Submitted Photo Starting March 15, fish houses or shelters still can be used as long as they are removed when those fishing leave the water. The state’s darkhouse spearfishing season also closes March 15. Photo Credit: NDGF Ashley Peterson

A couple of decades ago, March was typically sort of a down time for outdoor activity in North Dakota, but that’s no longer the case.

With the fishing season for game fish open year-round instead of closing around the first weekend in March, plus the advent of the spring light goose conservation season, there’s more to do, and more licensing and regulation reminders to think about as we make the transition from winter to spring.

HIP for light geese

Up until March 31, your 2024 hunting license is good for the spring light goose season, but you still need a new Harvest Information Program registration number before you can hunt light geese once they enter the state.

Once you register, the HIP number remains valid for the fall as well, and all migratory game bird hunters, regardless of age, need free HIP certification to hunt ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves or woodcock.

Registration provides the Game and Fish Department with a database of names and addresses of migratory bird hunters, and a sample of these hunters will receive a questionnaire regarding hunting activity and number of birds harvested. Hunter compliance is essential to obtain reliable estimates of the annual harvest of all migratory game bird species.

Hunters who purchase a license through the department’s electronic licensing system (at NDGF website) can easily get HIP certified. Hunters must register for a different HIP number in all states where they hunt migratory game birds.

Another reminder regarding spring light geese: starting April 1 you will need to purchase a 2025 hunting license, as the 2024 version expires March 31.

New fishing license April 1

The 2024-25 fishing license also expires March 31, so starting April 1 you’ll need a new one of those as well, whether you’re finding some open water or extending the ice fishing season.

Licensing is done online or on the mobile app.

Fish houses off ice March 15

And if you’re still chasing fish through a hole in the ice, March 15 is the last day fish houses can remain on a lake overnight. Starting March 15, you can still use fish houses or shelters as long as you remove them when you leave the water.

The state’s darkhouse spearfishing season also closes March 15.

Winter boat purchases

While it’s not necessarily an outdoor activity, anyone who bought a boat or other watercraft from a private individual over the winter needs to register it in their name with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

It’s a common oversight for a new owner to leave the previous owner’s registration on the boat until it expires, and by then the initial record of transfer may be difficult to find.

Registering a used watercraft purchased from an individual must include proof of transfer of ownership, such as a photocopy of the previous owner’s registration card, a canceled check or a signed note from the previous owner stating transfer of ownership.

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 approximately 40 club and organization events and projects each year, with an average grant of $1,550.

Funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets; and eye and ear protection.

Past funding has enabled groups to conduct learn-to-hunt events, or sponsor trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting. Game and Fish has separate grant programs that support National Archery in the Schools Program and high school trapshooting teams.

Clubs or organizations interested in applying should note the grant process, application and records requirements. For more information, including a grant application, visit the Game and Fish Department website or contact Cayla Bendel, department R3 coordinator.