By Nick Simonson In the fading light of the second day of Minnesota’s pheasant season, I peeled gravel from behind the red truck full of hunters that slowed my caravan’s way out from the large block of public lands just east of Ivanhoe, Minn.  Impatient, I grabbed the blacktop and sped away from the setting…

FLUSHING AWAY SUMMER.  It had to end sometime, but lucky for us we can get back to more autumn-like activities this weekend.  Winds will dominate today and drop off overnight, before it gets breezy again tomorrow.  There are windows of opportunity everywhere for birds, deer and yes, even fishing, in the coming week.  Be ready…

ONE MORE UP! We’ve got another great day on tap, but things change just in time for the weekend as we get back to more “huntable” temperatures.  Today’s high near 80 will seem like a distant memory as fall-like weather blows back in overnight, but the cool down will trigger more autumn-like responses from area…

BLOWN AWAY.  Northwest winds rise up today and send our recent warm weather away, but things will rebound until the weekend (go figure) as the whipsaw of autumn weather continues.  We talk salmon spawning in today’s Three Things, along with properly tagging deer and the best (worst?) of Bill Dance. (Featured Photo: The edge of…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. By the time North Dakota’s deer gun season ends late next month, somewhere near 100,000 state residents will have hung a “Gone Hunting” sign on their front door at least once during the fall season. That’s enough to fill up the Fargodome nearly five times, but all of us hunters are fortunate…

NDG&F Press Release North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists have completed fall reproduction surveys, which evaluate natural reproduction, stocking success and forage abundance in many waters across the state. Scott Gangl, Department fisheries management section leader, said there is good news from the survey efforts. “We are seeing really good numbers of walleye…

A SHOT OF HOT!  Warm winds are blowing into the region, as southwesterlies take hold over the next couple of days, bringing a summerlike feel to this mid-autumn week!  Watch for a fast bite to form this week, as fish warm up and strap on the feedbag in the relatively hot weather. We talk about…

BIRD IN THE HAND.  Each pheasant, grouse or partridge is a trophy, and making sure it makes it from the air to your game pouch is important and pays proper respect to the quarry.  Finding downed birds can sometimes be challenging, so use the advantages you have and tips in today’s Three Things to get…

By Nick Simonson North Dakota hunters will find more opportunities to pursue deer in the approaching 16 ½-day firearms hunting season set to begin at noon on Fri. Nov. 10, as populations fared somewhat well in the challenging winter conditions, and were not impacted by this summer’s drought conditions as much as other wildlife.  What…

NDG&F Press Release Now is the time to locate your deer license and check it for accuracy. Every year the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s licensing section receives last-minute inquiries from hunters who can’t find their license. When that happens, it’s difficult to try to get a replacement license in time for the season…

By Nick Simonson Pheasant opener serves as a chance to look back on the year for many hunters, and for North Dakota’s Pheasants Forever (PF) staff even more so.  It’s a moment on the calendar to assess the progress made in the name of conservation, and review the relationships built across North Dakota between PF,…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. After the winter of 1996-97 – arguably the worst winter for resident wildlife in the last half century – I remember hearing upland game biologist Lowell Tripp, and wildlife division chief Randy Kreil, now both retired, repeat over and over again the basic fact that North Dakota was on the northern…

PLEASANT SUNDAY SURPRISE!  So much for yesterday’s one-day forecast! Temps will be higher than expected today, but not too hot, and rain chances slim down some as well.    Take advantage of these better conditions on the final day of Youth Pheasant Weekend and get someone new out in the field.  We take a quick look…

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…