By Nick Simonson As we set foot into the stretch of private land the welcoming owner offered up to us on the abnormally warm November afternoon – nearly 60 degrees as we started our trek with two hours before sunset – it wasn’t long until I could hear the squish-squash of each of my lab…

By Nick Simonson While the numbers of mule deer are down in North Dakota, with the western third of the state representing the edge of the species’ northeastern boundary, the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) has been hard at work to help improve habitat conditions and increase access for hunters in the Peace Garden State over…

By Nick Simonson In the first quarter mile of our walk into the grassy tree claim that my dog and I like to frequent when a weekday morning opens up in our schedule, he had put three roosters in the air in front of me, the bookends presenting very makeable shots and the middle bird…

NDG&F Release The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDG&F) is monitoring sick and dead birds across the state in response to increasing reports from the public. Dr. Logan Weyand, Department wildlife veterinarian, said Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is likely the cause and has been confirmed through testing this fall.  Understandably, most of the…

By Doug Leier When someone tells me they shot a limit of pheasants, reeled in a 15-pound northern pike or missed the biggest buck they ever saw, I can’t help but picture my own moments – past hunts, good and not so good. It’s only natural. A reference point forms from my own outdoor success…

By Mike Peluso The fall walleye bite is definitely going strong on the Missouri River near Bismarck right now.  I spent a lot of time and effort on the river in September and October looking for a steady bite, even though I know from my past experience that deer openers are typically the benchmark for…

By Nick Simonson The final weekend of the firearms deer season is often referred to as “Desperation Weekend” as hunters who’ve held out for that trophy buck they’ve been watching on trail camera all summer or perhaps just imagining in their minds this fall, get antsy as the paper tag in their pocket weighs them…

By Nick Simonson It’s deer season, and that means along with time on the stand, tenderloins on the grill and racks on the wall, as a result of your hunt you can also get more great materials on your fly desk to work with.  Saving a sampling of deer hide from your quarry is a…

By Doug Leier No deer is worth risking your life or someone else’s. Each year, firearm incidents can be prevented by following a few essential safety rules. First and foremost, always treat every firearm as if it’s loaded. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. Muzzle control is one of…

By Nick Simonson Based on surveys and analysis conducted by the National Deer Association (NDA), more mature deer are being harvested by hunters than in the last century’s worth of seasons. Coming from a compilation of data analyzed and assembled by the NDA in its annual Deer Report from various wildlife agencies throughout the country,…

By Mike Peluso The fall walleye fishing has really changed in the past couple of weeks on the Missouri River near Bismarck.  We are seeing a push of fish moving up from Lake Oahe.  Along with this push there are even a few unicorns that have shown themselves.  The fish are extremely healthy looking even…

By Nick Simonson So many of the lessons and learnings and sayings we have in and take from the outdoors translate over to life in ways both metaphoric and tangible.  “Don’t step on what you can step over,” means that unstable log you’re thinking about balancing a footstep on as you proceed on your way…

By Nick Simonson North Dakota’s deer herds are in a rebuilding phase as they come off two easy winters in 2023 and 2024 which have worked to their benefit.  Habitat however remains the larger concern on the landscape of the Peace Garden State and will likely drive how rapidly that population recovery happens following a…

By Doug Leier North Dakota’s first 2025 deer season opened on Aug. 29 at noon and runs through Jan. 4, 2026. For many hunters the “real deer season” is the gun/rifle season which runs from Nov. 7 Nov. 23.This year 42,300 licenses were available to hunters, down 7,800 from last year. In addition, muzzleloader licenses…

By Nick Simonson The firearms deer season brings with it renewed demands of hunters in the field.  From the physically challenging hikes in the badlands with a coveted mule deer tag in the back pocket, to time spent on stand in the eastern farmland reaches of North Dakota waiting out a rut-crazed buck, hunts this…

By Mike Peluso The fall walleye fishing is improving slowly but surely out here on the Missouri River and Lake Oahe just south of Bismarck. The migrating fish coming out of Oahe are slowly trickling up the river right now; not in huge numbers, but they are definitely moving.  I think we are almost on…

By Nick Simonson The firearms deer opener brings with it the hope of affixing a tag to the ear of a doe or the antler of a buck after a successful hunt. Doing so, however, goes far beyond the simple act which signifies the end of one’s season in the field. Such a moment is…

NDG&F Release North Dakota’s early Canada goose season dates are set, with bag limits and licensing requirements the same as last year. Opening day is Aug. 15 in all three zones. Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone; Sept. 15 in the western zone; and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone. Early…

By Doug Leier In my job, I try to consume as much outdoors media as possible. You’ve got your favorites and so do I. I’ll acknowledge my bias with North Dakota OUTDOORS, the Game and Fish Department’s official magazine. Many wrongly assume there’s some dark web communication within the Game and Fish Department. Like most…

By Nick Simonson The North Dakota Pheasants Forever (ND PF) organization received a grant worth more than $1 Million in the most recent round of funding from the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF).  This money will be offered to landowners looking to plant habitat for wildlife on their property and grant access to it for…

By Mike Peluso Just because I’ve been laid up in a hospital the second half of the week, doesn’t mean I can’t get you a decent walleye fishing report from the best waters in the state! I’ve had a goofy week of fishing to say the least.  The weather was my first obstacle with lots…

By Nick Simonson As I go along life’s path which frequently winds in and out of the grasslands, woods, and along my favorite waters, I begin to realize that the very basics are what I need to get my fix of time out hunting and fishing.  For the former, its becoming simply seeing birds break…

NDG&F Dept. Release Duck brood numbers were up 28 percent from 2024, but State Game and Fish Department migratory game bird biologists expect a fall flight of ducks similar to last year. The fall flight forecast is based on data from the May breeding duck survey and the July duck brood survey, both conducted annually…

By Brad Durick Since last week’s Red River report, the catfish bite has done a full 360. Storms and unsettled weather combined with rising water all but shut the bite off last weekend, but as everything has stabilized it has come full circle and the bite is back to being really great. Just like last…

By Nick Simonson August provides ample opportunities to scout things out for the mourning dove season which traditionally begins on Sept. 1 each year.  What’s more, the month gives hunters the added advantage of identifying the small grain fields that attract these migratory upland birds and provides them with the inkling of how things can…

By Doug Leier No one will argue the intent of catch-and-release fishing. To enjoy the thrill of landing a fish and then successfully releasing it to live another day and possibly providing an opportunity for the next angler. While the intentions are noble, there’s much more to consider for the full intent of catch-and-release. Especially…

By Mike Peluso This week’s fishing report will be for both Lake Sakakawea and Devils Lake as I split time on those waters equally last week. It’s amazing to think it’s already the end of July and we are closing into what most people consider the dog days of walleye fishing.  However, this summer hasn’t…

By Nick Simonson Generally in life, I’m not big on looking back.  Jobs, old relationships, major screw-ups and minor mistakes I try to leave in the rearview mirror taking with me on the road ahead only the lessons learned from those experiences.  There’s an old saying I’m fond of about moving forward at any juncture…

NDG&F Release The 2025 pronghorn hunting season is set with 1,310 licenses available in 18 units, an increase of 45 licenses from last year. Licenses are available for all traditional units. Additionally, a new unit,17A, which includes Emmons County and portions of Logan and McIntosh counties west of ND Highway 3, will be open. Each…

By Nick Simonson In a few deer hunting units this summer, hunters were audibly befuddled by the fact that they had once again been snubbed for their firearms lottery deer license in North Dakota, despite a number having accumulated significant preference points.  While the allotted lottery firearm deer tags statewide were at a half century…