MATTERSMATTERS OF OF OOPINIONPINION eptember was a busy month in this Without adequate habitat on the landscape, neck of the Northern Plains for for example, animals struggle to battle the those people who enjoy what North harsh winter conditions that are often famil- Dakota has to offer in fall. iar in North Dakota. Without good habitat, SThe month kicked off with dove season, animals take much longer to rebound after followed by the Hungarian partridge, sharp- months of snow and cold. tailed grouse and ruffed grouse openers. Then While we’re working on recovering wildlife there was the youth deer season opener, youth habitat that has been lost across all of North waterfowl season, early resident waterfowl sea- Dakota, it’s not a quick process. son, regular waterfowl season and the two-day What’s encouraging is that it’s not only our youth pheasant season. wildlife biologists who understand the impor- And if we back up just a bit, the state’s tance of quality habitat, but many hunters and bowhunting season for deer opened on August some landowners as well. 31, as well as the pronghorn bow season for Evidence of this is in the number of hunters Terry Steinwand Terry Steinwand those lucky enough to draw a license. who, thanks to a bill approved in the 2015 Director Director If you look at that lineup (which should legislative session, have donated their refunds also include some fall fishing) and ponder after not being drawn in the Department’s for just a minute the outdoor activities that deer lottery. That money, along with funds became available in September alone, it’s from those hunters who purchased bonus easy to understand why so many people look points rather than entering into the Depart- forward to this time of year. It’s also easy to ment’s resident deer gun, muzzleloader, prong- understand why so many people proudly call horn and turkey season drawings, is earmarked North Dakota home. for creating habitat that will benefit deer over And we’re just getting started. time. By the time you read this, the pronghorn Of course, not only will the habitat be of gun season will have opened, followed by value to deer, but to other wildlife as well. North Dakota’s pheasant season, which is Kevin Kading, Department private land sec- arguably one of the most anticipated open- tion leader, takes a closer look at this program ers in the state behind the deer gun season in in this issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS. November. While this program will create quality While many of these outdoor activities wildlife habitat on Private Land Open To require varieties of equipment and as many Sportsmen acres in areas of the state, it’s not differing strategies to fill game bags and going to be a quick fix. But, as Kading said in livewells, they all have one thing in common. the article, “It’s a start … and we have to start Habitat. somewhere.” You’ve heard us here at the Game and Fish With a big chunk of fall still before us Department talk time and again about the and many opportunities at hand, I encourage importance of having quality wildlife habitat everyone to venture outdoors and experience on the landscape. firsthand 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 Building Maint. Tech: Charlie Mattheis Accounting Manager: Angie Siegel 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 IT Section Supervisor/GIS Specialist: Brian Hosek wildlife 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 Administrative Assistant – Jamestown: Tonya Kukowski OCTOBER 2018 • NUMBER 3 • VOLUME LXXXI Administrative Assistant – Riverdale: Vacant Administrative Assistant – Williston: Samantha Oster TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSERVATION AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Division Chief: Greg Link, Bismarck FEATURES Communications Supervisor: Craig Bihrle, Bismarck Questions About Sakakawea’s Salmon Program ............................................................ 2 Editor, North Dakota OUTDOORS: Ron Wilson, Bismarck Digital Media Editor: Lara Anderson, Bismarck Program Improves Deer Habitat ................................................................................... 6 News Editor: Greg Freeman, Bismarck Video Project Supervisor: Mike Anderson, Bismarck Tiny Tags Help Validate Paddlefish Ages ...................................................................... 8 Outreach Biologists: Doug Leier, West Fargo; Greg Gullickson, Minot; Pat Lothspeich, Bismarck; Jim Job, Grand Forks Thinking Outside ......................................................................................................... 12 Information Specialist: Dawn Jochim, Bismarck Graphic Artist: Connie Schiff, Bismarck Grandma’s .410 ............................................................................................................. 16 Education Supervisor: Marty Egeland, Bismarck Education Coordinators: Jeff Long, Brian Schaffer, Bismarck Hunter Education Coordinator: John Mazur, Bismarck DEPARTMENTS Conservation Supervisor: Steve Dyke, Bismarck Resource Biologists: John Schumacher, Bruce Kreft, Bismarck Buffaloberry Patch ........................................................................................................ 18 Conservation Biologists: Sandra Johnson, Patrick Isakson, Elisha Mueller, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Brandon Diehl, Bismarck Back Cast ..................................................................................................................... 25 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, Front Cover Fargo; Tim Phalen, Wyndmere; Andrew Dahlgren, Edgeley; Erik Schmidt, Linton; Greg Hastings, Jamestown A record 14,617 prospective hunters submitted Region No. 2 Warden Supvr: Paul Freeman, Devils Lake District Wardens: Jonathan Tofteland, Bottineau; Jonathan Peterson, Devils Lake; applications to hunt bighorn sheep in western North James Myhre, New Rockford; Blake Riewer, Grand Forks; Alan Howard, Cando; Peter Miley, Cavalier; Drew Johnson, Rugby Dakota in 2018. The Game and Fish Department 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; allocated three licenses for the 2018 hunting season, Shawn Sperling, Keenan Snyder, Williston Region No. 4 Warden Supvr: Dan Hoenke, Dickinson two fewer than 2017. Photo by Ty Stockton. 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: 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 Wildlife Resource Mgt. Supvrs: Bill Haase, Bismarck; Brian Prince, Devils Lake; Brian Kietzman, Jamestown; Dan Halstead, Riverdale; Blake Schaan, Lonetree and September. Subscription rates are $10 for one year or $20 for three years. Group rates of $7 a Wildlife Resource Mgt. Biologists: Arvid Anderson, Riverdale; Randy Littlefield, year are available to organizations presenting 25 or more subscriptions. Remittance should be by Lonetree; Rodd Compson, Jamestown; Judd Jasmer, Dickinson; Jacob Oster, Williston Wildlife Techs: Tom Crutchfield,