WHAT A WEEKEND! Here’s hoping you’re getting the most out of this warm stretch, as winter’s return fittingly starts on Monday.  You can always hang lights and wreaths in the bitter cold of next weekend, so as for now, dust off the shotgun, grab Rover and get out there – you’ve got it all on…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. For much of October, North Dakota weather was a little of this and a little of that. The fall migration of ducks and geese once again seemed to stay in the northern tier a little longer than hunters in the rest of North Dakota would’ve preferred. Smaller ponds froze up and…

MAKE IT A THREE DAY!  Light winds, above-average temps and a full moon will meet hunters for the first weekend of North Dakota’s deer muzzleloader season.  Whatever you’re chasing in the field – deer, upland or the last of waterfowl – this is about as ideal as you’re going to get in December!  After Sunday,…

THAT BLEW!  Did you feel the shift yesterday as those nice southerly winds turned to harsh northwest gales? There were decorative Christmas deer from Bismarck that ended up in Lincoln, we’re pretty sure.  Warm temps and windy days aren’t good for making ice (or for the current ice we have) so play it cool and…

THERE IT GOES!  With a day remaining, November fades out as we look toward December and ice fishing, though we’ll need a bit more cold weather (not in the immediate forecast) to re-harden local waters after this month’s cold start transitioned to unseasonable temps.  There’s a lot of grey, spooky ice out there, so be…

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s early mountain lion season in Zone 1 closed Sunday, Nov. 26, and the late season, when hunters can pursue lions with dogs, is now open. During the early season, hunters took six cats from a harvest limit of eight. Under the season structure, a conditional season could open five days…

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!  The rut is wrapping up, and those die-hard hunters are in the field looking for the last few bucks chasing does in hopes of passing on their lineage.  We talk more about mates and those species that lock up for life, hold a harem, and some that are in between,…

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota waterfowl hunters are reminded the statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Dec. 3. However, duck hunting in the high plains unit reopens Dec. 9 and continues through Dec. 31. In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 21, except for the Missouri River Zone, which closes Dec. 29….

ALL SHE WROTE.  The 2017 Deer Firearms Season is officially in the books, and a lot of great bucks were taken as cold conditions triggered a solid start to the rut and then warmer temperatures allowed hunters to get out and after those deer.  Don’t hang up your field boots just yet, as we look…

HOT STUFF.  The November whipsaw continues to stay on the upswing as we enter the final day of the ND firearms deer season. Clouds clear out by late in the day and temps touch 50 once again. This warm-up makes for comfortable time on stand or on a walk, but isn’t that traditional November chill,…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. While North Dakota’s 2017 deer gun season is winding down, it still generates a fair amount of questions and conversation.  The November issue of North Dakota Outdoors magazine covered a few of the topics that I’ve heard about in the past few weeks. First off, this year’s deer hunting season did open…

ICED OUT.  We focus on ice safety, as things get a little dicey on the surfaces of the state’s recently-frozen waters.  More highs clipping 50 degrees today and tomorrow will cut into the ice making process and make what’s out there even more sketchy.  We talk about that, and look back – and ahead –…

DARK WINDS.  Black Friday is loaded with gusty conditions as we settle into the holiday weekend and the final stretch of the deer season.  There’s a hundred deals out there today and throughout the next few days – not only in stores, but also on the shores of any unfrozen water body for ducks, geese…

By Nick Simonson Hard water is fast upon the northern tier of the landscape, and with a few bumpy warm-ups out of the way, the ice season can begin in earnest.  Once again, ice anglers will find an incredible array of augers, sonar, rods, reels, tip-ups, cameras and more this season, and at no other…

LET US GIVE THANKS! Hard to believe we’ll hit the mid-60s today.  Great for that backyard football game, or pheasant hunting in t-shirts!  However you work off your turkey today, give thanks for all the great things we have in the outdoors in this state – including great public lands and access – as part…

NDG&F Press Release Hunters are reminded that several North Dakota national wildlife refuges open to late-season upland game bird hunting the day after the deer gun season closes. Arrowwood, Audubon, Des Lacs, J. Clark Salyer, Lake Alice, Lake Zahl, Long Lake, Lostwood, Tewaukon (pheasants only), and Upper Souris NWRs open Nov. 27. However, portions of…

NOW YOU SEE ME.  Animals find ways to blend in with their surroundings, giving them another defense against predators.  Protective coloration is key in ensuring survival for many birds, big game, amphibians and fish along with a number of other wildlife species, and that’s what makes them so hard to see when you’re hunting, sometimes….

NDG&F Press Release North Dakotans hunting deer in Montana this fall should take note of a recently harvested deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease near Bridger, Mont. With this development, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department will add Montana to the 2018 CWD proclamation, which restricts movement of animals into North Dakota….

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota’s darkhouse spearfishing season opens on most state waters Dec. 1 and continues through March 15. Legal fish are northern pike and nongame species. All individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must first register online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, anglers age 16 and older must…

DIG IN.  Less than a week remains in the Firearms Deer Season for North Dakota.  Time to put your head down and get to it if you haven’t tagged out yet!  If you have, there’s plenty to focus on, including late season upland hunting, some remaining waterfowl and of course good reading.  We talk ruffed…

GROUPED UP.  There are as many sportsman’s and conservation groups as there are interests in the outdoors.  With the year wrapping up there are a number you can donate to or become a member of to ring in the new year with habitat work, conservation efforts, youth programs and other plans to get behind.  We…

SUNDAY FUNDAY.  After you get those Christmas lights up, get out in the field on this warm and comfortable day for a truly enjoyable Sunday!  A big shift is in store for Monday, as things cool off considerably before an uptick over Thanksgiving and we build some more safe ice after the holiday. We talk…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. For as long as I can remember, party hunting has never been legal in North Dakota. Which means each individual hunter must take only his or her own daily limit, or fill his or her own deer tag.  The same concept also applies to fishing. There is no legal distinction…

HOLEY MOLEY. With a chill in the air, it’s tough not to think of ice fishing, despite still being in the thick of firearms deer season.  While word around the state is some brave (crazy?) souls are sneaking out on smaller waters for early season hardwater action, we’re waiting just a bit longer for more…

RUB A DUB DUB.  We’d hate to be a sapling this time of year.  If you’ve been getting out the past few days, odds are you’ve happened upon the fast-developing rublines and the unfortunate shrubs and trees which have been shredded by rut-drunk bucks.  This weekend is setting up to be a nice one, so…

By Nick Simonson For many folks, sharptailed grouse is an acquired taste, as the deep red breast meat is more reminiscent of beef than chicken, and among all the upland game birds harvested in an autumn, it definitely doesn’t have a flavor comparable to any farmyard fowl.  Take advantage of that texture and taste by…