In North Dakota, more than 93% of the landscape is privately owned, making private land essential to the future of wildlife, habitat and public hunting access. Recognizing this reality, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department Private Land Initiative continues with a framework for ...
Every winter, as pickup trucks venture onto frozen lakes and steam rises from the first pour of coffee, the world of ice fishing reminds us why it remains one of North Dakota’s cold-weather joys. Beneath the surface, though, the biology of our fisheries shifts into a slower, more fragile ...
Shed hunting has become one of those late winter and early spring activities that barely existed on the radar a couple decades ago, at least not at the level we see today. At its core, shed hunting is pretty simple. Deer, elk and moose drop their antlers this time of year, and people head ...
Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department director, has highlighted a recent list of goals and explains some of the background, steps, challenges and opportunities the department and state are focused on. 1. Reaching 1 million PLOTS acres by 2028 North Dakota saw an additional ...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s hunter education program passed a milestone last year, graduating roughly 250,000 students since its inception in 1979, which is a remarkable number for a state with fewer than 1 million residents. Hunter education is required in North Dakota for ...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons. Hunters should note the opening date for the regular waterfowl season is still under discussion. Dates become official when approved by the governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2026 include: – Spring turkey: April 11. – Dove: Sept. 1. – Deer and pronghorn bow, mountain lion: Sept. 4. – Sharptail, hun, ruffed grouse, squirrel: Sept. 12. – Youth deer: Sept. 18. – Youth waterfowl: Sept. 19. – Early ...
