Camping restrictions lifted on WMAs

With Independence Day approaching, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds outdoor recreationists fireworks on state wildlife management areas are prohibited.

The primary objective of a wildlife management area is to enhance wildlife production, provide hunting and fishing opportunities, and offer other outdoor recreation compatible with these objectives. Activities that do not disrupt the intentions are encouraged, and fireworks are not compatible.

In addition, the department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday no-camping restriction for the Fourth of July holiday week, which will allow overnight camping June 30 and July 1 on those WMAs that otherwise have this two-day restriction.

Pronghorn Survey Begins

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual aerial pronghorn survey will begin Sunday, June 28, and is scheduled to be completed within two weeks.

During the survey period, small airplanes will sometimes fly low over parts of western North Dakota.

The survey determines pronghorn abundance, herd demographics and fawn production. This data is used to set the number of licenses for the fall hunting season.

Crowing counts up statewide

The number of roosters heard during the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2026 spring pheasant crowing count survey was 23.2 crows per stop, up 9% statewide from last year.

“Overwinter survival of adult pheasants has been outstanding. Typically, we lose up to 75% of our pheasant population each winter, but that has not been the case as of late,” said RJ Gross, Department upland game management biologist.

By region, observers heard 32.7 crows per stop in the southwest, up 5% from 2025; 22.2 crows per stop in the northwest, up 4%; and 23.1 crows per stop in the southeast, up 24% from last year. The count in the northeast, which is not a primary region for pheasants, was 9.3 crows per stop, up 43% from 2025.

Crowing counts are just one part of the picture, providing a glimpse of the population going into the breeding season. But Gross expects more good news as the peak of the pheasant hatch approaches.

“Entering the nesting season, residual grass cover looked good,” Gross said. “We have received ample precipitation that has led to increased growth in nesting and brood rearing cover across the state. Combined with high overwinter survival over the past three years and near ideal nesting habitat conditions, things are looking great for pheasants in North Dakota.”

Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the number of roosters heard crowing. The number of pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

As always, the late summer roadside counts conducted in July and August will give a better idea of brood production and the hunting outlook for fall.

Zebra mussels discovered in Horseshoe Lake

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has confirmed invasive zebra mussels in Horseshoe Lake, Richland County, after detecting zebra mussel veligers in routine plankton tow net samples.

Department aquatic nuisance species coordinator Ben Holen said subsequent follow-up sampling found additional adult mussels in the lake.

The 275-acre lake is located 5 miles southwest of Hankinson and is near Lake Elsie, which has had zebra mussels present for a number of years.

Horseshoe Lake is now considered a Class I ANS Infested waters. Emergency rules will go into effect immediately to prohibit the movement of water away from the lake, including water for transferring bait. Notices will be posted at lake access sites.

Zebra mussels are just one of the nonnative aquatic species that threaten our waters and native wildlife. After using any body of water, people must remember to follow North Dakota regulations:

Remove aquatic vegetation before leaving the water access and do not import into North Dakota.

Drain all water before leaving the water access.

Remove drain plugs and devices that hold back water and leave open and out during transport.

Do not import aquatic bait into the state. For Class I ANS Infested waters, aquatic bait cannot be transported away from the water during the open-water months. In all other areas, bait must be transported in a container that holds 5 gallons or less. It is illegal to dump unused bait on shore or into the lake.

All docks, lifts and related equipment must be dried and left out of water for at least 21 days before being placed in another water.

In addition to North Dakota regulations, the Game and Fish Department strongly recommends the following:

Avoid mooring watercraft in zebra mussels infested waters.

Clean – remove plants, animals and excessive mud prior to leaving a water access.

Drain – drain all water prior to leaving a water access.

Dry – allow equipment to dry completely before using again or disinfect.

Breeding duck numbers down again

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 79th annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.4 million birds, down 9.5% from 2.66 million birds in 2025 and 2.9 million in 2024.

The 2026 breeding duck index dipped below the 1948-2025 average for the first time since 1993, according to John Palarski, department migratory game bird supervisor.

In these spring waterfowl surveys, Palarski said they’re counting a portion of what remains of last year’s fall flight. Duck production in North Dakota has been poor in recent years and midcontinent duck populations continue to decline.

Historically, duck numbers in North Dakota paralleled wetland conditions closely. In the heydays of North Dakota duck hunting from 1994-2016, the breeding duck index frequently topped 4 million birds, but it is unlikely for that to happen again, even in the wettest years, until habitat availability improves.

Indices for individual species were variable. Mallards (up 6.8%), pintails (up 23.7%) and green-winged teal (up 20.9%) indices increased from 2025 while blue-winged teal, gadwall, widgeon and most diving duck species decreased. Although mallards are up from 2025, they’re still down 15.3% from their long-term average.

Palarski and crew covered more than 1,800 miles of transects counting wetlands and waterfowl down to the species and social grouping on both sides of the road. This spring, the wetland count was similar to last year but 34.9% below the long-term average.

As always, the July brood survey will give a better idea of duck production and insight into what to expect this fall.

Upland game seasons summarized

North Dakota’s 2025 upland bird harvests were down for pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge compared to 2024.

“We were not surprised by a decrease in pheasant harvest in the fall of 2025 based on decreases of chicks in our late summer roadside counts. Chick production was negatively impacted by the cool, wet nesting season and these juvenile birds are often what make up a significant portion of a hunter’s bag. However, adult pheasant densities remain high due to good survival from the mild winter,” said RJ Gross, North Dakota Game and Fish Department upland game biologist.

Gross said given the number of roosters remaining on the landscape post-season, access was likely the most limiting factor for pheasant hunter success.

Last year, 53,008 pheasant hunters (down 4%) harvested 344,975 roosters (down 3%), compared to 55,401 hunters and 357,018 roosters in 2024.

Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken were Hettinger, Divide, Williams, Stark and McLean.

A total of 18,241 grouse hunters (down 16%) harvested 55,539 sharp-tailed grouse (down 24%), compared to 21,660 hunters and 73,010 sharptails in 2024.

Counties with the highest percentage of sharptails taken were Divide, Hettinger, Mountrail, Adams and Bowman.

Sharp-tailed grouse were down 38% in last year’s summer roadside brood counts.

“In addition to cool, wet weather in June, which is unfavorable for chick survival, we suspect sharptail may have been impacted by West Nile virus because they declined from spring surveys to late summer surveys. Those declines appeared to have hampered the rebounding population, and the 24% drop in sharptail harvest reflects this,” Gross said.

Last year, 18,343 hunters (down 16%) harvested 50,445 gray partridge (down 25%). In 2024, 21,887 hunters harvested 67,465 partridge.

Counties with the highest percentage of gray partridge taken were Stark, McLean, Hettinger, Williams and Divide.

“Although hunters harvested fewer pheasants in 2025, we are optimistic after yet another mild winter, that the high pheasant population should carry through to 2026,” Gross said.

However, since much of the fall forecast depends on nesting and brood-rearing success, hunters should stay tuned.