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…

By Brad Durick GAME ON! The past week has been stupid good for catching catfish on the Red River in and around Grand Forks. Big numbers of post spawn fish are out feeding so they can bulk back up. The best areas to fish have been right down the middle in the deeper, faster water….

By Doug Leier Many hunters and anglers understand the work of the Game and Fish Department. From game wardens checking hunting and fishing licenses and keeping everyone outdoors safe, to fisheries biologists stocking and surveying lakes, to wildlife biologists and land managers maintaining and enhancing habitat, assessing wildlife populations and setting seasons. One often overlooked…

By Mike Peluso The past week has definitely been a curveball up here on Sakakawea when it comes to the walleye fishing. East winds, more east winds and goofy weather have made move around more than in weeks past.  Sometimes you land on the bite right away. Other days it takes a little while to…

By Nick Simonson In the bright sunshine of midday, I couldn’t resist the flip of a long-tailed slumpbuster streamer off the dock in between raking the beach and my next set of cabin chores.  The size six fly was a beefy offering for the schooling bluegills and was sure to keep the smaller panfish off…

By Nick Simonson Midsummer brings its share of weeds to front lawns and gardens which require some time on the hands and knees cleaning things up, a whip of the weed whacker or a a quick tour of the tiller in a skillful weaving around those tomato plants, there’s other weed work that can be…

By Brad Durick Catfishing is getting better every day now on the Red River of the North. Fish are being caught most places on the flow around Grand Forks with mid-river holes being the best areas. One area that has NOT worked over the past week, however, are those stretches of shallow or fast water….

By Doug Leier For many, a career as a game warden might sound like a dream job. A life spent outdoors, checking fishing licenses and keeping hunters safe and catching poachers. For most the job goes far beyond the glamour of a uniform or the thrill of patrolling the open landscapes of the state. It’s…

By Mike Peluso It has been a crazy week of walleye fishing up here on Lake Sakakawea! I don’t know if the North Dakota Game & Fish Department knows this yet, but the management of this walleye gem is really shining right now, especially on the east end of the lake!  I’ve been able to…

By Nick Simonson If I could bottle up these 85-degree days in July and save them for early February, I would, especially if the fishing that is part-and-parcel with summer comes along with my preserved point in time.  From sunfish and crappies to white and largemouth bass, this time of year presents fast fishing and…

By Doug Leier Without fail, when I think about bighorn sheep in North Dakota, big game biologist Brett Weidmann pops into my head. For good reason. Brett is the Game and Fish Department’s bighorn guru and has forgotten more about bighorn sheep than I’ll ever know. Brett is one of those guys I like to…