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Outdoors

Minot AFB airmen deploy in support of Indo-Pacific Bomber Task Force exercise

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – A Bomber Task Force deployment of multiple U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, airmen and support equipment from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam last week. This deployment is in support of Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with allies, partners and joint forces and strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region. The BTF missions enable different types of strategic bombers to operate in the ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Embrace summer before it slips away

Summer in North Dakota sneaks up slowly but when it finally arrives, it comes in wide open skies, the smell of fresh-cut alfalfa, and the echo of boat motors humming across prairie lakes. It’s slow to arrive and too quick to exit. Summer in North Dakota means fishing first and foremost. ...

North Dakota Outdoors: Grasslands benefit birds, other wildlife

You don’t have to be a biologist or range scientist to see how the land use of grasslands of North Dakota has changed. Ashlyn Herron, a University of North Dakota master’s in biology student, is using technology to determine if high-quality grassland habitat restoration through the ...

Operation Dry Water underway

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will participate in Operation Dry Water as part of a nationally coordinated effort to increase knowledge about the dangers of boating under the influence. The goal is to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with alcohol and drug use on state waterways. Operation Dry Water weekend, July 4-6, is the national weekend of heightened enforcement directed at boating under the influence laws and recreational boater outreach. While educating boaters about the hazards associated with boating while under the influence of alcohol or ...

Deer lottery held, licenses remain

North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and more than 2,900 licenses remain. Only resident applicants who were unsuccessful in the lottery can apply for remaining licenses. Successful applicants will have their payment processed, with licenses mailed in early August. More than 70,000 individuals applied for a deer gun lottery license, in addition to over 12,000 gratis applicants. The 2025 deer gun proclamation allows for 42,300 deer gun season licenses. Unsuccessful applicants can apply online for remaining licenses beginning today. The deadline for applying is July 16.

Breeding duck numbers decline again

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66 million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023. The 2025 breeding duck index was the 33rd highest on record and exceeded the long-term (1948-2024) average by 7%, according to Mike Szymanski, Department migratory game bird supervisor. “Things are continuing to decline a little bit as far as duck populations go. The mallard population estimate was down 26% from last year and is the lowest estimated mallard breeding population on ...