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 ...

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 ...

Almost 40 years ago, legislators heard from folks who wanted to do a little more for the critters most of us don’t see every day. While game species often get the headlines, it’s the nongame wildlife – the bulk of North Dakota’s fish and wildlife – that quietly fills the prairies, ...