By Nick Simonson   With the issuance of its 2020 Whitetail Report, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) noted among its findings that more deer hunters than at any other time in the group’s surveys are passing on harvesting yearling bucks in favor of mature bucks that are 3.5 years old or older.  In 1989,…

SWINGIN’ SATURDAY!  Things are looking warm and melty for today as temperatures spike to 40 degrees with light winds.  We’ve got the rundown on what’s happening out there in today’s Outdoors Roundup, talking light geese, big bucks for shooting sports and a reminder to get ahead of your tackle duties. Featured Photo:  Roosters make their…

By John Bradley I grew up in Minnesota, and like North Dakota and much of the upper Midwest, the walleye is king. Many people believe it’s the all-around greatest fish that has ever been. From its head shakes after you set the hook to the ease of fileting their mild white flaky meat, the walleye…

NDG&F Release The 2020 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and individual results are available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. The Game and Fish Department will mail the spring turkey licenses to successful applicants after they purchase a valid 2020-21 hunting license. All spring turkey hunters regardless of age…

WELCOME BACK WARMTH.   A stellar weekend is setting up with warm temps, moderate winds and good conditions for ice fishing and other outdoor activities.  We’ve got the stats on that and updates on ice and what’s on air in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:   The waning crescent rises ahead of the sun over Bismarck. Simonson…

By Nick Simonson Like most of my minor honey-dos from the end of year, going through old clothing to donate to the local thrift store ended up getting done two months into the following tax calendar; mostly due to deer hunting and some late season pheasant tromps that took up the last seven weekends before…

THE CLIMB.  Temperatures will warm today and a pre-spring feel is in the air as we stay warmish into the weekend.  We check out stats, sign-up and spring training in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  REEL DEAL.  Clean your fly lines and maybe take a few practice casts on the snowy front lawn this weekend…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   My job as an outreach biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is varied. One aspect I enjoy is helping out with other Game and Fish functions such as checking on fishing access areas or possible fish kills, or conducting upland or small game surveys.   One…

BOTTOMING.  Winds will fade into a calm Wednesday and the cold won’t feel so strong.  We climb back out tomorrow as things stabilize for the weekend.  In the meantime, we’re thinking spring and getting you prepared for the season’s first run of fish which may happen in just a few short weeks. Featured Photo:  Ready?…

ANOTHER DIP.  Things cool off today and tomorrow before recovering in the back half of the week.  In the meantime we’ve got updates from the G&F on 2019 violations dropping, including trespass to a recent low of 35; great photos from the US FWS and a preview of your weekend conditions in today’s Outdoors Roundup….

By Nick Simonson     With North Dakota’s legislature meeting every other year, the winter of 2020 would seem like many to be a quiet one for the state’s lawmakers, but for Senator Larry Robinson of District 24, serving Barnes, southwestern Cass and northwestern Ransom Counties since 1989, his three decades of experience dictate otherwise….

BLOG JAM.  While things cool down, we’ve got the latest from a number of conservation groups as we take a tour around the NGO sphere and look into updated items on this Monday in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  DID HE MAKE IT?  QDMA has tips on finding last season’s big bucks that made it…

WATER TALK.  It’s a great day to get on the ice again as temperatures stay decent and winds light out of the southeast.  As we venture out we also look around the state and see a tale of two watersheds as flooding concerns in the Missouri River basin are low as of now, but the…

By Nick Simonson Sometimes a fly isn’t just about fur and feathers.  With all the incredible synthetics and compounds we have available in the modern era of tackle crafting, we’ve been given the amazing ability to create something out of nothing, or to take that something and make it spectacular.  The epoxy fry is an…

SWEET SATURDAY! Perfect conditions for some time on the ice are setting up for your Saturday, so take advantage of those and the quarter moon for a bump in the bite.  We’ve also got awesome eagle news from the east, a tally of bad behavior at home, and a view to what coyotes eat in…

NDG&F Release North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 22 and continues through May 10. Residents must have a valid current season 2019-20 (valid through March 31) or 2020-21 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Resident youth under age 16 only need the general game…

MAD LOVE.  We’ll be feeling the love today as temps warm up and a good weekend settles in over much of the region.  In the meantime, we’ve got news on CWD spreading along the ND/SD border, concerns over cuts to conservation in the President’s budget proposal and a last push by PF to get landowners…

By Nick Simonson   Even with the rather kind spell that mother nature has afforded us over the last few weeks with no blizzards, light winds and even some melting temperatures scattered in here and there, winter can still feel a little long.  Spending afternoons huddled over an ice hole can wear on a die-hard…

CHILLY POTPOURRI.  We’ve got some cold temps today under a Canadian high pressure dome and a variety of news on this sudden (yet thankfully short-lived) return of winter.  Check out grants available to shooting sports teams, some questionable tourney antics and what’s coming up in the forecast in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  END OF…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. My youngest and I were trekking across the frozen tundra on the edge of a recent day, when a mixture of fading sun, crisp snow, fluffy clouds and stars began to appear in the January sky. Joined by her smile, my thoughts turned to what has probably become somewhat of a nostalgic term – “this is a…

CHILLY.  We’ll get a taste of winter again as temperatures drop throughout the day and gusts rise to make things feel like 20 below by evening.  We keep you warm with the latest info on deer hunting trends, cool new maps and money matters for managing federal lands in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  SPIKE…

PRE-DIP NEWS.  We’re checking out some exciting news ahead of the two-day cold snap.  With a bighorn reintroduction, a review of public lands and the rapidly increasing daylight, there’s much to celebrate in our Outdoors Roundup! Featured Photo: Iced.  A perch comes up on a spring bobber presentation. Simonson Photo. WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today:  Tue…

We’ve got what’s big and bold for this new week from a seriously sketchy wildlife violator to a huge drop in temperatures to the first big kayak bass tournament in the nation.  All of that is covered in today’s installment of the Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  A pair of largemouths lounge. Simonson Photo. WEATHER (Bismarck…

AROUND THE REGION.  Things will be relatively quiet on the weather front today, with the usual moderate winds, but still giving you a chance to get outdoors and enjoy yet another nice weekend in North Dakota.  While your focus is on an ice hole, we’ve got the news from outstate sources to keep you updated…

THE SITCH.  We take a look at current situations with water, warmth and winter in today’s Outdoors Roundup and how all of those factors and more will influence your ice fishing now, openwater angling this summer and hunting next fall. Featured Photo:  SPRING RUN.  We take a look at what flowing water levels may be…

SHOOTING OUT THERE.  Great conditions will get you into the outdoors this afternoon and into tomorrow as things warm back up.  While there’s a chance of light snow on Saturday, we’re not seeing anything serious in the forecast.  We’ve got a shooting theme in today’s Outdoors Roundup, so check it out! Featured Photo:  Target Loads….

By Nick Simonson   I can recall rolling down the gravel driveway of the shooting range to attend my first high school trap team meeting after moving to town in 2017, overwhelmed by the excitement and possibilities the 13 trap houses presented.  Through a connection on Facebook I got the time and the date from…

STILL.  Two great ice days are setting up as winds lessen and temperatures stay moderate. Local concerns and big picture items dominate the conservation and shooting sports news scene as we take a trip through our Outdoors Roundup for today. Featured Photo:  Mourning doves, having migrated out of the area, have not been affected by…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   From Christmas through the back side of January, I felt like I was on some kind of winter nightmare “loop of life.”   Real or perceived, it was work, blow snow, work, blow snow, sleep, blow snow, work, etc. My neighbor confirmed over coffee on a Sunday afternoon it…

NOTEWORTHY.  Things will warm on southwest winds today as temperatures climb a bit above average, making for a good day on the ice.  We’ve got news from around the region including CRP sign-up info from the NDG&F, discussion on the SD predator bounty and hope for unlocking public lands in Montana. Featured Photo:  NESTLED.  A…