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MATTERSMATTERS OF OF O OPINIONPINION s I write this, we’re still Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird more than two weeks from management supervisor, nailed it on Out- the first day of summer. doors Online, the Department’s weekly For the people who live in webcast, when he said, “It is a very North Dakota, I’m guess- unique data set and we are pretty proud ingA that seasonal marker means little in of what we’ve got here in North Dakota.” terms of when it’s time to get outdoors. At this time of year, much of the focus Anglers have been fishing open water from those who enjoy recreating out- for weeks and North Dakota’s spring wild doors centers around our big waters, turkey season has come and gone. such as Lake Sakakawea and Devils Game and Fish Department fisheries Lake, and the 400-plus district fisheries staff started taking northern pike eggs scattered across the state. at Lake Oahe in mid-April and jumped to Aside from stocking fish and other Terry Steinwand TerryDirector Steinwand the walleye spawn on Lake Sakakawea work needed to maintain quality fish- in early May. Wildlife staff surveyed mule ing opportunities for anglers, there are Director deer in the badlands in early spring many infrastructure items that need to be after the snow was gone and before the addressed on an annual basis. Such as leaves popped, which makes it easier to delivering docks to new lakes, installing spot animals from an airplane. grinders at fish cleaning stations, repair- My point is, when Mother Nature ing boat ramps, installing new ramps, and allows – and sometimes even when she the list goes on and on. doesn’t during our leanest months – the Speaking of the latter, plans called for North Dakota Game and Fish Depart- two district lakes – North Washington ment is a busy place, with much of the Lake in Eddy County and Kislingbury action taking place outdoors this time of Lake in McIntosh County – to get new year. ramps this open water season. For instance, Game and Fish staff Again, without belaboring my point, completed the Department’s 72nd the staff here at the Game and Fish annual spring breeding duck survey Department works hard on many things in May. During this statewide survey, that go unnoticed, and some that don’t, which covered more than 450 square in an effort to provide the best possible miles, two-person crews counted every experiences for hunters, anglers and wetland and wetland basin that had others. water along the survey routes. They also While this agency is one of the small- counted ducks, noting the species of est wildlife agencies in the country, you each. wouldn’t, in my opinion, know it by the What’s interesting about this effort amount and quality of work that gets is that it’s believed to be the longest- done. running breeding waterfowl population This effort is something we can all survey done on such a large scale in the appreciate the next time we are enjoying world. North Dakota’s great outdoors. 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 populations and their habitats for sustained public consumptive and nonconsumptive use. IT Coordinators: Alan Reile, Larry Gross Licensing Manager: Randy Meissner Assistants: Gail Mosset, Amanda Anstrom, Tracy Price, . Editor: Ron Wilson . Graphic Designer: Connie Schiff . Circulation Manager: Dawn Jochim Tana Bentz, Tanya Mikkelsen Administrative Assistant – Dickinson: Janel Kolar, Stephanie Richardson Administrative Assistant – Devils Lake: Lisa Tofte JULY 2019 • NUMBER 1 • VOLUME LXXXII Administrative Assistant – Jamestown: Tonya Kukowski Administrative Assistant – Riverdale: Vacant Administrative Assistant – Williston: Samantha Oster TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSERVATION AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION FEATURES Division Chief: Greg Link, Bismarck Communications Supervisor: Craig Bihrle, Bismarck The Value of Helping Hands ..............................................................................................................2 Editor, North Dakota OUTDOORS: Ron Wilson, Bismarck Digital Media Editor: Lara Anderson, Bismarck Delivering Wildlife Data ................................................................................................................... 6 News Editor: Greg Freeman, Bismarck Video Project Supervisor: Mike Anderson, Bismarck North Country Trail, North Dakota’s Open Secret ......................................................................... 8 Photographer/Asst. Videographer: Ashley Salwey Outreach Biologists: Doug Leier, West Fargo; Greg Gullickson, Minot; Managing Fish and Angling Opportunities in the Northeast .......................................................14 Pat Lothspeich, Bismarck; Jim Job, Grand Forks Information Specialist: Dawn Jochim, Bismarck Graphic Artist: Connie Schiff, Bismarck DEPARTMENTS Education Supervisor: Marty Egeland, Bismarck Education Coordinators: Jeff Long, Brian Schaffer, Bismarck Buffaloberry Patch ............................................................................................................................18 Hunter Education Coordinator: John Mazur, Bismarck Conservation Supervisor: Steve Dyke, Bismarck Back Cast ..........................................................................................................................................25 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. Sam Feldman Fishing for northern pike before sunset on a Burleigh Region No. 2 Warden Supvr: Paul Freeman, Devils Lake District Wardens: Jonathan Tofteland, Bottineau; Jonathan Peterson, Devils Lake; James County lake. Photo by Craig Bihrle. Myhre, New Rockford; Blake Riewer, Grand Forks; Alan Howard, Cando; Peter Miley, Cavalier; Drew Johnson, 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 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 Pilot: Jeff Faught, Bismarck Upland Game Mgt. Supervisor: Jesse Kolar, Dickinson Website: gf.nd.gov • email: [email protected] Upland Game Mgt. Biologist: Rodney Gross, Bismarck • Information 701-328-6300 • Administration 701-328-6305 Migratory Game Bird Mgt. Supervisor: Mike Szymanski, Bismarck Migratory Game Bird Biologist: Andrew Dinges, Bismarck • Outdoors Subscriptions 701-328-6363 Big Game Mgt. Supvr: Bruce Stillings, Dickinson • Hunter Education 701-328-6615 • Licensing 701-328-6335 Big Game Mgt. Biologists: Bill Jensen, Bismarck; Brett Wiedmann, Dickinson; Jason Smith, Jamestown • 24-Hour Licensing by Phone: 800-406-6409 Survey Coordinator: Chad Parent, Bismarck • The TTY/TTD (Relay ND) number for the hearing or speech impaired is 800-366-6888 Wildlife Veterinarian: Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Bismarck 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 September. Subscription rates are $10 for one year or $20 for three years. Group rates of $7 a year are avail- Kietzman, Jamestown; Dan Halstead, Riverdale; Blake Schaan, Lonetree 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; Jacob Oster, Williston payable to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Indicate if subscription is new or renewal. The Wildlife Techs: Tom Crutchfield, Jim Houston, Bismarck; Dan Morman, Robert Miller, Riverdale; 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