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Outdoors

Since late August, wildlife biologists have been monitoring scattered reports of white-tailed deer found dead in a portion of southwestern North Dakota. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease was confirmed in a number of these cases. “EHD is a viral disease transmitted by biting gnats,” said Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian. “We see a low level of EHD most years. It typically stays fairly localized, but every so often it can intensify into a significant die-off. The combined outbreak in 2020 and 2021 was probably the worst in memory, with extensive mortality across ...

Shooting range grants available

Local clubs or communities interested in receiving a grant to update or improve their existing shooting range must have the application in no later than Tuesday, Oct. 1. Shooting range enhancements include berms, benches, target hanger and throwers, storage buildings, sanitary facilities and lighting. To qualify for a grant, clubs must be a nonprofit in good standing with the state, must either own or have a long-term lease on the property, and the range must be open for public use. For more information contact North Dakota Game and Fish.

Boats equipment for zebra mussels

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking water recreationists and property owners to check for zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species when removing boat lifts, docks and other equipment from state waters. Ben Holen, ANS coordinator, said water recreationists and property owners play a vital role in ANS prevention. Zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces left in the water for long periods of time, first settling in tight spaces and areas that are protected from sunlight, Holen said. Equipment such as boat lifts and docks are high risk vectors for spreading ANS, ...

Youth pheasant season scheduled

North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, is an 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 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 completing hunter ...

Report sightings of whooping cranes in ND

Whooping cranes are migrating and sightings will increase as they make their way through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state should report sightings so the birds can be tracked. The whooping cranes that do travel through North Dakota are part of a population of about 500 birds on their way from nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada to wintering grounds in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, a distance of about 2,500 miles. Whoopers stand about 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of about 7 ...

Game Wardens Association offers scholarships

The North Dakota Game Wardens Association is sponsoring scholarships for enrolled higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field. For more information contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.