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MATTERSMATTERS OF OF O OPINIONPINION

hen you read through the continue to increase. 2019 hunting season outlook The number of acres in this popular in this issue of North Dakota walk-in access program has climbed WOUTDOORS, there is plenty of the last few years from about 730,000 good news. acres in 2015 to 762,000 acres in 2018. Without giving it all away, some of Approximately 791,000 acres will what we know heading into the fall be available to hunters this year as we hunting season is an increase of more head into fall. than 10,000 licenses for the deer gun The and Fish Department’s season compared to 2018. private land staff, and the many land- While there are a number of things owners around the state who willingly that must align, including assistance participate in the PLOTS program, from Mother Nature and quality wildlife should be applauded. habitat on the landscape, deer gun That additional 30,000 acres is Terry Steinwand licenses are heading in the direction certainly good news for hunters. And Director Terry Steinwand hunters like to see. continuing this trend of maintaining the Director In 2015, the Game and Fish Depart- highest amount of quality habitat in ment made available only 43,275 deer the program as possible is the Depart- licenses, the lowest total since 1978. ment’s aim. The climb from that low (49,000 in By the time this message hits the 2016, 54,500 in 2017 and 55,150 in hands of readers, many hunters will 2018) has been slow, but encouraging, have already dirtied their hunting boots nonetheless. in pursuit of North Dakota’s early fall Also, North Dakota’s opportunities, while waiting for other population is estimated to be the high- hunting seasons to open. est in nearly a decade, providing more Fall, depending on who you talk to, is hunting opportunities, in more hunting arguably the best time of year in North units, for hunters. Dakota. The opportunities are many for Additionally, the forecast for the fall those who enjoy the outdoors, hunting flight of ducks from North Dakota this and big game, or fishing our open year is expected to be up from last waters that are promised to ice over in year, while numbers for Canada and weeks to come. snow geese remain high. North Dakota is a special place In the category of more good news, that just seems to be at its best in fall. Kevin Kading, Department private Having enjoyed my share over the land section leader, reports that acre years, I encourage you to sample, with numbers in the Department’s Private family or friends, North Dakota’s great Land Open To Sportsmen program also outdoors in the coming days. DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY Governor Doug Burgum ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION Game and Fish Director: Terry Steinwand Deputy Director: Scott Peterson Chief, Administrative Services: Kim Kary Business Manager: Corey Wentland Administrative Staff Officer: Justin Mattson Administrative Assistant: Lynn Timm Administrative Officer/Building Maint. Supvr: George Lee Accounting Manager: Angie Morrison Accountants: Kelly Wike, Melissa Long, Ashley Baker The mission of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is to protect, conserve and enhance fish and wildlife IT Section Supervisor/GIS Specialist: Brian Hosek IT Coordinators: Alan Reile, Larry Gross populations and their habitats for sustained public consumptive and nonconsumptive use. Licensing Manager: Randy Meissner Assistants: Gail Mosset, Amanda Anstrom, Tracy Price, . . . Tana Bentz, Tanya Mikkelsen Editor: Ron Wilson Graphic Designer: Connie Schiff Circulation Manager: Dawn Jochim Administrative Assistant – Dickinson: Janel Kolar, Stephanie Richardson Administrative Assistant – Devils Lake: Lisa Tofte Administrative Assistant – Jamestown: Tonya Kukowski AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019 • NUMBER 2 • VOLUME LXXXII Administrative Assistant – Riverdale: Vacant Administrative Assistant – Williston: Vacant TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSERVATION AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Division Chief: Greg Link, Bismarck FEATURES Communications Supervisor: Craig Bihrle, Bismarck Editor, North Dakota OUTDOORS: Ron Wilson, Bismarck 2019 Hunting Season Outlook...... 2 Digital Media Editor: Lara Anderson, Bismarck News Editor: Greg Freeman, Bismarck PLOTS Program Update...... 16 Video Project Supervisor: Mike Anderson, Bismarck “The Duck Factory”...... 20 Photographer/Asst. Videographer: Ashley Salwey Outreach Biologists: Doug Leier, West Fargo; Greg Gullickson, Minot; Pat Lothspeich, Bismarck; Jim Job, Grand Forks Information Specialist: Dawn Jochim, Bismarck DEPARTMENTS Graphic Artist: Connie Schiff, Bismarck Education Supervisor: Marty Egeland, Bismarck Buffaloberry Patch...... 28 Education Coordinators: Jeff Long, Brian Schaffer, Bismarck Hunter Education Coordinator: John Mazur, Bismarck Back Cast ...... 33 Conservation Supervisor: Steve Dyke, Bismarck Resource Biologists: John Schumacher, Bruce Kreft, Bismarck Conservation Biologists: Sandra Johnson, Patrick Isakson, Elisha Mueller, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Brandon Diehl, Bismarck ENFORCEMENT DIVISION Division Chief: Robert Timian, Bismarck Investigative Supervisor: Scott Winkelman, Bismarck Operations Supervisor: Jackie Lundstrom, Bismarck Warden Pilot: Jeff Sieger, Bismarck Region No. 1 Warden Supvr: Mark Pollert, Jamestown District Wardens: Corey Erck, Bismarck; Jerad Bluem, Steele; Michael Sedlacek, Fargo; Front Cover Tim Phalen, Wyndmere; Andrew Dahlgren, Edgeley; Erik Schmidt, Linton; Greg Hastings, Jamestown The number of licenses for 2019 increased in North Region No. 2 Warden Supvr: Paul Freeman, Devils Lake District Wardens: Jonathan Tofteland, Bottineau; Jonathan Peterson, Devils Lake; James Dakota compared to 2018. Photo by Craig Bihrle. Myhre, New Rockford; Blake Riewer, Grand Forks; Alan Howard, Cando; Peter Miley, Cavalier; Drew Johnson, Finley; Sam Feldman, Rugby Region No. 3 Warden Supvr: Doug Olson, Riverdale District Wardens: Jim Burud, Kenmare; Tim Larson, Turtle Lake; Ken Skuza, Riverdale; Michael Raasakka, Stanley; Brian Updike, Minot; Joe Lucas, Watford City; Shawn Sperling, Keenan Snyder, Williston Region No. 4 Warden Supvr: Dan Hoenke, Dickinson District Wardens: Kylor Johnston, Hazen; Art Cox, Bowman; Courtney Sprenger, Elgin; Zane Manhart, Golva; Jake Miller, Killdeer; Jeff Violett, Mandan; Zachary Schuchard, Richardton Administrative Assistant: Lori Kensington, Bismarck WILDLIFE DIVISION Division Chief: Jeb Williams, Bismarck Assistant Division Chief: Casey Anderson, Bismarck Official publication of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (ISSN 0029-2761) Game Mgt. Section Leader: Stephanie Tucker, Bismarck Pilot: Jeff Faught, Bismarck 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 Upland Game Mgt. Supervisor: Jesse Kolar, Dickinson Website: gf.nd.gov • email: [email protected] Upland Game Mgt. Biologist: Rodney Gross, Bismarck Migratory Game Mgt. Supervisor: Mike Szymanski, Bismarck • Information 701-328-6300 • Administration 701-328-6305 Migratory Game Bird Biologist: Andrew Dinges, Bismarck • Outdoors Subscriptions 701-328-6363 Big Game Mgt. Supvr: Bruce Stillings, Dickinson Big Game Mgt. Biologists: Bill Jensen, Bismarck; Brett Wiedmann, Dickinson; • Hunter Education 701-328-6615 • Licensing 701-328-6335 Jason Smith, Jamestown • 24-Hour Licensing by Phone: 800-406-6409 Survey Coordinator: Chad Parent, Bismarck Wildlife Veterinarian: Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Bismarck • The TTY/TTD (Relay ND) number for the hearing or speech impaired is 800-366-6888 Game Management Technician: Ryan Herigstad, Bismarck Wildlife Resource Management Section Leader: Kent Luttschwager, Williston North Dakota OUTDOORS is published 10 times a year, monthly except for the months of April and Wildlife Resource Mgt. Supvrs: Bill Haase, Bismarck; Brian Prince, Devils Lake; Brian Kietzman, Jamestown; Dan Halstead, Riverdale; Blake Schaan, Lonetree September. Subscription rates are $10 for one year or $20 for three years. Group rates of $7 a year are avail- Wildlife Resource Mgt. Biologists: Arvid Anderson, Riverdale; Randy Littlefield, Lonetree; able to organizations presenting 25 or more subscriptions. Remittance should be by check or money order Rodd Compson, Jamestown; Judd Jasmer, Dickinson; Todd Buckley, Williston Wildlife Techs: Tom Crutchfield, Jim Houston, Bismarck; Dan Morman, Robert Miller, Riverdale; payable to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Indicate if subscription is new or renewal. The Ernest Dawson, Jamestown; Cordell Schmitz, Brandon Ramsey, Lonetree; Scott Olson, Devils numbers on the upper right corner of the mailing label indicate the date of the last issue a subscriber will Lake; Zach Kjos, Williston Private Land Section Leader: Kevin Kading, Bismarck receive unless the subscription is renewed. Asst. Private Land Coordinator: Doug Howie, Bismarck Private Land Field Operation Coordinator: Nathan Harling, Bismarck Permission to reprint materials appearing in North Dakota OUTDOORS must be obtained from the Private Land Biologists: Colin Penner, Levi Jacobson, Bismarck; Curtis Francis, Jaden Honey- man, Dickinson; Ryan Huber, Riverdale; Renae Schultz, Jamestown; Terry Oswald, Jr., Lonetree; author, artist or photographer. We encourage contributions; contact the editor for writer and photography Andrew Ahrens, Devils Lake guidelines prior to submission. Procurement Officer: Dale Repnow, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Alegra Powers, Bismarck The NDGFD receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In accordance Lonetree Administrative Assistant: Diana Raugust, Harvey with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the FISHERIES DIVISION Division Chief: Greg Power, Bismarck Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Fisheries Mgt. Section Leader: Scott Gangl, Bismarck Amendments of 1972, the NDGFD joins the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus in prohibit- Fisheries Supvrs: Jeff Hendrickson, Dickinson; Jason Lee, Riverdale; Paul Bailey, Bismarck; Randy Hiltner, Devils Lake; Dave Fryda, Riverdale; Brandon Kratz, Jamestown ing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex (in education programs Fisheries Biologists: Russ Kinzler, Riverdale; Todd Caspers, Devils Lake; Aaron Slominski, or activities) and also religion for the NDGFD. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any Williston; Mike Johnson, Jamestown Fisheries Techs: Phil Miller, Devils Lake; Pat John, Jamestown; Justen Barstad, Bismarck; Brian program, activity, or facility as described above, or you desire further information, please write to: N. D. Frohlich, Riverdale; Jeff Merchant, Dickinson Game and Fish Department, Attn: Chief Administrative Services, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, Production/Development Section Supvr: Jerry Weigel, Bismarck Aquatic Habitat Supvr: Scott Elstad, Bismarck ND 58501-5095 or to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator: Jessica Howell, Jamestown Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington,Virginia 22203. Fisheries Development Supvr: Bob Frohlich, Bismarck Fisheries Dev. Proj. Mgr: Wesley Erdle, Bismarck Fisheries Development Technician: Kyle Hoge, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Janice Vetter, Bismarck Periodical Postage Paid at POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ADVISORY BOARD Bismarck, ND 58501 North Dakota OUTDOORS District 1 ...... Beau Wisness, Keene District 2 ...... Travis Leier, Velva and additional entry offices. 100 North Bismarck Expressway District 3 ...... Thomas Rost, Devils Lake Printed in the United States Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 District 4 ...... Bruce Ellertson, Lakota District 5 ...... Duane Hanson, West Fargo District 6 ...... Cody Sand, Forbes Report All Poachers (RAP) 701-328-9921 District 7 ...... David Nehring, Bismarck District 8 ...... Dwight Hecker, Fairfield In cooperation with North Dakota Wildlife Federation and North Dakota State Radio. 2019 HUNTING SEASON OUTLOOK By Jeb Williams MIKE ANDERSON

For those hunters fortunate enough to draw a license in the badlands, the outlook for a quality hunt is high.

Summer has come and gone. There was a time birds the first several weeks after hatching. when I would wish away the 90-degree summer As always in North Dakota, there are some chal- days to get to the cooler fall weather, when mos- lenges, with a few highlights mixed in. For example: quito spray and sunscreen are no longer required. Chronic Wasting Disease Yet, as I get older, I no longer do this, no matter the season, because summer disappears quickly North Dakota opened a new chapter in its CWD enough on its own. Unfortunately, so does fall. book last year when the disease was found in the I’m now at the point where I would gladly stop the northwestern part of the state. This didn’t come clock to prevent the days, months, seasons and as a total surprise as Game and Fish Department years from racing by. wildlife managers were contacted a year prior by Both of my daughters have youth deer tags this Saskatchewan officials about a deer that tested year, another sign that time is passing, and that positive for CWD just 7 miles north of Portal. they are growing up too fast. It doesn’t seem that In addition, testing efforts in Montana also long ago that I was dropping them off at their first revealed several CWD positive deer in the north- day of school. east corner of the state and farther west along the Anyway, time flies. Canadian border. Excluding the north central portion of North To reduce the spread of CWD, the Game and Dakota, rain was plentiful this summer, and the Fish Department will manage deer at a lower countryside looks fantastic because of it. There is density, and has implemented a baiting ban and an abundance of vegetation for livestock and wild- carcass transportation restrictions. These mea- life, crops look wonderful and there are plenty of sures are all consistent with how we have dealt insects, a must-have food source for young game with CWD in unit 3F2 since 2009.

2 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 Notable Small Game, Waterfowl and Furbearer Regulations The goal is to keep the prevalence of CWD at a low level in North Dakota. Anytime we can minimize the amount of time deer spend congregated, such North Dakota’s 2019 small as around bait piles, will help reduce the potential spread as the prions that game, waterfowl and furbearer cause CWD are believed to be spread through saliva, urine and feces. regulations and most season Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that live are the only concern to structures are similar to last year. spreading CWD. Transporting harvested, CWD-positive animals and dis- Noteworthy items include: posing of their carcasses is also believed to be a method of contamina- • Opening day for ducks, tion because prions remain on the landscape for an extended period. geese, coots and mer- Tissue from the central nervous and lymph systems are particularly gansers for North Dakota concerning, which is why it is important to leave the head and spinal column in the area where deer are harvested. residents is September 21. Nonresidents may begin Through education and cooperation from hunters, the Game and Fish Department is encouraged it will achieve its goal of hunting waterfowl in North keeping CWD at a low prevalence. Dakota September 28. • The daily limit on pintails is Western Elk Research reduced from two to one. While North Dakota isn’t known as an elk hunting destination, • River otter season limit is the opportunity and experience for residents to hunt this big game increased from 15 to 20. is cherished. To be able to hunt and harvest an elk in your • The fisher trapping season home state is an opportunity that approximately 20,000 residents look forward to each spring when they apply in the Department’s competitive is expanded almost state- lottery. wide, except for Bottineau Elk in western North Dakota have expanded their range and big game and Rolette counties, which biologists are curious to learn more about their movements, preferred habi- remain closed. tats and improving survey protocol for annual monitoring. In a cooperative • The tree squirrel season is effort between the Game and Fish Department and the University of Montana, extended to February 29. work crews collared 90 elk in January to begin gathering data. • Veterans and members of To date, more than 150,000 GPS collar location points have been collected the Armed Forces (includ- from collared elk in the northern and southern badlands and eastern Montana. ing National Guard and While the study is a long way from completion, the movement data is interesting Reserves) on active duty, and reaffirms the challenge the Department has in managing elk. The research and who possess a resident hunt- findings will only improve the Department’s goal of managing elk within the capacity ing license, may hunt water- of available habitat, landowner tolerance, while providing elk hunting opportunities for fowl September 14-15. the public. • The prairie chicken and sage Private Land Open To Sportsmen grouse seasons will remain The Game and Fish Department’s PLOTS program experienced an increase in the closed due to low popula- number of acres enrolled in the walk-in access hunting program, which is good news. tions. Unfortunately, North Dakota’s landscape, PLOTS tracts included, is not dotted with large • In accordance with state law, tracts of Conservation Reserve Program acres like it once was. The CRP program fulfilled nonresidents are not allowed both the habitat and public access component quite well under our private land initiative. to hunt on Game and Fish While the PLOTS program is nosing near 800,000 acres, Department personnel often Department wildlife manage- wonder if they could do more for both wildlife and access. What if a program focused ment areas or Private Land solely on wildlife by cost-sharing with interested landowners and didn’t require access? Open To Sportsmen areas The Department’s existing model will work with any interested landowner, on any habitat from October 12-18. project, but does require public access. Hunters and trappers can find We know there are some landowners out there who already do great things for wild- the North Dakota 2019-20 Hunt- life, and would do more, if the access component wasn’t required. We also understand that many people would not be comfortable with Game and Fish using hunter dollars on ing and Trapping Guide – which projects where the public isn’t afforded guaranteed access. includes upland game, migratory Agency officials hope to visit with the public about this option at upcoming advisory game bird and furbearer/trapping board meetings to generate the discussion on the pros and cons of this type of pro- regulations and other information gram. As you are hunting this fall, give it some thought. Drop me a note. Give me a call. – by visiting the state Game and We want to hear from you as we move forward. Fish Department’s website, gf.nd. gov. Printed guides are available JEB WILLIAMS is the Game and Fish Department’s wildlife division chief. at vendor locations.

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 3 Preliminary higher in parts of the state. findings indicate In spring 2019, conditions were hunters will see favorable for an average hatch in the bird numbers western part of the state. The eastern comparable to last part of the state has seen declining year. numbers of birds the last few years in The drought two response to the loss of quality turkey years ago caused habitat. poor production Early reports indicate good numbers Hunters are across the state. of turkey broods on the ground in the expected to see Thus, pheasants west. Department biologists expect pheasant numbers still entered this a small uptick in turkey production that are comparable breeding season to last year. this year in this area. Fall with a lower than licenses were reduced slightly in an

BRIAN SHAFFER average adult attempt to turn turkey numbers around breeding popula- and improve hunter success, mainly UPLAND AND SMALL GAME tion. However, focusing on shifting licenses from the most of the state should have good eastern part of the state to the west. Ring-necked Pheasants production, so hunters need to be It’s anticipated the central and west Opens: Oct. 12 mobile and willing to move to differ- central parts of the state along river Closes: Jan. 5, 2020 ent locations to Daily Limit: 3 find some good Possession Limit: 12 pheasant hunting Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- opportunities. rise to sunset. Rodney Gross, Pheasants in North Dakota were Upland Game treated with above average snowfall Management and below average temperatures for Biologist most of last winter. However, results of the spring crowing count survey Wild Turkeys showed higher numbers of breeding Opens: Oct. 12 roosters throughout most of the tradi- Closes: Jan. 5, tional pheasant range. The number of 2020 roosters heard calling was up any- Shooting Hours: where from 14-16 percent throughout Half-hour before North Dakota’s good pheasant range. sunrise to sunset. This was not a surprise, as last sum- The turkey popu- mer’s reproduction led to a slight lation in many of the increase in the late summer roadside state’s hunting units counts. has been higher Cover for nesting hens was aver- than normal the past age in spring due to timely spring few years due to rains and residual cover. Those timely increased produc- rains continued into summer and all of tion in the western North Dakota was green through late half of the state. July. Areas in the southwestern part of Last year, the state experienced multiple severe conditions were weather events, which may translate to improved from the pockets of low densities of pheasants drought in 2017. Wildlife biologists due to chick mortality. Turkey production expect some At the time of this writing, Game and was good last improvements in turkey production in Fish biologists were still conducting spring, so fall parts of the state. summer roadside brood counts. numbers were CRAIG BIHRLE

4 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 Nesting conditions were good for Halfway through summer roadside surveys, 2019. This spring was the first since the biologists indicated slight increases in the drought of 2017 where the state had tall number of sharptail broods. residual vegetation and promising nest- ing conditions. Additionally, there were not widespread severe storms during the June-July nesting and brood rear- ing period. So far, during the first half of Department brood surveys, biolo- gists have observed slight increases in the number of sharptail broods, but no increase in average brood size (4.6 chicks per brood). Sharptail broods are observed more frequently later in the brood survey period (late August), so a better fall forecast will be avail- able when results of summer roadside counts are released in early Septem- LARA ANDERSON ber. Currently, the highest sharptail densi- corridors will provide some of the Sharp-tailed Grouse ties occur in our management district better turkey hunting opportunities in Opens: Sept. 14 that follows the Missouri River from North Dakota this fall. Closes: Jan. 5, 2020 Montana to South Dakota. The lowest Rodney Gross Daily Limit: 3 densities have been in the far eastern Possession Limit: 12 part of the state. Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- Hunters should be aware of two Opens: Sept. 14 rise to sunset. areas closed to sharptail hunting: Closes: Jan. 5, 2020 Sharp-tailed grouse harvest in 2018 an area west of Grand Forks and an Daily Limit: 3 remained near 20-year lows. Unfor- area around the Sheyenne National Possession Limit: 12 tunately, the 2018 hunter reports and Grasslands. (Maps of areas closed to Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- 2019 spring surveys have only shown sharptail hunting are found in the North rise to sunset. slight increases since the drastic popu- Dakota 2019-20 Hunting and Trapping Guide on the Department’s website at Ruffed grouse populations occur in lation decline in 2017. gf.nd.gov.) the Turtle Mountains in the north cen- tral part of the state and in the Pembina Hills in the northeast. They are typically The North Dakota Game and Fish found in aspen forests with multi-aged Department owns or manages more than stands of trees. 200 wildlife management areas in the state. In 2019, spring drumming counts showed mixed results. Spring surveys showed a 41 percent decrease in the Turtle Mountains, but nearly four times more grouse were heard drumming in the Pembina Hills this year. Once again, for anyone looking to key in on ruffed grouse, it’s recom- mended that hunters look for areas with quaking aspen stands that provide areas of young, densely packed shoots mixed with areas of large mature trees. Jesse Kolar, Upland Game Management Supervisor, Dickinson CRAIG BIHRLE

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 5 Once again, hunters are encour- average aged to send in grouse and Hungarian reproduction partridge wings from harvested birds in response to to help biologists further assess pro- a wet spring. duction for 2019. Since it’s predicted Biologists harvest will be low, it’s hoped that hunt- have ers who have not submitted wings in observed the past will help in the wing collection smaller effort. Hunters can request prepaid partridge wing envelopes on the Department’s broods website at gf.nd.gov. this year Jesse Kolar compared to summer 2018. Hungarian Partridge Partridge respond Opens: Sept. 14 favorably to Closes: Jan. 5, 2020 drier condi- . Daily Limit: 3 tions and it’s CRAIG BIHRLE Possession Limit: 12 hoped that Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- Tree Squirrels rise to sunset. this will only be a quick depression and the Hun population will rebound. Opens: Sept. 14 In the 1980s and early 1990s, Hun- Partridge are a bird that hunters primar- Closes: Feb. 29, 2020 garian partridge were plentiful in ily harvest while pursuing sharp-tailed Daily Limit: 4 North Dakota, but as farming practices grouse or pheasants. Hunters should Possession Limit: 12 changed and weather patterns shifted keep a look out for areas such as aban- Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- from a dry to a predominately wet doned farmsteads and native prairie on rise to sunset. cycle, partridge populations responded the edge of small grain crops. Pock- Tree squirrels may be taken state- negatively. ets of decent hunting may be found wide with firearms loaded with shot, Over the past five years, North in these areas, but hunters will need rimfire rifles, or with bows and arrows Dakota’s partridge population has to spend some time in the mornings legal for taking upland game. continued to decline. Hunters will most scouting potential areas. likely see reduced partridge numbers Rodney Gross BIG GAME compared to last year due to below White-tailed Deer Archery Opens: Aug. 30 Archery Closes: Jan. 5, 2020 Regular Gun Season Opens: Nov. 8 Regular Gun Season Closes: Nov. 24 Muzzleloader Opens: Nov. 29 Muzzleloader Closes: Dec. 15 Game and Fish made available 65,500 licenses for the 2019 hunting season, an increase 10,350 from 2018. Population and harvest data indicate the state’s deer population is stable to increasing, but still below management goals in most eastern hunting units. Consequently, there was a moderate increase in deer licenses allocated in Just 603 whitetail buck 2019, to increase hunting opportunities licenses were made available while continuing to encourage for the hard-to-draw population growth. The statewide deer muzzleloader season in 2019. gun hunter success rate in 2018 was

CRAIG BIHRLE 64 percent, a little higher than 2017 (61

6 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 percent), and below the Department licenses were increased by 150 and antlerless deer harvested are encour- goal of 70 percent. antlerless licenses were increased by aged to call Game and Fish at 701- Because deer tested positive for 200. Mule deer densities increased by 328-6300, and Department personnel chronic wasting disease in hunting 34 percent in hunting unit 4A, allowing will direct the number of doe hunters units 3A1 and 3B1, deer management Game and Fish to issue antlerless mule landowners are comfortable hosting. deer licenses in that unit for the first strategies were altered in those and Bill Jensen, Big Game Management time since 2011. surrounding units. The goal is to Biologist, Bismarck minimize the CWD prevalence rate A summary of deer licenses for 2019: and reduce the spread of the disease • Any-antlered licenses increased Mule Deer outside those two units. Therefore, a by 3,150. Archery Opens: Aug. 30 more aggressive harvest strategy was • Any-antlerless licenses increased Archery Closes: Jan. 5, 2020 applied in the northwestern part of the by 4,100. Regular Gun Season Opens: Nov. 8 state. • Antlered white-tailed deer licenses Regular Gun Season Closes: Nov. 24 High quality deer habitat is not as increased by 700. Mule deer in North Dakota’s abundant as in the past, which limits • Antlerless white-tailed deer badlands continue to show signs of the potential for population recovery. licenses increased by 1,250. recovery following the severe winters For example, deer numbers in hunting • Antlered mule deer licenses of 2008-09 through 2010-11, which units 2E and 2C in northeastern North increased by 450. resulted in deer numbers declining Dakota have not responded to more • Antlerless mule deer licenses favorable winter weather conditions increased by 700. by nearly 50 percent from population and reduced harvest. These hunt- • 1,206 muzzleloader licenses levels in 2007. Mule deer densities ing units have lost approximately 60 available in 2019 – 603 antlered remain high in 2019, although lower percent of CRP grass cover and nearly white-tailed deer licenses and than 2018. The 2019 spring index was 400 acres of trees. 603 antlerless white-tailed deer 20 percent lower than 2018, but 14 licenses. This is an increase of 184 percent above the long-term average. Winter aerial surveys were generally muzzleloader licenses from 2018. good to excellent throughout most of The mule deer population increase • 305 “I” licenses available for the the state, allowing 31 of the 32 hunt- is attributed to no harvest of antlerless youth season, up 45 ing units with monitoring blocks to be mule deer in the badlands during licenses from 2018. The licenses flown. In terms of severity, the winter of the 2012-16 hunting seasons, more are limited in number for units 3B1, 2018-19 was a mixed bag. Conditions moderate winter conditions, and 3B2, and 4A-4F, in most of the state were moderate, and are valid for however, the southeastern portion of any deer. There the state received some late winter are unlimited “H” snow causing prolonged winter condi- youth deer hunt- tions. ing licenses that Deer numbers were stable in Slope, are valid for any Missouri River, Turtle Mountains, deer statewide, Badlands and Souris/Des Lacs man- except mule deer agement units; increasing in Coteau, bucks in the above Sheyenne/James, Pembina Hills, and restricted units. Red River management units; and • 607 nonresident decreasing in the Devils Lake manage- any-deer archery ment unit. licenses avail- The 2019 spring mule deer index able for 2019, an declined by 20 percent from 2018, but increase of 105 remains 14 percent above the long- from 2018. The term average. Mule deer densities in number of non- the badlands are above the long-term resident any-deer average, with localized areas above archery licenses landowner tolerance levels. will increase to 780 The number of mule deer buck A conservative management in 2020. licenses made available to hunters approach will continue for mule deer Landowners inter- increased by more than 400 in 2019.

in the badlands for 2019; antlered ested in having more CRAIG BIHRLE

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 7 than in 2018. Twelve hunting units – Following a slight increase in 1A, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C, 5A, 6A, pronghorn numbers, two more 7A, and 10A – are open this fall, two hunting units were opened in 2019. more than 2018. Hunting unit 1D and 10A are open for the first time since 2009. Pronghorn have also increased to a level in hunting unit 4A where doe/ fawn licenses were issued to address areas of high pronghorn density and provide additional hunting opportu- nities. Hunters who drew a lottery license can use it during the archery season from August 30- September 22, or during the rifle season October 4-October 20, using legal firearms or archery equipment.

LARA ANDERSON Last year’s season was success- ful, with 976 hunters harvesting 792 improved fawn production in 2013- Bruce Stillings, Big Game Management pronghorn for a success rate of 81 18. Fawn production was highest in Supervisor, Dickinson percent. The harvest consisted of 761 2014 and 2016 with fawn-to-doe ratios adult bucks, 28 does and three fawns. of 95 and 90 fawns per 100 does, Pronghorn Hunters should expect similar success respectively. Archery Only Opens: Aug. 30 this year. A stable mule deer population will Archery Only Closes: Sept. 22 Bruce Stillings mean more hunting opportunities this Gun/Archery Season Opens: Oct. 4 fall. There were 3,050 antlered mule Gun/Archery Season Closes: Oct. 20 deer licenses available in 2019, an North Dakota hunters will have For season details, refer to the Game increase of 450 from 2018. Antlerless more opportunities to hunt pronghorn and Fish Department website, gf.nd. mule deer licenses also increased from this year due to a slight population gov, or the 2019 bighorn sheep, elk and increase. 1,450 to 2,150 in 2019. hunting guide. Much of the license increase was in Biologists conducted aerial surveys in early July and found that the number of The Department’s spring bighorn hunting units 3B1 and 3B2 in response pronghorn in the state increased by 4 sheep survey, completed by recounting to a deer that tested positive for percent from last year. The population lambs in March, revealed a minimum of chronic wasting disease in hunting unit increased to just over 9,800 animals, 283 bighorn sheep in western North 3B1. All mule deer units have antlerless which is the highest estimate since Dakota, up 7 percent from 2017 and licenses this year. This is the first year 2009. equal to the five-year average. since 2011 that antlerless licenses were Pronghorn have slowly recovered Biologists counted 84 rams, 161 issued in hunting unit 4A. since 2013, following the severe ewes and 38 lambs. Not included are A mule deer buck license remains winters of 2008-09 through 2010-11, approximately 20 bighorns in the North one of the most difficult licenses to which resulted in numbers declining Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National draw, but for those lucky hunters, it by 75 percent. A combination of milder Park. should result in a high-quality hunt. winter conditions since 2010-11, closed The increase in the 2018 count Hunter success for mule deer buck seasons from 2010-13, and improved reflects lessening effects of bacte- hunters was 81 percent in 2018. fawn production and survival since rial pneumonia detected in 2014. While another year of a stable to 2013 have resulted in the population The northern badlands population increasing population is encouraging, reaching a level that is able to support increased 9 percent from 2017 and was mule deer in the badlands face many a higher harvest this fall the second highest count on record. challenges, such as encroachment Game and Fish will continue a con- The southern badlands population of juniper in mule deer habitat, direct servative harvest strategy to provide declined again to the lowest level since and indirect habitat loss due to energy hunting opportunities, while encourag- 1999. development, predators and weather ing population growth. In 2019, 1,330 The total count of adult rams conditions. licenses were allocated, or 255 more declined in 2018, but the number of

8 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 adult ewes increased. Most encourag- region has been closed since 2006 statewide index was near average, few ing was the significant increase in the and will remain closed again this year. areas had average wetland conditions. lamb count and recruitment rate follow- Moose unit M4, which encompasses Excellent wetland conditions in the ing record lows in 2016 and 2017. the Turtle Mountains, was closed in southern and eastern part of the state Fortunately, annual survival rates 2013 and will also remain closed this quickly deteriorated moving into the of adult bighorns are similar to those fall. north central region, but were fair to prior to the die-off and lamb survival Game and Fish issued 475 licenses good in the northwest region. is improving, which could indicate the for 2019. This is an increase from 330 Following the May survey, average population is becoming somewhat licenses in 2018. Expectations for the to above average rainfall continued resilient to the deadly pathogens first season are high as success for moose through June and into early July observed in 2014. The next few years hunters historically runs above 90 in many important duck producing will be important in determining if percent. regions. Widespread abundant precipi- the state’s population shows signs of Jason Smith, Big Game Management tation maintained good wetland condi- recovering from the disease outbreak, Biologist, Jamestown tions in seasonal wetland basins, and or if the pathogens are likely to per- incited renesting by hens that failed sist and cause a long-term population Elk during early nesting attempts. decline. This year’s breeding duck index Four of 15 adult bighorns tested for For season details, refer to the Game was the 22nd highest on record, up 20 the deadly pathogens last winter were and Fish Department website, gf.nd. percent from last year, and 40 percent gov, or the 2019 bighorn sheep, elk and positive. above the long-term average. The moose hunting guide. A bighorn sheep hunting season is state’s estimated breeding population tentatively scheduled to open in 2019, North Dakota’s 2019 elk season fea- of ducks (3.37 million) increased back unless there is a recurrence of sig- tures 474 licenses, which is an increase above 3 million birds for the first time nificant adult mortality from bacterial from 2018. The primary increase in since 2016. pneumonia. The status of the bighorn licenses was for elk units E1E, E1W and All of North Dakota’s primary spe- sheep season will be determined Sep- E3. This was in response to growing elk cies of breeding ducks had increased tember 1, after the summer population populations in those areas. The season breeding population estimates over survey is completed. outlook for elk in 2019 is good, with what was observed in 2018. Game and Fish issued three licenses success likely similar to previous years. were up 16 percent from 2018 for their in 2018 and all hunters were successful As always, making landowner con- 17th highest count on record. Green- in harvesting a ram. tacts and scouting prior to the season winged teal and ruddy ducks increased opener is recommended and is an 81.4 percent and 56.8 percent, respec- Brett Wiedmann, Big Game Management Biologist, Dickinson essential component to a successful tively. Increases of all other duck spe- hunt this fall. cies ranged from 4.7 percent for scaup to 40.1 percent for pintails. Moose Jason Smith Blue-winged teal are at their long- For season details, refer to the Game term average (1948-2018), and green- MIGRATORY BIRDS and Fish Department website, gf.nd. winged teal (114 percent above); mal- gov, or the 2019 bighorn sheep, elk and lards (87 percent above); redheads (98 moose hunting guide. Ducks and Geese percent above); shovelers (82 percent The 2019 North Dakota moose Much improved wetland conditions, above); wigeon (67 percent above); season will again include a record along with increased numbers of (35 percent above); scaup and number of once-in-a-lifetime licenses. waterfowl responding to those condi- ruddy ducks (33 percent above); and The increase in license numbers is tions, were found during the Game and canvasbacks (27 percent above) are primarily for the northwest region of Fish Department’s 72nd annual breed- above the long-term average. Pintails the state in moose management units ing duck survey. Much of the state were the only species to not surpass (3 M9, M10 and M11, with additional any- had good to excellent conditions for percent below) their long-term average. moose and antlerless licenses. breeding ducks in spring and breeding The number of broods observed Moose continue to thrive in north- habitats were maintained by abundant during the Department’s July brood west North Dakota, but numbers rain going into summer. survey was down 9 percent from 2018, remain low in historical hunting units in The 2019 May water index was the but 59 percent above the 1965-2018 the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills and 33rd highest on record, up 46 percent average. The average brood size along the Red River corridor. Moose from 2018, and 4 percent above the was 6.67 ducklings, nearly identical unit M1C, located in the Pembina Hills 1948-2018 average. Although the to last year’s estimate. July wetland

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 9 Hunters in makeshift blinds on a Missouri River sandbar wait for Canada geese to take notice of their decoys. CRAIG BIHRLE counts were up 41 percent from 2018, through some dryness, but this will fairly dry this spring and that might limit and 34 percent above the long-term help maintain productivity within wet- the size of the fall flight of ducks that average. Wetland conditions were land basins when wet conditions return. migrate through the state. variable across the state, ranging from The forecast for the fall flight of As always, hunting conditions will poor to excellent in some regions, and ducks from North Dakota this year will vary, but this year hunters should see most observers commented that thick be up about 5 percent from last year, more consistent wetland conditions wetland vegetation made it difficult to and similar to 2009, 2011 and 2013 and within broader regions. observe broods. the highest since 2014. The Department’s fall wetland sur- When duck brood surveys were con- Numbers of resident Canada geese, vey will give one last look at regional ducted, wetland conditions in the south Western Prairie Canada geese and wetland conditions in September. central and southeastern regions of the arctic nesting Tallgrass Prairie Canada Prospects for a good fall flight from state had benefited most from rainfall, geese, snow geese and Ross’s geese northern breeding areas will be good, but duck production also appeared all remain high. but as always, weather conditions and to be very good in the northeast and North Dakota’s migration patterns will dictate water- northwest parts of the state. Although seasons are always affected by fall fowl hunting opportunities come fall. conditions for observing broods were weather, and the mix from early to Mike Szymanski, Supervisor, Migratory tough this year, observers noted that late seasons is usually not consistent Game Bird Management, Bismarck delayed haying allowed many late- from year to year. By producing a lot of nesting or renesting hens to hatch birds locally, hunters aren’t dependent Youth Waterfowl Season broods, especially . on good migration weather to bring (For legally licensed residents and non- Brood-rearing wetlands benefited birds from Canada in a timely manner. residents ages 15 and younger.) from abundant snowmelt and consis- Abundant wetlands in good condition, tent rain to provide good habitat for coupled with abundant, secure nesting Opens: Sept. 14 breeding ducks and their young. Many cover in the uplands, drives duck Closes: Sept. 15 shallow wetlands have recovered from production. Hunting opportunities for Shooting Hours: Half-hour before drying up last summer and upland veg- waterfowl should be good this season sunrise to sunset. etation is providing thick nesting cover. based on duck production in North Daily Limit: Ducks and geese – same The north central region is still cycling Dakota. However, prairie Canada was as regular season.

10 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 Special Veteran and Active Sept. 28 (nonresidents) half-hour before sunrise to sunset on all Military Waterfowl Season Closes: Dec. 27 (Missouri River Canada Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of each season. Starting Nov. 27, (For legally licensed veterans and Goose Zone), Dec. 21 (Western Canada all-day hunting is also allowed on members of the Armed Forces on active Goose Zone), Dec. 16 (Eastern Canada duty, including members of the National Goose Zone) Sundays through the end of each season. Guard and Reserves on active duty, Daily Limit: 5 (Missouri River zone), 8 other than for training.) (all other zones) Regular Duck Season Opens: Sept. 14 Possession Limit: 15 (Missouri River Closes: Sept. 15 zone), 24 (all other zones) Low Plains Unit Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. White-fronted Geese (Statewide) rise to sunset. 28 (nonresidents) Daily Limit: Ducks and geese – same Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. Closes: Dec. 1 as regular season (does not include 28 (nonresidents) Shooting Hours: Half-hour before bonus blue-winged teal). Closes: Dec. 1 sunrise to sunset. Daily Limit: 3 High Plains Unit Early Hunting Possession Limit: 9 Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. Opens: Aug. 15 (statewide) 28 (nonresidents) Light (Snow) Geese (Statewide) Closes: Sept. 7 (Missouri River Canada Closes: Dec. 1 Goose Zone), Sept. 15 (Western Canada Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Sept. Opens: Dec. 7 Goose Zone), Sept. 20 (Eastern Canada 28 (nonresidents) Closes: Dec. 29 Goose Zone) Closes: Dec. 29 Shooting-hours: Half-hour before sun- Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- Daily Limit: 50, no possession limit rise to sunset. rise to sunset. Shooting Hours for all Geese: Half- Daily Limit: Six ducks, which may Daily Limit: 15 hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day include no more than five mallards (two Possession Limit: 45 through Nov. 2. Starting Nov. 3, shoot- of which may be hens), one pintail, ing hours are a half-hour before sunrise two redheads, two canvasbacks, three Canada Geese Regular Season to 2 p.m. each day. scaup and three wood ducks. In addi- Opens: Sept. 21 (residents only), Exception: Shooting hours are a tion to the daily bag limit of ducks, an

CANADA GOOSE HUNTING ZONES (!42 ¤£83 Crosby (!40 ¤£52 (!8 (!43 ! (!14 (!30 (!4 (!18 (!5 (!5 (!5 (!28 .-256 ¤£281 (!20 (!1 (!89 Bottineau Rolla ! (!32 Bowbells ! ! RENVILLE (!5 (!5 CAVALIER Cavalier DIVIDE (!5 (!5 ! (!5 ¤£85 (!42 (!40 BURKE ! (!5 BOTTINEAU (!3 (!30 (!5 ¤£281 Langdon PEMBINA (!20 !8 ! ( (!66 TOWNER (32 ¤£81 ¨¦§29 (!60 (!18 ¤£52 (!66 (!66 (!66 (!66 (!50 (!50 (!28 (!50 (!40 (!50 (!66 (!50 Cando ¤£83 (!17 ! ! (!1 (!40 (!14 (17 (!32 Grafton (!17 ! (!17 WILLIAMS (!28 Towner Rugby (!17 ! ! WALSH ¤£2 Stanley ¤£2 ! ¤£2 MCHENRY MOUNTRAIL Minot (!20 (!1 ¤£81 Williston ! (!3 (!30 ¤£2 (!35 WARD (!32 (!18 ! .-1804 (!41 ¤£2 .-1804 (!8 Devils Lake ¤£52 (!14 BENSON (!19 ! ! ¤£83 (!19 (!20 Lakota .-1804 Minnewaukan ! .-1806 (!19 (!23 (!23 (!23 ¤£281 (!57 .-1806 Grand Forks (!41 (!1 ¤£2 ! (!58 Watford ¤£52 (!3 (!20 City (!23 (!22 .-200 (!37 (!30 (!32 (!28 (!53 (!18 ¤£85 ! (!23 (!73 (!53 (!15 (!15 (!37 EASTERN (!15 (!68 New Rockford (!68 MCKENZIE MCLEAN ! (!15 Fessenden 1804 (!41 (!14 ! (!15 .- (!37 (!1 ¨¦§29 (!3 ZONE (!18 (!45 (!32 (!48 ¤£52 ¤£281 (!65 WEST(!22ERN (!8 Mc Clusky (!30 (!20 Finley ! .-200 ! (!18 200 .-200 Carrington (!1 (!45 .- ¤£85 .-1806 ! DUNN .-200 .-200 FOS.-2T00ER .-200 (!1 ! .-200 STEELE .-200A (!18 ! .-200 (!41 Cooperstown ZONE MERCER Hillsboro .-200 Stanton ¤£83 (!20 GRIGGS .-200A .-200 .-200 ! Washburn (!9 (!16 .-200 ! Manning (!1 (!32 ! .-200A MIS(!31SOURI (!26 GOLDEN Center (!36 (!36 (!36 BILLINGS (!22 ! (!38 (!8 ¤£281 (!20 (!9 ¨¦§29 VALLEY (!49 OLIVER (!32 (!18 RIVER (!14 (!3 (!31 (!25 .-1804 STUTSMAN (!1 §94 Dickinson ¤£83 Valley City B!each ¨¦ Jamestown ! ! ! ! ZONE ¨¦§94 ! Medora 94 94 ¨¦§ ! BARNES ¨¦§ Fargo (!16 ! ¨¦§94 Steele (!32 MORTON Mandan ! STARK Bismarck (!18 (!30 ¤£281 (!1 ¤£85 (!22 (!49 (!8 (!3 (!6 (!46 (!46 (!46 (!46 (!46 .-1806 ¤£83 (!56 Napoleon Amidon (!21 ! (!34 (!34 (!32 ! (!34 HETTINGER Carson (!21 .-1804 ! (!27 ! (!27 SLOPE (!21 Mott (!21 Lisbon ! (!24 (!3 (!30 LaMoure (!8 (!13 (!13 ! ! RICHLAND (!67 ! (!32 (18 Linton (1 ! (!13 ! (!13 ! ¤£12 (!22 (!13 (13 (!13 Bowman ¤£281 (!13 Wahpeton ! (!6 (!24 (!8 (!49 (!31 BOWMAN (!56 Forman .-127 ¤£12 (!11 ! ¨¦§29 ! (!3 SIOUX Fort Yates Ashley (!11 (!11 ¤£85 ! (!11 Hettinger (!11 (!3 (!11 Ellendale (!22 ! .-1804 ! (!11 (!32 (!6 (!3 (!18 (!8 ¤£83 (!1 BRIAN HOSEK

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 11 DUCKS HIGH PLAINS/LOW PLAINS UNITS (!42 ¤£83 Crosby (!40 ¤£52 (!8 (!43 ! (!4 (!18 256 (!14 £281 (!30 (!5 (!5 (!5 (!28 .- ¤ Rolla (!20 (!1 (!89 BOTTINEAU Bottineau ! (!32 Bowbells RENVILLE ! DIVIDE ! (!5 (!5 (! CAVALIER Cavalier BURKE 5 (!5 ! (!5 ¤£85 (!42 (!40 ! (!5 (!3 ROLETTE (!30 (!5 ¤£281 Langdon PEMBINA (!20 (!8 (! £ (!66 TOWNER 32 ¤81 ¨¦§29 (!60 (!18 ¤£52 (!66 (!66 (!66 (!66 (!50 (!50 (!28 (!50 (!40 (!50 (!66 (!50 Cando ¤£83 (!17 ! ! (!1 (!40 (!14 (17 (!32 Grafton WILLIAMS (!17 ! (!17 (!28 Towner Rugby (!17 ! ! ¤£2 Stanley ¤£2 WALSH ! ¤£2 (!20 RAMSEY Williston Minot (!1 ¤£81 MOUNTRAIL ! MCHENRY (!3 (!30 ¤£2 (!35 (!32 (!18 ! 1804 WARD (!41 ¤£2 .- 1804 (!8 PIERCE Devils Lake .- ¤£52 (!14 BENSON (!19 ! ¤£83 (!19 ! ! Lakota .-1804 (20 ! .-1806 (!19 Minnewaukan GRAND FORKS (!23 (!23 (!23 ¤£281 (!57 .-1806 NELSON Grand Forks (!41 (!1 ¤£2 ! (!58 ¤£52 (!3 (!20 Watford (!23 (!22 .-200 (!37 (!30 (!32 City (!28 ! (!53 (!18 ¤£85 ! (!23 (!73 (53 (!15 (!15 ! EDDY (! MCKENZIE (37 (!15 68 MCLEAN New Rockford (!68 WELLS ! (!15 1804 (!41 (!14 ! (!15 .- (!37 Fessenden (!1 ¨¦§29 HIGH PLAINS (!3 (!18 (!45 (!32 (!48 ¤£52 ¤£281 (!65 (!22 (!8 Mc Clusky (!30 (!20 Finley ! .-200 ! (!18 200 .-200 FOSTER (!1 (!45 .- ¤£85 .-1806 ! STEELE .-200 200 .-200 200 (!1 ! TRAILL UNIT SHERIDAN .- Carrington .- .-200 Hillsboro .-200A (!18 ! DUNN MERCER .-200 (!41 GRIGGSCooperstown .-200 ¤£83 (!20 .-200A .-200 .-200 (!3!1 Washburn (!9 ! (!16 .-200 Manning (!1 (!32 ! .-200A LOW PLAINS (!31 (!48 (!26 Center (!36 (!36 (!36 (!22 ! (!38 (!8 ¤£281 (!20 (!9 ¨¦§29 (!49 OLIVER (!32 (!18 BILLINGS (!14 (!3 UNIT BARNES (!31 (!25 .-1804 (!1 Beach KIDDER STUTSMAN §94 ¤£83 BURLEIGH Valley City ! ¨¦ Dickinson .-1806 Jamestown ! CASS ! ! GOLDEN Medora ! 94 ¨¦§94 94 ! ¨¦§ Bismarck ! ¨¦§ Fargo STARK ! 94 (!16 VALLEY ! ¨¦§ Steele (!32 Mandan (!18 MORTON (!30 ¤£281 (!1 ¤£85 (!22 (!49 (!8 (!3 (!6 (!46 (!46 (!46 (!46 (!46 .-1806 ¤£83 (!56 Napoleon Amidon (!21 ! (!34 (!34 (!32 ! (!34 HETTINGER Carson (!21 .-1804 ! LOGAN LAMOURE ! RAN! SOM (! SLOPE (27 27 (!21 Mott (!21 Lisbon ! (!3 (!30 LaMoure !8 (!24 ! (!67 ( (!13 (!13 (!18 (!1 (!32 GRANT Linton Wahpeton (!13 ! ! ¤£12 (!13 (!13 (!13 (!13 (!22 ¤£281 (!13 Bowman (!6 (!24 RICHLAND ! (!49 (!8 (!31 EMMONS MCINTOSH SIOUX (!56 SARGENT .-127 BOWMAN ¤£12 ADAMS (!11 ! ¨¦§29 ! (!3 DICKEY Fort Yates Ashley Forman (!11 (!11 ¤£85 ! (!11 ! Hettinger (!11 (!3 (!11 Ellendale (22 ! .-1804 ! (!11 (!32 (!6 (!3 (!18 (!8 ¤£83 (!1 BRIAN HOSEK

additional two blue-winged teal may be In addition, the three-year population The two-zone structure for sandhill taken from Sept. 21 through Oct. 6. index used for guiding hunting season cranes continues. Zone 1 is west of Possession Limit: Three times the daily regulations has been stable to slightly U.S. Highway 281 and Zone 2 is east limit. increasing for several years. of U.S. Highway 281. Zone 1 has a daily Wetland conditions throughout much bag limit of three cranes; in Zone 2 the Sandhill Cranes of North Dakota also improved tremen- daily bag limit is two. The possession Opens: Zone 1 and 2: Sept. 14 dously in summer, which will provide limit in Zone 1 is nine cranes, and six in Closes: Zone 1 and 2: Nov. 10 plenty of options for roosting sandhill Zone 2. Daily Limit Zone 1: 3 cranes during fall migration. Daily Limit Zone 2: 2 Possession Limit Zone 1: 9 Possession Limit Zone 2: 6 Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- rise to 1 p.m. daily through Nov. 2; to 2 p.m. Nov. 3 until end of season. The Mid-continent Sandhill Crane Population is in good shape heading into fall. Cold weather lingered into March and April on the northern Great Plains for the second straight year in 2019, which greatly slowed the spring migration. As a result, few birds made it north of the central Platte River Valley in Nebraska where the annual spring survey is conducted. Given these conditions, a large proportion of the population was likely captured during the survey. Initial Two of North Dakota’s sizeable reports indicate numbers compa- population.

rable to record-setting 2018 totals. TY STOCKTON

12 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 SANDHILL CRANE UNITS

(!42 ¤£83 Crosby (!40 ¤£52 (!8 (!43 ! (!4 (!18 256 (!14 £281 (!30 (!5 (!5 (!5 (!28 .- ¤ Rolla (!20 (!1 (!89 BOTTINEAU Bottineau ! (!32 Bowbells RENVILLE ! DIVIDE ! (!5 (!5 (! CAVALIER Cavalier BURKE 5 (!5 ! (!5 ¤£85 (!42 (!40 ! (!5 (!3 ROLETTE (!30 (!5 ¤£281 Langdon PEMBINA (!20 (!8 (! £ (!66 TOWNER 32 ¤81 ¨¦§29 (!60 (!18 ¤£52 (!66 (!66 (!66 (!66 (!50 (!50 (!28 (!50 (!40 (!50 (!66 (!50 Cando ¤£83 (!17 ! ! (!1 (!40 (!14 (17 (!32 Grafton WILLIAMS (!17 ! (!17 (!28 Towner Rugby (!17 ! ! ¤£2 Stanley ¤£2 WALSH ! ¤£2 (!20 RAMSEY Williston Minot (!1 ¤£81 MOUNTRAIL ! MCHENRY (!3 (!30 ¤£2 (!35 (!32 (!18 ! 1804 WARD (!41 ¤£2 .- 1804 (!8 PIERCE Devils Lake .- ¤£52 (!14 BENSON (!19 ! ¤£83 (!19 ! ! Lakota .-1804 (20 ! .-1806 (!19 Minnewaukan GRAND FORKS (!23 (!23 (!23 ¤£281 (!57 .-1806 NELSON Grand Forks (!41 (!1 ¤£2 ! (!58 ¤£52 (!3 (!20 Watford (!23 (!22 .-200 (!37 (!30 (!32 City (!28 ! (!53 (!18 ¤£85 ! (!23 (!73 (53 (!15 ! (!15 (! MCKENZIE (37 EDDY (!15 68 MCLEAN New Rockford (!68 WELLS ! (!15 1804 (!41 (!14 ! (!15 .- (!37 Fessenden (!1 ¨¦§29 (!3 UNIT 1 UNIT 2(!18 SHERIDAN (!45 (!32 (!48 ¤£52 ¤£281 (!65 (!22 (!8 Mc Clusky (!30 (!20 ! .-200 ! FOSTER (!18 .-200 ¤£85 .-1806 .-200 Cooperstown Finley .-200 ! .-200 ! TRAILL .-200 Carrington .-200 .-200 STEELE Hillsboro .-200A (!18 ! DUNN MERCER .-200 (!41 GRIGGS .-200 ¤£83 (!20 .-200A .-200 .-200 (!3!1 Washburn (!9 (!16 .-200 ! Manning (!1 (!32 ! .-200A (!31 (!48 (!26 Center (!36 (!36 (!36 (!22 ! (!38 (!8 ¤£281 (!20 (!9 ¨¦§29 (!49 OLIVER (!32 (!18 BILLINGS (!14 (!3 (!31 (!25 .-1804 (!1 Beach KIDDER STUTSMAN §94 ¤£83 BURLEIGH Valley City ! ¨¦ Dickinson .-1806 Jamestown ! CASS ! ! GOLDEN Medora ! 94 ¨¦§94 94 ! ¨¦§ Bismarck ! BARNES ¨¦§ Fargo ! 94 (!16 VALLEY ! ¨¦§ Steele (!32 STARK Mandan (!18 MORTON (!30 ¤£281 (!1 ¤£85 (!22 (!49 (!8 (!3 (!6 (!46 (!46 (!46 (!46 (!46 .-1806 ¤£83 (!56 Napoleon Amidon (!21 ! (!34 (!34 (!32 ! (!34 HETTINGER Carson (!21 .-1804 ! LOGAN LAMOURE ! RAN! SOM (! SLOPE (27 27 (!21 Mott (!21 Lisbon ! (!3 (!30 LaMoure !8 (!24 ! (!67 ( (!13 (!13 (!18 (!1 (!32 GRANT Linton Wahpeton (!13 ! ! ¤£12 (!13 (!13 (!13 (!13 (!22 ¤£281 (!13 Bowman (!6 (!24 RICHLAND ! (!49 (!8 (!31 EMMONS MCINTOSH SIOUX (!56 SARGENT .-127 BOWMAN ¤£12 ADAMS (!11 ! ¨¦§29 ! (!3 DICKEY Fort Yates Ashley Forman (!11 (!11 ¤£85 ! (!11 ! Hettinger (!11 (!3 (!11 Ellendale (22 ! .-1804 ! (!11 (!32 (!6 (!3 (!18 (!8 ¤£83 (!1 BRIAN HOSEK

Nonresident sandhill crane hunters production in the state has been fair, shelterbelts or other diverse stands can pursue cranes with either a valid but likely down from previous years. of trees. Doves also need to be within nonresident small game or waterfowl The cool and wet summer that most a few miles of water sources. Harvest license, in addition to a crane permit. of North Dakota experienced typically of small grains and oilseed crops are Nonresident sandhill crane permits are hinders production and doves often projected to be a little behind average, valid for use within the dates and zones nest less. but by September hunters should still of nonresident waterfowl or small game The Game Fish Department tallies have plenty of places to choose from. licenses selected during purchase. mourning doves during late summer Eurasian collared doves continue to Hunters are also reminded to be roadside counts, but numbers were not expand throughout the state and are sure of their target before shooting, yet finalized before this issue went to found in almost every city and small as federally endangered whooping press. Although survey numbers were town. However, these birds are not cranes may be present throughout not available to compare to previous often found outside of municipalities North Dakota during fall. Report all years, hunters should expect slightly and are rarely harvested by hunters. whooping crane sightings to the North fewer doves this fall. However, given Nonetheless, Eurasian collared doves Dakota Game and Fish Department in the sheer size of this population, hunt- can be pursued during the dove sea- Bismarck at 701-328-6300. ing should still be good, but expect son and are included with mourning Andrew Dinges, Migratory Game Bird to put a little more effort into finding doves in the daily bag and possession Biologist, Bismarck concentrations of birds. limits if harvested. Dove hunters should experience Some dove hunters may be con- Doves good opportunities during early tacted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Opens: Sept. 1 September before cooler weather sets Service to participate in a wing survey. Closes: Nov. 29 in throughout the state and pushes Hunters are also reminded to look for Daily Limit: 15 doves south. Hunters are encouraged banded mourning doves in their bag Possession Limit: 45 to scout before the season to find and report bands directly to the Bird Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- the right mix of conditions that are Banding Laboratory website at report- rise to sunset. conducive to concentrating birds. band.gov. Hunters should look for areas with North Dakota has a sizeable Andrew Dinges abundant harvested small grain population of breeding mourning or oilseed fields that are also near doves. Based on casual observations,

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 13 Crows Legislative changes to state law also Mountain Lion Hunting expanded technology to allow for night Fall Season Opens: Aug. 17 Zone 1 (early) Opens: Aug. 30 hunting of some furbearers starting this Closes: Nov. 4 Closes: Nov. 24 fall. Hunters can use artificial light (must Spring Season Opens: March 14, 2020 Zone 1 (late) Opens: Nov. 25 produce a red, green or amber color) Closes: April 26, 2020 Closes: March 31, 2020 or infrared light while hunting afoot for Daily Limit: No limit on crows. Zone 2 Opens: Aug. 30 , fox, and beaver during Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- Closes: March 31, 2020 the open night-hunting seasons. The rise to sunset. use of night vision or thermal vision The overall harvest limit on mountain In addition to the crow season, remains legal during the open seasons lions in Zone 1 is once again 15, with an crows may be taken when committing as well. early season limit of eight, and a late- or about to commit depredations as season limit of seven (or three females, Trappers and hunters should expect specified in federal law. whichever comes first). If the early to see fewer throughout the season ends before eight mountain state this year, as both harvest and Snipe lions are taken, a conditional season spring surveys were down from 2018. Opens: Sept. 14 could reopen after the late season, if Game and Fish Department surveys Closes: Dec. 1 the late season limit is reached prior to indicated the highest densities of coy- Daily Limit: 8 March 25. Possession Limit: 24 otes in spring were once again in the . num- There is no mountain lion harvest Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- limit in Zone 2. rise to sunset. bers remain low throughout the state. Muskrats have yet to rebound after Mountain lions may be hunted state- their numbers dipped back in 2013. wide by residents using legal firearms or archery equipment during regular Opens: Sept. 21 Similarly, spring surveys indicated hunting hours. Beginning Nov. 25, Closes: Nov. 4 decreases in beavers and skunks mountain lions may also be hunted by Daily Limit: 3 throughout most of the state. And pursuing with dogs. Cable devices and Possession Limit: 9 although badger, mink and raccoon traps are not allowed. The limit is one Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sun- numbers are up slightly in some lion per hunter. Kittens (lions with vis- rise to sunset. regions compared to last year, these species remain well below their long- ible spots), or females accompanied by kittens, may not be taken. FURBEARERS term averages on a statewide level. Any lion taken must be reported to For more season details, refer to The seasons for and moun- the Department within 12 hours and the the North Dakota Game and Fish tain lions will also be the same as 2018. entire intact animal must be presented Department website, gf.nd.gov, or the Last year, hunters and/or trappers took 2019-20 hunting and trapping guide. 64 bobcats, 11 mountain lions in Zone 1 for tagging. Legally taken animals will (two in the early-season, seven in the be returned to the hunter. Notable changes to furbearer late-season, and two in the conditional regulations this fall include a slight River Otter Trapping or Cable season) and three mountain lions in increase in the river otter harvest limit Devices Zone 2. and an expansion of the area open to Opens: Nov. 25 fisher trapping. Trappers are reminded that the Closes: March 15, 2020 Department recommends checking all The statewide harvest limit for river Limit of one per person. Total harvest traps and snares by visually inspect- otters will be 20 this coming season, limit of 20 statewide. ing them and removing all captured up from 15 last season, which was Trappers must contact the local animals at no greater than 48-hour reached in 2018 in only 7 days. Fisher game warden or Department field intervals, and that rubber gloves be trapping will now be allowed statewide office to report their harvest within 12 worn for skinning and handling of all during the open season, except for hours and make arrangements to have furbearers. Bottineau and Rolette counties. Fisher their river otter tagged. For more infor- trapping will not be allowed in those Stephanie Tucker, Game Management mation, see the North Dakota 2019-20 counties to continue protection of Section Leader, Bismarck hunting and trapping guide. American marten in those areas. Last season trappers took 26 fishers during Fisher Trapping or Cable Devices the open season. Opens: Nov. 25 Closes: Dec. 1

14 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 Open statewide except for Bottin- original condition to prevent freeze-up. The pelt and carcass of each eau and Rolette counties. Limit one Beginning March 16, 2020, colony must be presented to Department per person. Trappers must contact the traps must be under at least 2 inches personnel for inspection and tagging local game warden or Department field of water, and trapping or using cable prior to sale or transfer of possession, office to report their harvest within 12 devices on the outside of any musk- but no later than 14 days after the close hours and make arrangements to have rat house or structure of any size of the season. their fisher tagged. For more informa- is prohibited; traps may be placed For more information, see the 2019- tion, see the North Dakota 2019-20 completely inside a muskrat house 20 furbearer hunting and trapping hunting and trapping guide. or structure of any size, except when guide. used on float sets; foothold traps must Beaver and Raccoon Hunting, be submerged under water at all times Red Fox, , Coyote and Trapping or Underwater Cable Badger Hunting or Trapping Devices or must have a protective covering; body-gripping traps used in water can Open: Year-round. Open: Year-round. have no more than 2 inches of the trap In addition, red fox, gray fox and For more information, see the North above the water or must have a protec- coyote may be hunted at any hour from Dakota 2019-20 hunting and trapping guide. tive covering. Nov. 25 through March 15, 2020. Any Beginning May 1, 2020, float sets hunter who engages in the hunting of Beaver and Raccoon Cable red fox, gray fox or coyote during the Devices on Land must have a protective covering. Mink and muskrat may be hunted time from a half-hour after sunset to Opens: Nov. 25 statewide with .22 caliber or smaller a half-hour before sunrise, must hunt Closes: May 10, 2020 rimfire rifles or pistols, muzzleloaders exclusively on foot. From March 16, 2020, through May of .45 caliber or smaller, longbows and Hunters can use night vision, artificial 10, 2020, cable devices must be within crossbows. light, thermal vision, and infrared light 50 feet of water; they must be no more equipment during this portion of the than 4 inches off the ground and must Bobcat Trapping, Hunting or season. The artificial light must pro- have a stop restricting loop size to 12 Cable Devices duce a red, green or amber color. inches or less in diameter. Hunting and Trapping Opens: Nov. 9 Beaver dams may be dismantled Cable Devices Opens: Nov. 25 Red Fox, Gray Fox, Coyote and Badger Cable Devices when their presence causes property Closes: March 15, 2020 damage. Open only in the area south and Opens: Nov. 25 Closes: March 15, 2020 Weasel Trapping, Hunting or west of the Missouri River. Beginning Cable Devices Nov. 25, bobcats may also be hunted by pursuing with dogs. Trapping Opens: Oct. 26 Hunting and Cable Devices Opens: Nov. 25 Closes: March 15, 2020 Weasels may be hunted state- wide with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire rifles or pistols, muzzle- loaders of .45 caliber or smaller, longbows and crossbows. Muskrat and Mink Trapping, It’s anticipated that trappers Hunting or Cable Devices and hunters will see fewer coyotes this year. Trapping Opens: Oct. 26 Hunting and Cable Devices Opens: Nov. 25 Closes: May 10, 2020 Muskrat huts may be opened for insertion of traps or cable devices; however, the huts must be restored to their approximate LARA ANDERSON

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 15 PROGRAM UPDATE

Hunting a PLOTS tract in southeastern North Dakota. CRAIG BIHRLE

16 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 By Ron Wilson

evin Kading, Game and program versus just more acres in the is in good shape. While the Department Fish Department private program. We're taking that and looking would like to see more acres in the land section leader, at how we can improve acreage in the program, and I know hunters would like addresses the status of program, existing habitat or existing tracts, to see more acres, private land biologists the Private Land Open To Sportsmen and trying to improve the habitat on those are taking those small steps to make sure program. The popular walk-in access acres and then trying to enroll higher we have good habitat in the program. program has been on North Dakota’s quality acres. We're still trying to get to 1 The landowners in the Department’s landscape for more than 20 years. million acres and we're slowly making that PLOTS program are great to work with. climb and increasing every year, but the They don't have to enroll their land in the Q: Where does the PLOTS program acres that we're putting into the program, PLOTS program as it is strictly voluntary. stand this year in comparison to the we're trying to make sure those are Landowners know they can choose at last few years in terms of the number higher quality acres. any time to not participate in the program, of acres? but they have chosen to participate, A: When we set out this year for the sign Q: It’s mid-July and still weeks away which tells us a lot, too. The Department’s up, Game and Fish Department private from the fall hunting seasons, but private land staff has some great working land biologists developed some goals what kinds of reports are you hearing relationships with the private landowners and work plans for the PLOTS program about how enrolled acres are looking participating. in an attempt to anticipate the number this year? of acres to be enrolled and added to the A: The conditions have been such that Q: While many of the state’s Conser- program. We set out to have 786,000 the cover, the wildlife habitat is really look- vation Reserve Program acres have acres in the program. That was what we ing good this year. Hopefully, that trans- been lost, how does this federal idle anticipated we would have if we hit our lates to some good habitat this fall and grass program factor into the PLOTS marks, if we hit our goals and what we it sure looks like it will. We're not looking program? had money budgeted for. Biologists met at any major drought issues or anything A: To put things into perspective a little and exceeded that goal this year, with like that, yet I know there are some parts bit, prior to 2007 there was just a lot 791,000 acres, which was good and that of the state that are a little drier than they more CRP on the landscape in the state, was just because there was interest out want to be, but overall habitat conditions and the ability to enroll those acres in there. Our biologists put in a lot of leg- are looking really good on Department the PLOTS program was great for the work this year meeting with landowners, PLOTS tracts and elsewhere. There are Department. There are several different putting out promotional materials, holding still going to be some areas that hunters avenues that landowners can take to put workshops … a lot of different promotional come across on PLOTS that have some land in the PLOTS program and one of the activities to try to drum up interest and let haying or grazing being done on them, most common avenues is through CRP. landowners know about the program. It but that's part of the landowner’s PLOTS If they have CRP and they are looking to wasn't really a surprise that we got those agreement, too. Some of those acres are get some additional incentives for public acres, we put in a lot of work to get those under agreements that are for working access, or help with planting the grass acres. But it's welcome to see additional lands and landowners can still do those or some cost-share on establishing that acres versus what we had anticipated. activities on their PLOTS tracts. But over- cover, that's where the PLOTS program all, hunters will hopefully see some pretty has come in. Prior to 2007, 2008, 2009, Q: After carrying more than 700,000 good habitat conditions come fall. there was a lot of those opportunities out acres for the last several years, and there. Fast forward to where we’re at now, the numbers are even trending higher, Q: The PLOTS program has been the CRP program in the state is less than is a goal of 1 million acres still realistic around for 20-plus years and is widely half of what it used to be and there are down the road? recognized by hunters in North Da- just fewer opportunities for those acres A: The Game and Fish Department met its kota. What is the status of the pro- to go into the PLOTS program. That's goal of 1 million acres in 2007 and since gram today? kind of the relationship a lot of people then we've slowly been tapering off from A: The PLOTS program today is in good maybe don't understand, or don't see the that. The Department still has that goal, standing with landowners and is really connection, but that’s the way it is. When we still want to try to reach that goal of 1 well received. There's still a lot of interest CRP acres become available, we certainly million acres, but what we've seen from by landowners. Hunters continually tell welcome those acres as additions to the survey results from hunters is that they'd us and give praise to the Department for PLOTS program, but when they're not out rather see higher quality acres in the the program. Overall, the PLOTS program there, when they're not available, that is

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 17 The number of PLOTS acres in the state are on the rise. CRAIG BIHRLE just one less acre in the PLOTS program. gets planted and it's on the landscape for as piggybacking on our PLOTS program. The outlook for the CRP program in North 6 to 10 years or longer and will benefit the Every year we hear from hunters, we get Dakota now that the farm bill has passed program for many years. photos of people who had some success may provide some more opportunities for and of kids getting their first bird or their CRP, but it’s unlikely it will be like it was Q: What do you hear – both good and first deer on a PLOTS tract. We try to relay back in the early to mid-2000s. bad – from landowners who are en- this information back to landowners to let rolled in the PLOTS program and from them know they are making a difference Q: Anything new the agency is work- hunters who hunt PLOTS acres? out there. Overall, hunters, I believe, still ing on to improve the PLOTS program A: Landowners are still interested in the have a really positive view of the PLOTS for wildlife, landowners and hunters? program and the agency gets some posi- program. A: Some of the things that private land tive comments. The PLOTS program is biologists have focused their time on in very flexible. We've tried to make it work- Q: It’s imagined that many hunters the last couple of years has been enhanc- able for landowners and that's one of the carry dog-eared copies of the latest ing the existing acres the PLOTS program things that attracts the interest … we're PLOTS Guide in their vehicles to help does have. The biologists visit with the pretty easy to work with and the PLOTS guide them to the various PLOTS landowners and talk to them about habitat program offers a lot of different options. tracts and other public lands. Yet, are enhancements, whether that's new grass It’s not all about just having CRP. You can hunters nowadays finding the loca- plantings or adding some food plots or have other land that might have cropland tion of the lands in other ways? cover crops to their area. We have seen or pastureland or grazing lands, so there's A: Hunters can use the paper-copy some interest in these enhancements. a lot of different opportunities for land- PLOTS Guide to find tracts they want In fact, this year part of the total increase owners to put their land in the program. to hunt, but there are other options in PLOTS acreage is about 5,000 acres Our biologists in the field are knowledge- available. Most people nowadays are of new grass … some of those acres are able about all the different partnership carrying a smartphone in their pocket. brand new habitat going into the fall hunt- programs, including USDA programs and There's an app you can find on the Game ing season and will be on the landscape others, that Department staff can try to and Fish Department website, gf.nd. for many years to come. This new grass help landowners work through, as well gov, that hunters can download on their

18 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 phones, which is basically an electronic If a landowner is interested in talking it's an agreement that we have with the version of the PLOTS Guide. So, if people to a private land biologist in their area landowner. When hunters are out hunting want to use that to navigate around the about enrolling in the PLOTS program, I'd on PLOTS land, they need to remember countryside, it works pretty well. Also, encourage them to make a phone call. they’re on private land and there might on the Department’s website there's an Department biologists can come out, be some farming going on, there might online mapping application that hunters take a look at the land and talk about be some haying or some harvesting can use if they want to look at some the opportunities available through the going on … they need to be aware of areas ahead of time or maybe print some PLOTS program. that. They need to be aware of where maps of where they're going. they park their vehicles, which direction Q: Anything you’d like to tell hunters they are shooting, which direction they Q: If a landowner is interested in the planning to utilize these private lands are hiking … It's private land and we want PLOTS program, who can they con- made available for walk-in access tact to get the information they seek? this fall? hunters to leave a good impression on A: The Game and Fish Department has A: A lot of times, and in a lot of minds, the landowners when they are hunting the eight private land districts. Landowners PLOTS program gets lumped in with the PLOTS tracts. can find those districts, and the name public land category. People just assume and phone numbers of the biologists on PLOTS is public land. It's available for the RON WILSON is editor of North Dakota the Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. public, but it's still privately owned and OUTDOORS.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s PLOTS program is a landscape staple of more than 20 years.

PLOTS CRAIG BIHRLE are private lands. Please ENJOY this opportunity and RESPECT the land as if it were your own.

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 19 NOW AVAILABLE

The Duck Factory tells the fascinating story of encounters between ducks and people in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region. The book describes the colorful and contentious history of waterfowl and waterfowl management in North Dakota, complete with stories of the people who hunt them, protect them, study them, enjoy them and work to guarantee their continued importance in North Dakota.

Illustrated with historic pictures and color photographs of waterfowl and North Dakota landscapes.

“The Duck Factory – A History of Waterfowl in Jacobs and Erik Fritzell and others to see the book to North Dakota,” Mike Johnson, waterfowl program publication. leader for the North Dakota Game and Fish Depart- In the world of waterfowl, “The Duck Factory” ment from 1981 to 2015, wrote this: is an important story because of North Dakota’s “This book recounts the remarkable history of the longtime and continued contribution to the world of ecology, management, conservation, research and migratory birds. hunting of waterfowl as well as their habitats in North “North Dakota is the most important state for Dakota, and tells the stories of the people, conflicts breeding ducks,” Szymanski said. “The contribu- and politics that wind through this history. It is an tion of ducks from North Dakota into the fall flight is extraordinary story and its telling is long overdue.” unmatched by any other state, and its importance to “The Duck Factory,” a Game and Fish Depart- duck hunters cannot be understated. Describing the ment publication, is all that and more. history of waterfowl in North Dakota was a story that “We had a lot of information to work with, an we felt was certainly worth telling.” incredible amount of history and interesting facts The 200-plus page book is now on sale only about waterfowl in North Dakota,” said Mike Szy- online for $24.99, including shipping, on the Game manski, Game and Fish Department migratory game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, by clicking bird program leader. “We wanted to make the book on “buy and apply” and then “shop”. appealing to both waterfowl hunters and people “Not only is the book a great read, there are a lot interested in history. We tried really hard to produce of good, old waterfowl and duck hunting photos that a piece of literature that was user friendly and fulfill- go back almost 150 years,” Szymanski said. ing to read and I think we did that.” Szymanski and Johnson worked with authors Mike RON WILSON is editor of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

20 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 NOW AVAILABLE Here's an excerpt from "The Duck Factory," the chapter on early sport hunters, reprinted in its entirety. ... Sport Hunters Late in the 19th Century, North Dakota became a destination for a group of men often called “sport hunters.” In this context, the term suggests men of wealth who mounted well-equipped expeditions with the principal objective of hunting waterfowl. North Dakota ... was hardly unique in this role. Hunting of this kind was the Hunting Trail and Hunting Trips of a Ranchman. well developed along the mid-Atlantic Coast, including While he focused largely on big game, Roosevelt also the Eastern Shore of enjoyed hunting birds, and Virginia and he certainly enjoyed and the Pamlico Sound in eating them. Both books North Carolina, as well as include tales of duck along the Gulf of , hunting and duck eating. especially in coastal This passage from Louisiana. These places Hunting Trips of a provided amenities, Ranchman, published in including hotels and 1885, reflects Roosevelt’s guides, that North Dakota powers of observation, couldn’t offer, though his keen appreciation of local people sometimes the birds and the hunt, worked as guides. One and his gusto at the meal considerable hunting following. Roosevelt lodge did develop, at favored lengthy Wamduska on Stump paragraphs; this passage Lake. Many hunters has been divided into brought their own luxury, shorter bursts. in the form of private “(In the evening) we

railroad cars. Some W.B. Mershon, a Michigan lumberman, brought dozens of sport hunters to the had lain among the reeds lodged with local people. Dawson area during the late 19th Century. He and others published extensively about near a marshy lake and their experiences. University of Michigan Bently Historical Library Collection. Some slept on the had killed quite a number ground. of ducks, mostly widgeon and teal, and this morning we In general, these hunters were men of affairs. One of intended to try shooting among the cornfields. By sunrise them became president of the United States. One became we were a good distance off, on a high ridge, across a prominent artist. One was an important lumberman, which we had noticed that the ducks flew in crossing mineral developer and mayor of a Midwestern city. Still from one set of lakes to another. another was a successful lawyer. Some were authentic “The flight had already begun, and our arrival scared “birdmen,” professional or amateur ornithologists who off the birds for the time being; but in a little while, after made important contributions to scientific understanding we had hidden among the sheaves, stacking the straw up of waterfowl. Several wrote of their experiences. Some around us, the ducks began to come back, either flying published books. Most contributed articles to sporting over in their passage from the water, or else intending to magazines. light and feed. They were for the most part mallards, The most famous of these hunters was Theodore which are the commonest of the western ducks, and the Roosevelt, the future president. He is one who slept on only species customarily killed in this kind of shooting. the ground. Frederic Remington, the renowned western They are especially fond of the corn, of which there was artist, also hunted in North Dakota. a small patch in the grain field. To this flocks came again Roosevelt spent a total of about a year in North Dakota and again, and fast though they flew we got many before on several different trips, and he left recollections of his they left the place, scared by the shooting. Those that hunting experiences here in two books, Ranch Life and were merely passing from one point to another flew low,

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August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 21 and among them we shot a couple of gadwall and also William Butts Mershon was a different kind of hunter. knocked over a red-head from a little bunch that went by, He concentrated on waterfowl and he lived in luxury. He their squat, chunky forms giving them a very different made a fortune in the lumber business in Michigan, look from the longer, lighter-built . The mallards where he was elected mayor of Saginaw. Later he that came to feed flew high in the air, wheeling round in invested in copper and salt mines in the western states. gradually lowering circles when they had reached the spot where they intended to light. “In shooting in the grain fields there is usually plenty of time to aim, a snap shot being from the nature of the sport exceptional. Care must be taken to lie quiet until the ducks are near enough; shots are most often lost through shooting too soon. Heavy guns with heavy loads are necessary, for the ducks are generally killed at long range; and both from this circumstance as well as from the rapidity of their flight, it is The “City of Worcester” carried the families of two Massachusetts industrialists to North Dakota for hunting along the railroad in the imperative to hold well early 1880s. F. Jay Haynes/NDSU Collection. ahead of the bird fired at. It has one advantage over shooting in a , and that is For two decades, Mershon made annual trips to Dakota that a wounded bird which drops is of course hardly ever Territory and North Dakota. Initially, he hunted near lost. Corn-fed mallards are most delicious eating; they Buffalo at the western edge of the Red River Valley. rank on a par with teal and red-head and second only to When the area had been overhunted and birds became the canvas-back – a bird, by the way, of which I have scare, he began hunting in the Dawson area. Mershon never killed but one or two individuals in the West.” also maintained hunting camps near his home in Remington illustrated Roosevelt’s Hunting Trips of a Michigan and in Canada. Ranchman, published in 1888, and his illustrations For his North Dakota trips, Mershon used private helped guarantee its success. Remington described a hunt railroad cars that he had fitted up. The first of these, near Devils Lake about 1890. “The air was now full of purchased in 1883, had “six lower berths, six upper flying birds – mallards, spoon-bills, pintails, red-heads, berths, a kitchen at one end, and an observation room or butter-balls, , widgeon and canvasbacks – and dining room in the other, a large ice-box and all that sort the shooting was fast and furious.” of thing,” Mershon wrote in a memoir, Reflections of My

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22 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 Fifty Years Hunting and Fishing, published in 1923. Later Mershon was not only a hunter; he was also a genuine Mershon and his friends bought a second car, adding a “bird man,” an associate member of the American bath tub and a tank holding 500 gallons of water. This car Ornithologists Union and a frequent contributor to The he named “The City of Saginaw.” His hunting coterie he Auk, since 1884 the premier journal of bird science in the called “The Saginaw Crowd.” Mershon was the epitome of the sporting waterfowl hunter, wealthy, serious and enthusiastic about waterfowl and the sport of waterfowl hunting. He was an accomplished writer, and his prose captures both the ambience and excitement of hunting at sunset in Dakota in the 1880s: “At dusk, just as the great red glow of the gorgeous Dakota sunset was at its best in the west, the ducks began to come in fast and furious. I do not think I shot more than twenty minutes. My gun was hot. Frequently I had to dodge to avoid being hit by the teal coming in like bullets. Sometimes they came in so fast and so low and close that they startled me and I put up my arm to shield them off … I remember that I picked up and brought in 46 ducks … and that they were largely teal and mallards.” Mershon also shot geese. He wrote, “We used to get tremendous bags of geese. The plan was to drive through the stubble fields early in the morning and find where the geese were feeding, make an examination of the ground after the geese had left and see if there was much food left … and if we had good reason to believe it was a regular feeding, we put in pits The adults hunted; the children appeared to envy them. … In came flock after flock, and by the F. Jay Haynes/NDSU Collection. booming guns at the far end of the field we knew our friends were having sport too. Oh! For another nation. As a “birdman,” hour of such excitement! It was grand. We had four or Mershon’s most important five different kinds – pure white fellows with black on work may have been on the ends of their wings; and one yellow-legged fellow passenger pigeons. Early in that the natives called a goose, with a breast the 20th Century, he began all blotched with black, looking as though he had been to gather all of the material he could find about these wounded the year before and black had grown in instead birds, which by then were clearly doomed. The result was of the original yellowish gray; great big Canada geese The Passenger Pigeon, published in 1907, seven years and smaller ones that seemed nearly the same.” after the last reliable sighting of the pigeon in the wild

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August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 23 and seven years before the death of the last captive canvasback, “When the western duck hunter, through a pigeon, a bird named Martha, in the Cincinnati Zoo. He generous fate, is fortunate enough to enjoy one good also wrote about the very large Canada geese that he day’s shooting of canvasbacks, he is apt to remember it hunted in North Dakota, and later in his life he for years if not during his whole life, for in the West they campaigned to have them designated as a full species. are so scarce that one successful hunt becomes so William Bruce Leffingwell, a lawyer in Clinton, Iowa, emblazoned in our memory that years cannot efface it, also made regular hunting trips to North Dakota. Like nor will time tarnish the pleasant recollections.” Mershon, he left a considerable record of his hunting Not all hunters came from distant parts; parties of excursions. Leffingwell published two books, Wildfowl hunters went out from Fargo and the state’s other cities as Shooting and Shooting on Upland, Marsh and Stream. Of well. In 1891, W.S. Parker, a druggist in Lisbon, got more interest to North Dakotans, however, is a series of together a party and headed for Devils Lake. His party articles he published in The American Field. These were “made our headquarters at the house of a substantial titled Wanderings in German farmer.” Dakota, and concentrated At Dawson, Joseph J. almost entirely on his Gokey made a living as a experiences in North warden and hunting Dakota. guide. One of his Leffingwell’s books customers was Emerson were filled with advice Hough, well known as a for hunters. Here’s what writer of western novels. he had to say about “In appearance we found hunting with decoys: Gokey to be strictly “The reader has noticed weird, about medium the partiality I have height, but with long shown toward decoys. In black hair hanging on his doing so I have no shoulders,” Hough wrote

apology to offer, for it has Old Wamduska Hotel, Stump Lake, N.D. NDSU Collection. ... “Gokey of Dawson has been my constant aim and done more to make his desire to disclose to you state famous than any the secrets of the art of hunting wild fowl successfully, as politician within its borders. He is known all over his own constant practice, unlimited opportunities and over state and moreover in every other state of the union. He twenty years’ experience have demonstrated to me … has friends by the score among the best and wealthiest Always have decoys along with you if you contemplate sportsmen of America.” shooting over water. Bear in mind this, that you cannot Some of the sport hunters remained anonymous, yet have too many, the more the better for the larger the flock left records of their exploits in Dakota. Many of these the greater the attraction to birds. … The best way to accounts were collected by Harold F. Duebbert who carry them is in a large coffee sack with puckered string published them in Wildfowling in Dakota 1873-1903. at the top. Have two – one to hold 12 to 18 mallards, in Duebbert, a renowned waterfowl researcher, worked at the other about 10 or 12 redheads and 12 to 18 bluebills. the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. An avid This will give a variety that will do for all kinds of reader and hunter, he brought together articles that had ducks.” been published in such magazines as The American Field Here is Leffingwell’s enthusiastic appreciation of the and Field and Stream.

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24 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 Sport hunters seeking accommodation had at least one down there in certain places, and in certain states of the commercial establishment to serve them, the Wamduska weather, by the millions. These representations, by Hotel, which opened in 1882 on the eastern shore of reliable individuals, besides setting our imaginations on Stump Lake northwest of today’s Stump Lake County fire, induced the conviction in our minds that the Park. The hotel was a three-story building with 42 rooms, hygienic exertion we demanded could best be secured by including a ballroom and 33 guest rooms. Guests arrived a hunting trip to those regions.” by rail at the Lakota station on the Great Northern, and So they did it, and reported it in Wam-dus- then traveled overland to Wamduska, a distance of about ky/Descriptive Record of a Hunting Trip to North Dakota 10 miles. The hotel operated for about three decades, in 1892. closing about 1910. These men were not experienced hunters, as their A guest book preserved at the Tofthagen Library and continuing account demonstrates. “They made a great Museum in Lakota contains names of guests from New many holes in the sky, but none in the birds; at least not York City and one of them came down Washington, D.C. The to testify to any harm it place was a favorite of received.” railroad magnate James J. Yet their anticipation Hill. He often brought seemed met. “Immense friends there, even though flocks of geese were he routed his Great flying from the north and Northern Railway around toward the lake. They the north end of Devils seemed to have come Lake, bypassing from the far north. They Wamduska. Alexander were flying with the Griggs, the founder of wind. They seemed to Grand Forks, was a frequent guest. So too

was Emery Mapes, for Wamduska Hotel. Tofthagen Library and whom the tiny town of Museum, Lakota, N.D. Mapes is named. He was a wealthy landowner and an entrepreneur. He invented Cream of Wheat. Some guests were anonymous, though they left a record of themselves. “What did we go to Dakota for?” one author asked in an anonymous book about his adventures. “For amusement? Yes, for amusement – but not that only, nor mainly; that was simply the butter on our bread. We were in need of some outdoor exercise; and hunting was the horse we recommended ourselves to ride in taking this exercise. We happened to hear at the time exciting stories of the immense autumnal flight of birds across Dakota, southward, resting on their way, in the lakes and ponds and slews (sic). The wild geese were described as coming

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August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 25 have come from far and higher than usual … Reaching a Birdmen point above the lake they began suddenly to descend – Hunters were not alone in seeking waterfowl in late and this was the greatest sight of all.” 19th Century North Dakota. Birdmen came too. Finally, their marksmanship improved. “And do you Natural history was a popular hobby among the well- notice what variety of ducks we heeled and well-educated easterners of the time, and when have? Here are mallards, they heard of North Dakota’s abundant bird life, redheads, canvasbacks, blue- some of them came to see for themselves. winged and green-winged teal, Many of them kept private bluebills, widgeon, gadwalls, spoonbills, collections of skins and eggs – gray ducks, muddy ducks, buffle-headed while the practice of oology or ducks, sawbill ducks, and some egg collecting was still within other ducks I think.” the law. Others sought It’s a veritable catalog of observations to report to North Dakota duck species – ornithological journals – an ambition even if we can’t quite that absorbed hunters know what gray ducks such as William Mershon and muddy ducks might as well. These have been, and we have to observations contributed guess that sawbill ducks to scientific knowledge of were a species of bird life on the Northern merganser. Plains. Even today, some This sort of hunting collections of eggs and generated controversy, as skins are available for Frank Seebart reported in scientific study, including Lakota’s centennial one at the North Dakota history book published in Heritage Center in 1983. “The famous Bismarck. Stump Lake Pass Herbert K. Job is a eventually came into the typical example of the

possession of wealthy Although portions of the hotel were closed, the structure provided housing for families type. A native of outsiders who were not into the 1930s. Tofthagen Library and Museum, Lakota, ND. Connecticut, he made a inclined to let the locals number of trips to North use it. They brought their own hunting parties on Dakota, starting in 1898. He visited Stump Lake, Devils weekends and took all the game the law allowed. Area Lake, Rush Lake and the Turtle Mountains. In his book hunters resented the practice and at times local feelings Among the Waterfowl, published in 1902, Job uses more ran high against these ‘foreigners.’ ” than 50 pages to describe his discoveries of breeding This kind of reaction isn’t surprising given the behavior ducks, geese and other birds. Notably, he photographed of some hunters. One party from Fort Totten reportedly many of the birds he found. His account includes locating borrowed a cannon and shot into the sky-darkening flocks his first duck nest, finding 11 species of waterfowl in a of geese. In front of the Wamduska House they strung up small slough, spending a couple of rainy days in a barn their hundreds of goose trophies. owned by a Norwegian farmer and falling into the muck of a prairie wetland.

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26 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 In 1901, Job brought America’s most famous living 1920 to 1923, he served as game and fish commissioner. birdman to North Dakota. This was Arthur Cleveland Elliott Coues certainly deserves a place in the list of Bent, whose life work, occupying half a century, was the distinguished birdmen who worked in North Dakota. An 10-volume Life Histories of North American Birds, an Army surgeon, he did a survey of bird life along the invaluable resource. Initially published by the international border in the 1870s, where he recorded Smithsonian Institution, beginning in 1910, the entire many bird species, including waterfowl. Many of these series was reissued by Dover in the mid-1960s. records appear in his monumental book Birds of the Throughout his descriptions of waterfowl species, Bent Northwest, which was published in 1874 and drew refers to his personal observations made in North Dakota. extensively on his work in what became North Dakota. As illustrations, he included photographs taken by Job. Coues also edited the journals of Lewis and Clark, and Bent’s records of nesting by giant Canada geese, white- was among the first to recognize the importance of their winged scoters and a few others provide observations of bird life along the today’s biologists with important Missouri River. reference material. John James Audubon, the most famous Here is Bent’s description of the of American birdmen, also visited North landscape in Steele County, found as a Dakota. At age 56, after his famous kind of introduction to his life history of “Elephant Portfolio” had been published the canvasback. “In the summer of 1901 and his fame established, Audubon we found the canvasbacks breeding quite turned his attention to mammals, abundantly in Steele County, North undertaking his American Quadrupeds, Dakota. Even then their breeding in which he sought to do for mammals grounds were being rapidly encroached what his earlier works had done for upon by advancing civilization which birds. Audubon reached Fort Union at the was gradually draining and cultivating confluence of the Yellowstone and the sloughs in which this species nests. Noted bird artist John James Audubon was Missouri rivers in August 1843 and spent in North Dakota in 1843 primarily to work Since that time they have largely, if not on his “Quadrupeds of ” about six weeks hunting and painting. portfolio. But he also left us with some early wholly disappeared from the region, as records of waterfowl in the state - and the Although his focus was on mammals, he Audubon National Wildlife Refuge had a breeding birds, and their entire breeding namesake. Wikimedia Commons. discovered, described and painted several range is becoming more and more new species of birds. restricted every year, as the great northwestern plains are These birdmen followed the explorers, many of whom being settled and cultivated for wheat and other were distinguished birdmen, too. Meriwether Lewis is agricultural products. This and other species of ducks are most prominent in this group. He was a talented observer being driven farther and farther north and must ultimately who described new species and expanded scientific become exterminated unless large tracts of suitable land knowledge of others. He established, for example, that can be set apart as breeding reservations, where the birds Canada geese do nest in trees, using old bald eagle nests, can find congenial surroundings.” and on cliff faces. Elmer T. Judd was another respected birdman, and a hunter as well. He wrote regularly for Field and Stream magazine from his home near Cando. From 1890 to 1896, he kept a comprehensive list of birds he saw in north central North Dakota, in the Big Coulee west of Esmond, the Devils Lake region and the Turtle Mountains. From

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August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 27

BUFFALOBERRY BUFFALOBERRY PATCH By Greg Freeman, Department News Editor

2018 UPLAND GAME SEASONS SUMMARIZED North Dakota's 2018 pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse harvests were similar to 2017, while the number of Hungarian partridge taken last year was down from the year before, according to state Game and Fish Department statistics. More than 58,200 pheasant hunt- ers harvested 327,000 roosters (up 6 percent) in 2018, compared to 58,300 hunters and 309,400 roost- ers in 2017. Counties with the highest percent- Ring-necked rooster.

age of pheasants taken by resident ASHLEY SALWEY hunters last year were Williams, 6.7; McLean, 6.5; Richland, 6; Morton, 5.6; Counties with the highest ian partridge (down 30 percent). In and Divide, 5.2. percentage of sharptails taken by 2017, nearly 13,800 hunters har- Top counties for nonresident hunt- resident hunters in 2018 were Slope, vested 32,800 Huns. ers were Hettinger, 13.6 percent; 6.5; Walsh, 5.5; Mountrail, 5.4; Kidder, Counties with the highest per- Bowman, 10.4; Divide, 7.6; Dickey, 5.3; and Benson, 4.6. centage of Huns taken by resident 5.9; and Emmons, 4.8. Top counties for nonresident hunt- hunters in 2018 were Williams, 15.1; In 2018, nearly 13,100 grouse ers were Bowman, 11.3; Hettinger, 7.4; Mountrail, 12.1; Logan, 7.3; Ward, 6.5; hunters (down 4 percent) harvested Divide, 7; Mountrail, 6.8; and Ward, and Burke, 5.9. Top counties for 45,600 sharp-tailed grouse (down 3 6.4. nonresident hunters were Divide, percent). In 2017, 13,600 hunters took Last year, 11,200 hunters (down 19 10.3; McLean, 9.9; Mountrail, 9.3; Het- 46,900 sharptails. percent) harvested 23,000 Hungar- tinger, 8.9; and Dunn, 8.2.

Big Game Transport Rules Big game hunters are reminded of deer hunting units 3A1, 3B1 and 3F2; a • Meat that is cut and wrapped requirements for transporting deer, moose from moose hunting unit M10; either commercially or privately. elk and moose carcasses and carcass and an elk from elk hunting unit E6 • Hides with no heads attached. parts into and within North Dakota cannot transport the whole carcass, • Skull plates with antlers attached as a precaution against the possible including the head and spinal column, having no hide or brain tissue spread of chronic wasting disease. outside of the unit. However, hunters present. Hunters are prohibited from trans- can transport the whole deer carcass • Intact skulls with the hide, eyes, porting into or within North Dakota between units 3A1 and 3B1 during any lower jaw and associated soft tis- the whole carcass of deer, elk, moose open deer season. sue removed, and no visible brain or other members of the cervid family The following lower-risk portions of or spinal cord tissue present from states and provinces with docu- the carcass can be transported: • Antlers with no meat or tissue mented occurrences of CWD in wild • Meat that has been boned out. attached. populations, or in captive cervids. • Quarters or other portions of • Upper canine teeth, also known In addition, hunters harvesting a meat with no part of the spinal as buglers, whistlers or ivories. white-tailed deer or mule deer from column or head attached. • Finished taxidermy heads.

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BUFFALOBERRY PATCH BUFFALOBERRY Baiting Restrictions Equipment on Wildlife Hunters are reminded it is Management Areas unlawful to hunt big game over The North Dakota Game bait, or place bait to attract big and Fish Department reminds game for the purpose of hunt- hunters that tree stands, ground ing, on both public and private blinds and game cameras can- land in deer units 3A1, 3A2, not be placed on state wildlife 3A3 north of U.S. Highway 2, management areas prior to 3B1, 3C west of the Missouri August 20. River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1 and 3F2. Equipment set out prior to The restriction is in place that date, or left on a WMA after January 31 is considered aban- to help slow the spread of Native sharp-tailed grouse. chronic wasting disease, a LARA ANDERSON doned property and is subject to fatal disease of deer, moose removal. and elk that can cause long- Wings Needed for Survey In addition, an equipment reg- istration number, or the owner’s term population declines if Hunters can help in the effort to man- name, address and telephone left unchecked. Hunting units age upland game birds in the state, by number, must be displayed on all in the northwest have been collecting feathers from harvested birds equipment requiring identifica- added to the restriction zone, and sending in wing envelopes. tion. following the detection of Birds included in the North Dakota CWD in those areas this past Game and Fish Department’s upland Owners can generate an year. game wing survey, which has been in equipment registration Hunting over bait is defined practice for decades, are ring-necked number by visiting My as the placement and/or use pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungar- of baits for attracting big game ian partridge, turkeys and ruffed grouse. Account at the Game and and other wildlife to a specific Collecting enough pheasant samples Fish website, gf.nd.gov. location for the purpose of is typically never a problem, but securing One registration number hunting. Baits include but are enough sharptail and partridge feathers will be issued that can can be. not limited to grains, minerals, be used on all equipment salts, fruits, vegetables, hay, or Game and Fish biologists will take as any other natural or manufac- many sharptail and partridge feathers that requires identifica- tured foods. as they can get because the more col- tion. In addition, placing of bait lected, the better the data. for any purpose is prohibited Biologists can determine sex and age ratios from wings and tail feathers, sur- on all North Dakota Game vival, nesting success, hatch dates and and Fish Department wildlife overall production. management areas. Hunting What biologists learn from the samples big game over bait is also is vital to helping manage North Dakota’s prohibited on all U.S. Fish upland game birds. and Wildlife Service national Hunters interested in receiving wing wildlife refuges and waterfowl envelopes should visit the Game and production areas, U.S. Forest Fish website (gf.nd.gov), or contact the Service national grasslands, Department’s main office in Bismarck by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers phone (701-328-6300) or email (ndgf@ managed lands, and all North nd.gov). Dakota state school, state park Hunters can also get wing envelopes and state forest service lands. at Game and Fish District offices in Devils More information on CWD Lake, Jamestown, Riverdale, Dickinson, can be found at the Game and Williston and Lonetree Wildlife Manage-

Fish website, gf.nd.gov. ment Area near Harvey. LARA ANDERSON

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 29 2018 Watchable Wildlife Contest Walleye Fingerlings Stocked Game Runner-up mallard drake North Dakota Game and Fish until more is known about the Michael Ranum, Bismarck Department fisheries person- zebra mussels in Ashtabula,” nel stocked more than 140 lakes Weigel said. across the state in summer with Getting fish back into lakes that walleye fingerlings, completing suffered winterkill was a priority one of the largest stocking efforts this year, along with keeping up in the history of the agency. This with the growing number of wall- included more than 11.3 million eye fishing lakes in North Dakota. fingerlings from Garrison Dam “The condition of the receiv- National Fish Hatchery, besting ing waters could not have been the previous record walleye pro- better, with cool temperatures and duction by nearly 1 million fish. a lot of newly flooded vegetation, Jerry Weigel, Department fish- which makes for excellent survival PHOTO CONTEST DEADLINE NEARS eries conditions The North Dakota Game and Fish produc- for fin- Department’s Watchable Wildlife tion and gerlings,” Photo Contest guidelines are the devel- Weigel same as in previous years, but the opment said. “The process for submitting photos has section combina- changed. leader, tion of an Photographers who want to said a amazing submit photos to the contest will big year walleye now go the Department’s website at was produc- gf.nd.gov/photo-contest. Then it is a needed tion effort matter of providing some pertinent from the and lots information about the photo and Garrison of water uploading it. Dam across The changes were put in place to Hatch- the state help both with ease of submitting ery. bodes photos for the photographer and “They well for managing those images for Depart- had to continued ment staff. make great wall- The contest is now open and the up for eye fish- deadline for submitting photos is the ing in the October 1. For more information or produc- future.” questions, contact Patrick Isakson, tion that Walleye fingerlings. The Department conservation biologist, couldn’t MIKE ANDERSON number of at [email protected]. be used acres of The contest has categories for out of the Valley City National Fish production ponds at both hatcher- nongame and game species, as well Hatchery due to the zebra mus- ies has remained unchanged in as plants/insects. An overall winning sel discovery in Lake Ashtabula, more than 30 years, yet Weigel photograph will be chosen, with the which is the water source for the said hatchery staff continue to find number of place winners in each Valley City Hatchery,” Weigel said. ways to produce more each year category determined by the number Walleyes were already in when requested. of qualified entries. production at Valley City when it “This is a testament to the Contestants are limited to no was decided to only use those for dedicated and experienced staff more than five entries. Photos must stocking Lake Ashtabula. Some at both hatcheries in the state,” he have been taken in North Dakota. Valley City walleye fingerlings said. By submitting an entry, photogra- were also sent to other states for For a complete list of all fish phers grant permission to Game and use in lakes where zebra mussels stockings, visit the fishing link at Fish to publish winning photographs already exist. the Game and Fish Department’s in North Dakota OUTDOORS, and “This was done out of caution website, gf.nd.gov/fishing. on the Department’s website.

30 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 HIP Registration Required Hunting, Trapping Guide Federal Duck Stamp Migratory bird hunters of all ages are Hunters and trappers can find Required reminded to register with the Harvest the North Dakota 2019-20 Hunting A federal duck stamp is Information Program prior to hunting and Trapping Guide, which includes required for waterfowl hunt- ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, upland game, migratory game bird ers age 16 and older begin- coots, cranes, snipe, doves and wood- and furbearer hunting/trapping ning September 1. Waterfowl cock. Hunters must register in each regulations and other information, includes ducks, geese, state they are licensed to hunt. by visiting the state Game and Fish swans, mergansers and Hunters can HIP certify when pur- Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. coots. chasing a license – or by clicking the Printed guides are available at the This year’s 2019-20 federal Migratory Bird HIP link – at the North usual license vendor locations. duck stamp is available for Dakota Game and Fish Department The 50-plus page guide also electronic purchase through website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, hunters features a colored duck identifica- the North Dakota Game and can call 888-634-4798 and record the tion guide, aquatic nuisance species Fish Department’s website, HIP number on their printed license. information, Tom Roster’s Nontoxic gf.nd.gov, instant licensing Those who registered to hunt the Shot Lethality Table and more. telephone number, 800-406- spring light goose season in North 6409, or at license vendors Dakota do not have to register with HIP registered with the Depart- again, as it is required only once per ment’s licensing system. year. Physical stamps are not HIP registration is a cooperative pro- available at North Dakota gram designed to determine a sample license vendors, but they can of hunters from which to measure the still be purchased at many harvest of migratory birds for manage- U.S. Postal Service offices. ment purposes. The electronic stamp is a purchase item like any other hunting or fishing license. When the purchase is com- pleted the electronic stamp is valid immediately. The words "Federal Duck Stamp" will be Sandhill Crane Permits printed on the license certifi- North Dakota’s sandhill crane sea- cate, along with an expiration son opens September 14 and contin- date 45 days from the date of CRAIG BIHRLE ues through November 10. purchase. The actual physical REPORT BANDED BIRDS In addition to other licenses stamp will be sent by postal Hunters are reminded to check har- required, resident hunters need a mail. vested migratory birds for bands this $10 crane permit, while nonresidents The physical stamp is fall and report federal bands at report- need a $30 permit. Hunters can processed and sent by the band.gov. apply online, or print out a resident or official duck stamp vendor In addition, the bird banding lab has nonresident application for mailing, in Texas, and should arrive a mobile friendly reporting site that will at the North Dakota Game and Fish to the individual buyer well aid hunters to report bands via mobile Department website, gf.nd.gov. Har- before the expiration date devices. vest Information Program certification printed on the electronic The band number, date and location is required. license. The physical stamp of each recovery are needed. After the Hunters can also send the permit must remain in possession of band information is processed, hunters fee, along with personal information, the hunter after the 45-day can request a certificate of apprecia- including height, weight, social secu- electronic stamp has expired. tion, and information about the bird will rity number, date of birth, color of hair The federal duck stamp has be returned in an email. Hunters can and eyes, and hunter education num- a fee of $25. An additional keep all bands they recover. Informa- ber and state issued, to Crane Permit, $1.50 fee is added to cover tion received from hunters is critical for NDGF, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, shipping and handling costs management of migratory game birds. Bismarck, ND 58501. of the actual physical stamp.

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 31 More High School Clay Target Championship Results What follows are the results of the place; and Richland High School, Gay, Sheyenne High School, 83; novice and junior varsity divisions third place. Mason Brew, Mandan High School, for both girls and boys at the North Class 1A Jr. Varsity Girls – Halle 82; and Calahan Burchill, Valley City Dakota State High School Clay Tar- Dunlop, Century High School, 91; High School, 81. get League state championship held Josie Hajek, Sargent Central High Class 2A Novice Team – Valley earlier in summer at The Shooting School, 87; and Alizabeth Krick, City High School, first place; Man- Park in Horace. Results of the top Century High School, 83. dan High School, second place; finishers in the varsity divisions were Class 1A Jr. Varsity Boys – Preston and Fargo North High School, third published in the July issue of North Mitzel, Century High School, 93; place. Dakota OUTDOORS. Dylan Jost, Wahpeton High School, Class 2A Jr. Varsity Girls – Saman- Class 1A Novice Girls – Kaitlin 91; and Tyler Guscette, Barnes tha Bauer, Legacy High School, 88; Slaubaugh, Wolford High School, 82; County North High School, 90. Sydney Steffen, Devils Lake High Blake Miller, Richland High School, Class 1A Jr. Varsity Team – Century School, 87; and Makaelyn Lorenz, 79; and Maycee Bolgrean, Central High School, first place; Wahpeton Valley City High School, 86. Cass High School, 77. High School, second place; and Class 2A Jr. Varsity Boys – Bryce Class1A Novice Boys – Cole Boyd, Barnes County North High School, Brendel, Mandan High School, 92; Dakota Prairie High School, 87; third place. Derek Bear, Valley City High School, Braeden Volk, Mohall-Lansford Class 2A Novice Girls – Veronica 91; and Connor Johnson, South Prai- High School, 86; and Luke Reinhart, Miller, Kindred High School, 76; rie High School, 90. Dakota Prairie High School, 84. Kylee Greuel, Kindred High School, Class 2A Jr. Varsity Team – Valley Class 1A Novice Team – Dakota 73; and Caitlyn Thoreson, Valley City City High School, first place; Legacy Prairie High School, first place; High School, 70. High School, second place; and Barnes County High School, second Class 2A Novice Boys – William Mandan High School, third place.

Devils Lake Access Committee Recognized The North Dakota Game and Fish Department honored the Devils Lake Access Committee for its ongoing efforts to develop and maintain public use facilities at numerous lake and recreation areas. The committee was recognized for its construction of boat ramps, cour- tesy docks, fishing piers, fish cleaning stations, and roads and parking areas at many sites, including Estenson’s Landing, Lakewood, Schwab Land- ing, Pelican Lake, Henegar Landing, Channel A and Four Seasons. The access committee includes the

city of Devils Lake, Devils Lake Cham- SUBMITTED PHOTO ber of Commerce, Devils Lake Park Pictured from left to right: Suzie Kenner, Devils Lake Tourism; Mike Grafsgaard, city Board, Ramsey County Commission of Devils Lake; Terry Wallace, Devils Lake Park Board; Bob Gibson, Lake Region and Lake Region Anglers Association. Anglers Association; Mark Olson, Ramsey County Commission; Jamie Beck, Devils The Game and Fish Department’s Lake Park Board; Paula Vistad, Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce; and Todd fisheries division annually presents Caspers, North Dakota Game and Fish Department. a “Certificate of Appreciation” to an organization that has signed on as a cooperating partner in local projects.

32 ND Outdoors August-September 2019 BACKCAST By Ron Wilson erle died on a all the miles, the many empty shotgun town and seasons before we’ve shot Wednesday in July. shells, our share of birds and seasons a bird or two on the sidehills. I’ve yet Days after, just of tailgate lunches, much of it blends to shift my pickup into park when I see for the briefest of together. birds, sharptails, maybe a dozen or moments, I’d find Yet, like recalling your kid’s first fish, more, fly a halfmoon around the tall- myself looking for deer or duck, I can easily unearth from est hill in the pasture and land out of him around the the clutter of many years’ worth of the wind. I know it can’t be this easy, house, wonder- memories, Merle’s first hunt. it typically never is, but we’ll make the ing if he needed help get- It’s the sharp-tailed grouse opener, quarter-mile hike because that’s why ting to his feet and gently piloted a Saturday, of course. It’s raining a bit, we’re here, putting Merle’s inexperi- out the door to take care of business in but not enough to keep us home. This enced nose into the wind, and see the back yard. is going to be, has to be, a quick hunt. what happens. I split my time watching I don’t do that anymore and feel bad I promised I wouldn’t be late to a youth Merle weave with purpose through the that I don’t. soccer game back in town where they short grass and keeping an eye on the Merle was my third Brittany. His don’t keep score and the T-shirts hang sidehill to see if the birds stay put. I’m predecessor, Deke, also died years nearly to the little players’ knees. I’m guessing that ago in summer. Both were 14. this early in Coincidences, the season, certainly, but this early in nothing more. September, We’ve that some of always had the birds are bird dogs and just like my likely always dog, young will. Ollie, our 11-year- and inex- old golden perienced retriever who, enough to I’m certain is let us within sacked on our shotgun leather couch range. Turns as a I write this, out, they are. has slowed a step and With two doesn’t recover grouse in my as quickly game vest, from a day in bouncing the field. That, warm against and the want RON WILSON my lower to hunt often back, we when work and hustle down- family allow, is something we have in common. excited to see how the morning will hill to my pickup and a soccer game. In 14 years, with Merle —Merle— mostly qui- unfold, but I’m not holding my breath. What a wonderful start. etly in tow (he’d ride without a peep This is wholly different than training on Years later, on a Wednesday in July, I on pavement, but invariably broke grouse wings tugged around the back can’t say the same about the end. into a nervous, shaking whine once yard on a string. I’ve picked this spot, tires touched gravel), it’s difficult to a hilly pasture, with buckbrush patches RON WILSON is editor of North Dakota remember all our outings. Considering here and there, because it’s close to OUTDOORS.

August-September 2019 ND Outdoors 33 By Ron Wilson

North Dakota hunters have affording it full protection. Mourning have discovered the thrill of dove targeted fast-flying mourning doves doves are considered a game bird hunting don’t just hunt for the bag, forever. Well, that’s not entirely true, … are very abundant and will easily but out of an addiction to pursue Aeven though itLook may seem that way. support annualBack hunting seasons a unique challenge,” according to In 1963, North Dakota held its in North Dakota,” according to the the February 1984 issue of NDO. first dove season since the early June 1979 issue of NDO. “The mourning dove is an extremely 1920s. North Dakota’s dove season skillful flyer and possesses a “Although a highly prized and has run uninterrupted since 1979. remarkable knack for aggravating respected game bird in 31 of 50 According to Game and Fish Depart- the bird hunter who has a short states, the mourning dove was ment statistics, the dove season temper.” pretty much ignored in North attracted on average about 20,000 In 1963, during the first dove Dakota until a token season was hunters from 1981 to 1984. Hunter season in decades, about 17,000 proclaimed in 1963. This repre- numbers have fallen since, due to hunters bagged nearly 70,000 birds. sented the state’s first dove season changing lifestyles, busy schedules, “Most sportsmen tried dove hunt- in 41 years,” according to the Febru- competing interests, increase in ary 1964 issue of North Dakota early season bowhunting opportuni- ing for the first time in their lives OUTDOORS. ties for deer, you name it, to roughly and, naturally, were a bit skeptical Dove seasons were held in North an average of 7,600 hunters from about hunting so common a bird,” Dakota in 1963 and 1964, then aban- 2000 to 2016. according to the February 1964 doned for more than a decade until Even when dove hunter numbers issue of NDO. “Many thought dove legislation changed things. were at their best in the state, some hunting would be too easy to make “House Bill 1341 again places the questioned why participation wasn’t it sporting, but after a few tries most mourning dove on the game bird higher. were convinced of the quality of the list. The dove was listed as a game “Strangely enough, recreational hunting.” bird until 1965 when the legislature dove hunting has a very limited removed it from that status and following among ordinary upland RON WILSON is editor of North Dakota declared it a harmless bird, thus game bird hunters … (but) those who OUTDOORS.