HALFWAY THERE. At the halfway point in the month of November, and the hunting season in general, we take a look at the highs and lows and how to get ready for what’s to come in today’s Three Things.
Featured Photo: Go for Snow! Ole the lab takes cover with a pair of roosters as snow starts falling. Watch for white tomorrow, as we rate the hunting seasons today! Simonson Photo.
WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today: Thu 11/15 – Still Warm. – Hi 42, Lo 26, Wind NW@20, G30.
Tomorrow: Fri 11/16 – Snowy – Hi 31, Lo 23, Wind N@16, G25. 3” Snow
SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):
Sunrise Sunset
7:46AM 5:09PM
Moonrise Moonset Overhead Underfoot
2:06PM Fol. Day 7:08PM 6:45AM
Moon Phase: First Quarter @ 8:54AM
EDGE HOUR: 4:30 – 5:30PM. Winds start to taper around sunset to help give a bump in the Edge Hour.
DAY RATING:
Halfway Through Fall Scorecard:
Habitat: While conditions were better than 2017 and emergency haying was not needed this year, the abundance of habitat remained limited as CRP options remain low. The new Farm Bill is back on the table as we enter the lame duck session. Grade: C.
Access: With PLOTS parcels on the map at over 700,000 acres, access remains good throughout much of the state and with more water, WPAs have provided excellent opportunities for waterfowlers this year. Whispers of the “everything’s posted” bill being introduced in the next session (again, for the billionth time) may threaten access next fall though – stay on your senators and representatives! Grade: B.
Game Abundance
Partridge and Sharptailed Grouse. Numbers are down, and noticeably so in the field. Both suffer from being too far on the extremes of habitat needs – abundant edges with small grains and no edges with lots of grass. Grade: D.
Pheasants. As anticipated, numbers are still down but where there’s grass and cover, there’s birds. It’s a shot on every public lands trip, but usually just one or two. Grade: C.
Deer. Deer abundance has been good in high percentage areas of cover, while a far cry from a decade ago herds are on the rise and weather has been generally cooperative all fall with movement. Grade: B.
Waterfowl. A summer with moisture makes a difference with production numbers up generally and a prolonged fall with good access to early cut fields produced good results for many. While most major flocks have moved on now, opportunities still remain. Grade: B.
Agree? Disagree? Stay Sharp!
