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Youth pheasant weekend set

North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 4-5, is a great opportunity to introduce a new hunter to the outdoors with limited competition. That’s when legally licensed residents and nonresidents 15 and younger can hunt rooster pheasants statewide. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the youth hunter in the field. The adult may not carry a firearm. Hunters 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course or obtain an apprentice hunter validation, which allows an individual to hunt small game for one license year without ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Waterfowl hunters need to adopt basic safety practices

I’m reminded that some of the most memorable duck hunts often involve more than just decoys and camouflage. They include early mornings pushing off from shore, a dog pacing at the bow, and the quiet thrill of hunting from a boat. Hunting waterfowl from a boat is a time-honored tradition in ...

Waterfowl season opens

North Dakota’s waterfowl season opens for residents Saturday, Sept. 27, while nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl Saturday, Oct. 4. The season for swans opens Oct. 4 for both residents and nonresidents who have purchased a swan license. Shooting hours for all geese are one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day. Extended shooting hours for all geese are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of each season. Starting Friday, Nov. 28, all day hunting is also allowed on Fridays and Sundays through the end of each ...

Prevent spread of ANS

Waterfowl hunters should do their part in preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species into or within North Dakota. Hunters must remove aquatic plants and plant fragments from decoys, strings and anchors; remove aquatic plant seeds and plant fragments from waders and other equipment before leaving hunting areas; remove all water from decoys, boats, motors, trailers and other watercraft; and remove all aquatic plants from boats and trailers before leaving a marsh or lake. In addition, hunters are encouraged to brush their hunting dogs free of mud and seeds. Cattails and bulrushes ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Explaining 2025 waterfowl hunting regulations

There’s been plenty of discussion in coffee shops, gas stations, online and more about the changes to this fall’s nonresident waterfowl regulations. Here’s key points addressed by Bill Haase, Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief, and John Palarski, department waterfowl ...

Youth deer season starts Sept. 19

Friday, Sept. 19, at noon signals the start of a nine-and-a-half-day deer hunting season for licensed youth hunters. The youth license is valid during the youth deer season that closes Sunday, Sept. 28, and the regular deer gun season running from Nov. 7-23. After opening day, hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Orange clothing is required for youth hunters and mentors. Each young deer hunter must be under direct supervision of an adult. The adult is prohibited from carrying a firearm or bow while accompanying the youth hunter in the field ...