NDGF announces tentative 2022 season opening dates

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates to help hunters prepare for hunting seasons.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2022 include:

Spring Turkey: April 9

Dove: Sept. 1

Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Mountain Lion: Sept. 2

Sharptail, Hun, ruffed Grouse, Squirrel: Sept. 10

Youth Deer: Sept. 16

Youth Waterfowl: Sept. 17

Early Resident Waterfowl: Sept. 24

Youth Pheasant, Regular Waterfowl: Oct. 1

Pronghorn Gun: Oct. 7

Pheasant, Fall Turkey: Oct. 8

Mink, Muskrat, Weasel Trapping: Octo. 22

Deer Gun: Nov. 4

Deer Muzzleloader: Nov. 25

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Coyote Catalog available

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Department of Agriculture are again opening the Coyote Catalog, a statewide effort designed to connect committed hunters and trappers with landowners who are dealing with coyotes in their areas.

Landowners can sign up on the Department of Agriculture website, nd.gov/ndda/.

Hunters and trappers can sign up at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Anyone who registered for the Coyote Catalog in the past must register again to activate their names on the database.

Throughout winter, hunters or trappers may receive information on participating landowners, and they should contact landowners to make arrangements.

Landowners experiencing coyote depredation of livestock should first contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.

The Coyote Catalog will remain active through March 31.

For more information, contact Ryan Herigstad at Game and Fish, 595-4463 or rherigstad@nd.gov; or Colby Lysne, at the Department of Agriculture, 390-7515 or clysne@nd.gov.

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Darkhouse spearfishing opens at ice-up

North Dakota’s darkhouse spearfishing season opens on most state waters whenever ice-up occurs. Legal fish are northern pike and nongame species.

Individuals required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to darkhouse spearfish must first register online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Spearers and anglers are reminded that materials used to mark holes must be in possession as soon as a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is made in the ice.

All waters open to hook and line fishing are open to darkhouse spearing except:

— East Park Lake, West Park Lake, Lake Audubon, McLean County

— Heckers Lake, Sheridan County

— Lake Ashtabula, Barnes and Griggs counties

— Larimore Dam, Grand Forks County

— McClusky Canal

— New Johns Lake, Burleigh County

— Red Willow Lake, Griggs County

— Whitman Dam, Nelson County

— Wood Lake, Benson County

Anglers and spearers should refer to the 2020-22 North Dakota Fishing Guide for more information.