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 Game 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 pronghorn 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 birds 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 elk 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 Bird 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;