dakotaedgeoutdoors

Hunters Exempt from Nat’l Grassland Firearm Restrictions

NDG&F Dept. Press Release With elk season opening Sept. 1 and grouse and partridge seasons to follow starting Sept. 9, the State Game and Fish Department and U.S. Forest Service remind hunters that use of firearms is allowed on the Little Missouri National Grasslands by legally licensed hunters. Earlier this summer the USFS, which manages…

Our Outdoors: Safe & Successful

By Nick Simonson A safe hunt is a successful hunt. Every time you ascend the stand, set foot into the grass, or toss out a spread of decoys should end with a safe descent, a return to the truck and a retrieval of those ducks – both fake and real. The quarry means less than…

Daily Edge for Thu. Aug 31

THEN THERE WAS ONE. Just one day to go until hunting seasons start in earnest across the state. Dove season opens tomorrow morning, and deer archery kicks off tomorrow at noon. We know you’re excited so we have some distractions for you in today’s Three Things. (Featured Photo: Heads Up! A five-by-five whitetail buck in…

Fall Brings Chance at Big Carry-Over Trout in ND

By Nick Simonson While hunting seasons get underway this month in North Dakota and the chill of autumn makes its presence felt, the cooling air of September also brings with it a unique and often overlooked opportunity to catch sizeable trout on the rise in certain waters of the state which were stocked earlier in…

Grouse & Partridge Seasons Open Sept. 9

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s popular hunting seasons for grouse and partridge will open Saturday, Sept. 9. State Game and Fish Department upland game biologist R.J. Gross says hunters will likely see fewer sharptails and Huns compared to last year, while ruffed grouse numbers are up from 2016. Gross said that hot, dry early summer…

Daily Edge for Wed. Aug. 30

FROG DAYS OF SUMMER. You should start seeing a good population of young-of-the-year frogs and toads in those areas where water stuck around to support a hatch of tadpoles this spring. Watch for bass to key in on this readily available forage, and match the hatch with some great frog lures in today’s Three Things….

Agencies Prohibit Hunting Over Bait

NDG&F Press Release Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands. The…

Daily Edge for Tue. Aug. 29

IT’S LIKE A HEATWAVE! Summer is making its comeback as August-like temps return. We jump above average with highs in the upper 80s today and light winds. Don’t be fooled though, autumn is still on its way, and hunting seasons will open shortly. We’ve got the scoop on last minute dove prep, some swan news…

50 Pheasant Flies: Krystal SHWAPF

By Nick Simonson If you’re looking for a fly that totally catches fish, is completely customizable, and best of all is easy to tie, look no further than Al Campbell’s Swept Hackle Wing All Purpose Fly – or “SHWAPF” for short. This two-material pattern can be tied with just about any feather or hair for…

Daily Edge for Mon. Aug. 28

STILL SUMMER! At least for a little bit longer, conditions will revert to those normal August dog days, heat, humidity and warmer evenings. Unfortunately, the year’s first crop of widespread mosquitoes have emerged after recent rains in areas that were gripped by the drought. Ah well, take the good with the bad I guess –…

PLOTS Guide Now Available

NDG&F Dept. Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen Guide for 2017 is now available online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, PLOTS guides are available at most vendors throughout the state. The guide will feature about 737,000 PLOTS acres. Because the guide is printed in mid-August,…

Daily Edge for Sun. Aug. 27

30,000 FOOT VIEW. The bulk of late Friday and Saturday’s rain slipped south of the state line, and a few small spatters yesterday kept the dust down in Bismarck, but most moisture fell east. A big warm up is on the way, making up for a cooler-than-average August to this point. Will temps moderate before…

Daily Edge for Sat. Aug. 26

BACK IN TIME. Rain chances move out overnight, and clouds subside to mostly sunny by mid-day. A perfect 80 on the thermometer with light winds will provide an ideal summer Saturday. It’ll feel like déjà vu as Sunday appears to be a carbon copy temp wise, perhaps with more sun! We grab our rods and…

Youth Outdoors Festival is Aug. 31 in Minot

NDG&F Press Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot. The event is Thursday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Game and Fish Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park on the grounds of the…

The Quest for Velvet

By Nick Simonson With the turn of the calendar into September, hunters wake from their summer dreams of those giant bucks in the pictures on their trail cameras appearing in front of their stand and prepare to make those visions a reality. For many, the early season brings with it the challenge and the chance…

Daily Edge for Fri. Aug. 25

HIT AND MISS. There’s a spotty chance of showers this afternoon. Good for areas climbing their way out of the drought. We address that topic, its impact on upland birds and how you can help habitat in Today’s Three Things! (Featured Photo: A rooster pheasant makes its way between grassy stands north of Bismarck. Simonson…

Dove Season Opens Sept. 1

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s dove season opens statewide Sept. 1, and hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. The daily limit is 15 and possession limit is 45. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. The season is open through Nov. 29. All dove hunters must possess a…

Our Outdoors: A Summer Disappearing Act

By Nick Simonson “Hey Nick, what are we going to catch,” asked Rylyn, the oldest son of my wife’s cousin, as we made our way out to the dock. “Ninety-nine percent bluegills,” I replied as his brother Radlee and father Chase made their way behind us, trailed closely by my son AJ. Unsealing the red…

Daily Edge for Thu. Aug. 24

GETTING IT LIT! Dry, but slightly cooler air dominates the near-term forecast, until a weathermaker moves in for Friday afternoon and into early Saturday, but the weekend looks salvageable as we get closer to the unofficial end of summer. We talk salmon – and the sweet and savory succulence that goes with it – in…

Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 1

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 1 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that deer bow licenses and accompanying tags are only available through electronic purchase. 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…

Salmon Season Expected to be Excellent

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. Count me among the thousands of North Dakota anglers who enjoy knowing that if we want to experience the thrill of catching a hard-fighting chinook salmon, we can do it without leaving the state. If that experience is on your “bucket list” as it is on mine, the next several…

Daily Edge for Wed. Aug. 23

CAST AWAY! There’s still time to get your fishing in, but hunting seasons are on the horizon. We’re talkin’ turkey today, as the NDG&F opens up the fall turkey season application process online. Featured Photo: A trio of anglers cast on the calm morning waters. Simonson Photo DAILY CONDITIONS: WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Wed 8/23…

Waterfowlers Reminded to Get HIP, Stamp

NDG&F Press Release Harvest Information Program registration for all migratory game bird hunters, regardless of age, and a federal duck stamp for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older, are required beginning Sept. 1. Migratory game birds include ducks, geese, swans, mergansers, coots, cranes, snipe, doves and woodcock. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots. Hunters…

Daily Edge for Tue. Aug. 22

LOONY TUNES. The air this weekend in lakes country was adrift with the final summer calls of the common loon. The birds are grouping up for their trip south which usually takes place around Labor Day weekend. Luckily we have some summer-like weather creeping back into our forecast, as things warm up tomorrow. We get…

Pronghorn Lottery Complete

NDG&F Press 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 410 licenses were available in units 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4C. More than 8,700 applications, including 155 gratis, were received. All licenses were issued. Unsuccessful applicants who submitted their…

Daily Edge for Mon. Aug. 21

NIP & TUCK. It’s going to be close, but the clouds that settled in overnight will be making their way out of the region – hopefully just in time for today’s big solar eclipse. It’s a fun mix of items in today’s Three Things, so check it out and plan your day accordingly. (Featured Photo:…

Daily Edge for Sun. Aug. 20

CHILL OUT. It’ll be a nice Sunday, but cooler than what you enjoyed yesterday. When you get home from the lake, you can get your gear ready for hunting seasons which open in just under two weeks. We address those and give you some final tips to get ready for doves, deer and partridge/grouse openers…

Fit for Fall, Part 2 – Big Game, Bigger Prep

By Nick Simonson As fall progresses, hunters’ eyes will shift west over the plains and into the badlands of both North and South Dakota for a shot at a monster mule deer, or for some, a trip of a lifetime hunting elk in rugged, mountainous places like Montana or Colorado. With the change in topography…

Daily Edge for Sat. Aug. 19

SUMMER’S BACK! Soak in this steamy Saturday before things slip south on a cool front later in the day, leading into a mid-70s Sunday. Grab an innertube and your five weight fly rod and we all float on, as we talk buoyancy in today’s Three Things. (Featured Photo: This bluegill engulfed a foam beetle on…

ND Businessman Helps Hunters Find Their TRAX

By Nick Simonson Drawing on nearly two decades of technology experience and a love of the outdoors, Korey Kirschenmann, owner of Kirsch’s Outdoor Products in Fargo, has created a tool for hunters, anglers and outdoors enthusiasts which keeps them on the right track to enjoying their favorite pastimes. However, it wasn’t the commercial viability of…