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Outdoors

Waterfowl survey numbers not a surprise

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated about 88,000 Canada geese and 3,225 mallards in the state. John Palarski, department migratory game bird biologist, said the below average count was expected this year for wintering waterfowl due to cold temperatures in late November and early January leading up to the survey. “The majority of waterfowl that winter in North Dakota can be found along the Missouri River System. Following a record-setting count in 2024, we counted fewer geese and mallards than normal this year, ...

Spring turkey season set

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 8,547 wild turkey licenses for the 2025 spring hunting season, 410 more than last year. Eight of the 21 hunting units have more spring licenses than last year, two have fewer licenses and 11 remain the same. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties), which has been closed for several years due to a low turkey population because of a lack of quality habitat, has been extended into units 44 and 06 to allow for more opportunities. Spring turkey applicants can apply at the Game and Fish Department website. The deadline for applying ...

Grant expands technical assistance in ND

Audubon Great Plains has announced a $460,136 award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support the “Expanding Technical Assistance for North Dakota Producers” project. This initiative aims to enhance conservation efforts and provide critical support to producers across North Dakota. The award allows Audubon Great Plains to expand its network by hiring an additionsl range ecologist to increase restoration habitat projects in eastern North Dakota. The project will leverage an additional $461,568 in matching contributions raised by the National Audubon Society, creating ...

NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS: Right now is time to plan for fall’s hunting season

When should you start planning for next fall’s hunting season? If you or someone you know will need hunter safety and education. The time is right now. I know it doesn’t seem quite normal when hunting seasons just wrapped up and squirrel season is still open but there’s a pretty short ...

North Dakota Outdoors: NDGF director takes look at ND outdoors

Hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation issues can change quickly with a nasty winter, disease and other influences that challenge the animals on the landscape and the people who pursue them. Then again, sometimes the stars align and both animals and people benefit. To see where we have ...

Hunter education classes required

If you were born after 1961, are 12 years or older, you must take a home study or traditional classroom certified hunter education course before you can get a firearm or bowhunting license in North Dakota. The home study, or hybrid course, requires 7-10 hours of online and six hours of in-person classroom time. The six hours of classroom time consists of an in-person session prior to starting the online class and at the end of the class to complete testing. Traditional classroom courses require at least 14 hours of in-person class time, and most classes are held from January through ...