By Nick Simonson   It happens fast and almost unexpectedly, like a mourning dove banking hard from behind to circle in on the muddy edge of a stock pond during an evening hunt, or in the way a doe and her fawns suddenly appear in front of a bow stand where there was nothing a…

HEAT ON HORIZON?  We’ll be warming up into the long holiday weekend, and there will be much to do in terms of openers and activities.  So get your hitch ready and hit the water, the treestand or the dove field and be set for success as conditions align for a great stretch! Featured Photo:  HANGING…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   The 2019 North Dakota hunting seasons have officially been open since Aug. 15 when the early Canada goose management take began.   In fact, depending on the Canada goose zone in which you hunt, the first early season closure is Sept. 7.  in the Missouri River zone. The other…

DEER & DOVES.  With today’s taste of temperate weather in the midst of a windy stretch, we’re getting psyched up for this weekend’s approaching hunting openers and walking through a few last preparation items as well as a look at some pretty decent conditions for both openers – and the holiday – in our Outdoors…

WINDIEST.  Today’s gusts of 40 mph or more will mark the windiest stretch of the week, along with the coolest.  While we tighten our caps and jackets, we cover media of all three traditional types – video, written and audio – that will have you ready for fall. Featured Photo:  MORNING WALK.  A whitetail doe…

GUSTY. Winds will be notable over the next few days, but don’t let that blow your plans away.  Get ready for what’s coming in the near-term and some upcoming seasons with news and tips in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Fall-like winds. We’re working our way toward hunting seasons which start up in earnest this…

By Nick Simonson   It happens with the flash of approaching large, grey-brown antlers in the adjacent trail or the sudden appearance of a ghost buck hanging up on the edge of cover just outside of shooting range triggers a physical rush.  Knees weaken, the heart rate increases, and shudders run from a goosebump-covered neck…

BIRD BUSINESS.  A slowdown in wind speeds makes for a salvageable Sunday, even with some scattered rains still possible. We look into birdy matters from the upcoming fall turkey season to some aggressive bluebirds to where to go for ruffed grouse and woodcock in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Turkeys work the edge of a…

FOR THE BIRDS (AND HUNTERS) Damp conditions settle into the region today, and conservation takes a front seat as we look at the growing PLOTS program, where we’re at with CRP as the general sign-up ends and how you can make a difference in your own backyard in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  A conservation…

By Nick Simonson   Don’t cash out that stack of summer chips just yet, there’s a sure bet to be placed for excitement on any bass water this time of year.  Turning and burning a spinnerbait along known bass haunts will help close out the season with a full house of fish and doing so…

WET STRETCH.  Rains move in today and stick around through the weekend, making the next few days the perfect time to get your hunting gear in order.  We’ve got tips to help you make good use of the downtime and get ready for fall. Featured Photo:  FALL COLORS.  Camouflage patterns stacked, folded and ready to…

EAT UP! After a summer of growing, there are a lot of large baitfish out there serving up the protein and vital nutrients that big predators need to make it through the cold water season. Upsize your seasonal offerings this time of year to catch those hungry lunkers. Featured Photo:  MINNOW MIMIC.  A large white…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Biologist For the past couple of years, North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists have put forth a concerted effort to inform state anglers about a condition called “barotrauma,” which can occur in fish caught from water depths of more than 25 feet.   It’s particularly a concern in North Dakota this time of year…

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY! A near perfect day for on the water adventure highlights your mid-week as winds fade, temps reach the upper 70s and things get ship shape for some fishing.  We check out nationwide duck numbers, sovereign lands and the continuation of what’s left of SB 2315 from this spring (the “everything’s posted” committee) in…

LOOKIN’ GOOD.  Stable weather into the weekend sets up a good stretch for anything outdoors – from sighting in the bow to getting in those last casts of summer.  We cover what’s to come, what’s needed for waterfowlers and what exactly an eagle pulled out of the St. Croix river in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured…

NDG&F Dept. Release North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Aug. 30 at noon, and continues through Jan. 5, 2020. Bowhunters can buy a license online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov; by calling 800-406-6409; or at vendors linked to the Game and Fish Department’s online licensing system. Hunters who purchase bow licenses at a…

KNOCK-KNOCK.  Warm weather returns to the region with a solid spike into the upper 80s today.  The last stretch of August puts largemouth bass up shallow and under docks.  We’ve got the tips to start your week off and help you find more bucketmouths. Featured Photo:  Posted. A nice largemouth bass caught and released along…

BOUNCEBACK.  We recover nicely from yesterday’s rain with a jump back into the seventies and sunny conditions.  Make the most of it as many eye up the first week of school and other signs that summer’s coming to an end.  We cover fall leagues, warden work and where we’re at with precip headed into autumn…

By John Bradley, NDWF Executive Director   Any hunter who has walked the great plains and had a sage-grouse flush at their feet, knows the thrill. Even the most seasoned hunter gets a rush of adrenaline as the birds explode from cover.  I was fortunate enough to hunt sage grouse in Montana last fall, where…

MIX IT UP.  Rain later today won’t wash out a good weekend, as clearer conditions return tomorrow. The weather looks to stabilize into next week, with 80s returning in the back half.  Until then, there’s plenty going on out there from salmon tourneys to amphibian studies to deer fever.  Check it all out in our…

By Nick Simonson   The natural world, and often our daily lives, revolve around a pattern.  The sun rises, travels the sky and sets as we go about our business. Rains fall, things clear, the grasses grow and life flourishes. Winter fades to spring, spring warms into summer, summer slides into the blessed season of…

FULL UP.  The back half of August is always busy, and the fishing is often best around the full moon.  We’ve got the conditions, news and notes to get you back to school – schooling fish that is – in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Good Glow.  The August “Sturgeon Moon” rises with an ethereal…

By Nick Simonson   The dogs recoiled in unison from the movement of the dark, curly-que shaped creature standing out against the streetlight glow which illuminated the driveway cement near the garage door.  On our daily walk in the pre-dawn dark of five o’clock, they shook off their surprise at the small, elongated object suddenly…

DIG IN.   A full moon and better weather conditions will make fishing fine today. We cover more impacts from the changes to the Endangered Species Act along with some weird, wild stuff and an evening for the kids in our Outdoors Roundup today.   Featured Photo:  Drier Environs. Pheasant Chicks make their move from damp…

NDG&F Dept. Release North Dakota’s pronghorn lottery has been held and individual results are available online at the state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. A total of 1,335 licenses were available in 12 units, and 12,929 applications, including 450 gratis, were received. All licenses were issued. Hunters who are drawn for a 2019 pronghorn…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Biologist August is no longer just about winding down the fishing season and starting the planning and preparation for upcoming hunting seasons.   While North Dakota has long had a crow season that got it’s start in mid-August, it wasn’t until changes several years ago put the early Canada goose opener…

RECOVERY DAY.  Following Monday’s rain and Tuesday’s wind, a near ideal day will combine with the August full moon to restart a stretch of awesome fishing headed into the weekend. There is lots of national news impacting wildlife species and a reminder on yet another fall application from the NDG&F in today’s Outdoors Roundup.  …

NDG&F Dept. Release Migratory bird hunters of all ages are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Hunters must register in each state for which they are licensed to hunt. Hunters can HIP certify when purchasing a license – or by clicking…

GUSTY.  The post-front wind will start out the drying process, even if there isn’t much sun.  We look ahead to improvements in the back half of the week, the back half of the tournament season on ND waters and some shots from Alaska in our Outdoors Roundup.   Featured Photo: FINCHY.  A goldfinch forages amidst…