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Outdoors

Zoo News: A breath of fresh air

With warmer temperatures prevailing for the rest of this week, the forecast is a breath of fresh air for animals and guests alike. The animals that went inside in late October are now venturing back outside to soak up some of the sunshine during this break in the winter weather. The warmer temperatures are also a welcome to the families in the area who can get out and enjoy all the outdoor activities that Minot has to offer, including the zoo. Although transitions for some activities are not as easy to bounce back from for a short warm spell, most of the zoo’s animals are able to get ...

Hunters cautioned of ground conditions

With North Dakota’s deer gun season opening on Friday, the state’s countryside is seeing an influx of hunters traveling rural backroads to fill their tags. The Game and Fish Department encourages hunters to assess travel routes during the season as recent precipitation has created some soggy road and soft ground conditions across the state. Driving on soft, muddy roads and trails is strongly discouraged. In addition, hunters are advised to seek permission before attempting any off-road travel on private lands.

Deer hunters should be aware of early ice

The state Game and Fish Department cautions deer hunters to be wary of ice conditions. In some parts of the state, there are already smaller and mid-sized waters that show the appearance of safe ice. Even though deer might be able to make it across, it doesn’t mean hunters can. Ice can form overnight, causing 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. Hunters should be ...

Watford City advisory board meeting rescheduled

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s District 1 (Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties) advisory board meeting in Watford City has been rescheduled for Tuesday. It will be held at 7 p.m. in the McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club. The meeting was scheduled for October but postponed due to inclement weather.

Administrative rules hearing set for Dec. 12

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will hold a public hearing to address proposed rules changes to Title 30 of the North Dakota Administrative Code. The hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the agency’s main office in Bismarck. Anyone planning to attend the public hearing who needs special facilities or assistance relating to a disability should contact the department at least seven days before the public hearing.

North Dakota Outdoors: More hunting questions

This year’s deer season will run between Veterans Day and the Thanksgiving holiday. While that is subject to change from the annual shifting of the deer opener set near the Friday before Veterans Day. Many hunters appreciate the added holiday time while the rest of the non-hunting participants may miss them. One of the most important aspects of deer and all hunting is making a safe hunt the top priority. No matter how big of a buck or how successful a hunt is, if an injury, accident or fatality takes place, the deer hunt will be marked with a bad memory. Please wear blaze orange as ...