By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. As thousands of hunters fan out across North Dakota this fall to pursue waterfowl, pheasants and other game, I’d like to send a message along. First, let’s all respect the fact that most North Dakota land is held in private ownership. While the state has many public land options, including…

NDG&F Press Release Out-of-state hunters are reminded that state law does not allow nonresidents to hunt on North Dakota Game and Fish Department owned or managed lands during the first week of pheasant season. Private Land Open to Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas are open to hunting by resident hunters only from Oct….

By Nick Simonson While most North Dakotans are more familiar with prairie birds like pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge, options exist to pursue ruffed grouse in the state’s forested areas, like the Pembina Hills or Turtle Mountains in the northern tier of the Peace Garden State.  Additionally, the northeastern third of Minnesota is just…

NDG&F Press Release Motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways this time of year because juvenile animals are dispersing from their home ranges. October through early December is the peak period for deer-vehicle accidents. Motorists are advised to slow down and exercise caution after dark to reduce the likelihood of encounters with deer…

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota pheasant hunters are reminded the season opens Oct. 7 and continues through Jan. 7, 2018. In past years, the season typically opened the second Saturday in October. However, the 2017 state legislature passed a law which requires the pheasant hunting season to open no later than Oct. 12. The 2017…

AUTUMN OSCILLATION.  If you don’t like the weather in North Dakota, wait five minutes, it’ll change…then you’ll really hate it.  Gusts are rising today and shifting winds will leave you questioning what deer stand to use (if any at all?!), or what side of the field the birds will come in on.  Some wild weather…

NDG&F Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual fall wetland survey indicates fair, but declining wetland conditions for duck hunting throughout the state. Andy Dinges, migratory game bird biologist, said the number of duck hunting wetlands are down statewide about 40 percent from last year, and are the lowest since 2008. He…

NDG&F Press Releases Waterfowlers hunting from boats are encouraged to wear properly-fitted life jackets while on the water. Hunting jackets with life jackets already built in are light and comfortable to wear. In addition, wearing a life jacket will not only keep the overboard hunter afloat, but also slow the loss of critical body heat…

STAY SHARP…TAILED.  Grouse hunters are finding fair opportunities this fall in ND following the drought, as bird numbers dropped only 30 percent statewide, in comparison to pheasant numbers being off 60 percent compared to last year. We get sharp on sharpies in today’s Three Things. (Featured Photo: Hunters will find sharp-tailed grouse numbers down across…

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s two-day youth pheasant season is Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger may hunt roosters statewide. Resident youth hunters, regardless of age, must possess a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and general game and habitat license. Nonresident youth hunters from states that provide…

SIMPLY SEPTEMBER. These are the days that define fall.  Sorry this one ended up on a Monday! Cool nights, warm days and great conditions for both hunting and fishing adventures are on tap for today, so sneak out there if you can.  If you can’t, we talk about what you can be doing on upcoming…

NDG&F Press Release More than 970 antlerless whitetail deer gun licenses are still available in three units after the North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently completed its second lottery drawing. Individual results are available online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Whitetail doe licenses remaining in units 3F1 (314 licenses), 3F2 (477 licenses) and 4F…

READY, SET, PULL!  The fall ND CTL trap league season gets underway today as over 200 student-athletes will participate in the fast-paced six-week session of autumn clay shooting competition. We talk about some of the best online destinations for trap and shooting sports in today’s Three Things. (Featured Photo: Bust ‘Em!  More than 200 kids…

By Nick Simonson As the USA Clay Target League (USA CTL) expands across the country, new opportunities open for participants to represent their schools and compete against other kids, and while it is best known for its spring season, which last year had over 17,000 participants in 24 states, including 900 in North Dakota, growing…

PATTERNING.  These quick swipes of cool air will break those bucks’ summer patterns right up!  Today and yesterday certainly signal a shift toward fall, and deer will notice as well.  Watch for movement tonight around sunset, and throughout the early morning tomorrow as deer come out of their bunkers to forage in the relative calm,…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. For more than four decades, Americans have recognized the fourth Saturday in September as National Hunting and Fishing Day. This year that falls on Sept. 23, and Governor Doug Burgum has signed a proclamation officially recognizing that event in North Dakota as well. The national focus this year is on…