North Dakota watercraft owners getting set for open water fishing should know that 2026 marked the beginning of a new three-year registration cycle. Whether you’re getting ready for a summer on the lake or planning a quiet paddle down a local river, making sure your watercraft registration ...
North Dakota’s hunting seasons represent far more than tradition or recreation. For most it’s almost part of our DNA. Yet, each year I hear a familiar question: Why don’t we just close down the deer or pheasant seasons to help repopulate? It’s almost counter intuitive. We love it so ...
Whether you go by the calendar or conditions on the ground, winter in North Dakota is always a season of transition. Officially, the books say it starts Dec. 21 and wraps up March 21. For me, winter started with a true cold and snow snap just before Thanksgiving. For some, it didn't truly ...
Big 3 harvest statistics North Dakota Game and Fish Department harvest statistics show overall success for the 2025 season was 100% for bighorn sheep, 87% for moose and 62% for elk. The department issued eight bighorn sheep licenses, one of which was an auction license. The Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife issued two licenses in 2025, one to a tribal member and one to a Game and Fish Department applicant. All 10 hunters were successful. The department issued 292 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 281 hunters harvested 245 animals – 147 bulls and 98 cows/calves. The ...
Early March often creates the impression that winter is nearly over. Day length is increasing, snow begins to settle, and we can see the finish line of our annual winter marathon. However, it’s too early to assume pheasants and deer are going to win the race. Winter lingering on can impact ...
Every few years the question of whether North Dakota should offer a bounty on coyotes surfaces again. It usually follows a tough fall deer season, a hard, cold, snowy start to winter, or a combination of it all. It’s been asked for years. But from a wildlife management standpoint, a bounty ...
