidence needed to create lifelong, conservation-minded hunting and shooting sports participants. Application deadline is May 1. The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund about 40 ...