By Doug Leier, NDG&F Department Few people better understand the quality of life aspect that fishing provides in North Dakota than longtime State Game and Fish Department fisheries division chief Greg Power. He recently shared some insights in the March-April 2020 North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine. Here’s a condensed version of Power’s essay. “While ‘quality of…

ANOTHER DANDY.  Warm conditions continue, sparking a chance for pop-up showers and storms this afternoon, but likely leaving your morning and evening quite usable in the outdoors. We’ve got reminders from the G&F, a look at a drier-than-average May and its impact on wildlife and some tips for building a beginner’s bass box in today’s…

KEEP ROLLING!  Warm weather settles in and the water is your playground.  Get out there and on some fish, but keep an eye on your fall hunting plans with ducks, archery and one last reminder (we promise) to get your deer application in – all in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  DUCKS ON THE POND. …

SOMETHING LIKE SUMMER.  Warm temperatures roll in today and take hold throughout the week, making the start of June truly feel like summer.  We’ve got a preview of your week and habitat efforts at the forefront of the news in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  SUMMER SPRINT.  A jackrabbit in his summer grays runs a…

GETTING GUSTY.  Winds will be strong out of the southeast all day, putting some bump in your ride to and from the boat ramp, unless you stay on the south side of the lake!  While you duck the wind we’ve got updates from area wildlife agencies to keep you in the know as we say…

By Nick Simonson   A raised eyebrow, a nod, a frown, a crossing of the arms; these silent cues often speak volumes more than any run-on sentence or flamboyant pounding-of-the-table speech ever could and deliver a message with an efficiency that connects with people on a primal level.  Silence often is golden and stillness many…

SUPERB SATURDAY.  Great conditions will set up today and a light walleye chop will develop by afternoon under mostly sunny skies.  We’ve got more on next weekend’s free fishing, a new head for Ducks Unlimited and a celebration at RMEF, all in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  BLUE FLASH.  Sunny days mean sparkle baits.  Try…

By Nick Simonson   While it’s the hope of every angler to catch a fish worthy of the wall, whether via a replica or skin mount, the opportunity may not come along very often.  When it does, however, anglers should be prepared with a few easy steps and a couple of simple tools to make…

WAITING FOR WARMTH.  We struggle to hit 70 through the next couple of days, with hopes of a warm-up on Sunday afternoon, though conditions will remain generally calm and pleasant.  In addition to your weekend fishing forecast we’ve got views from a new hunter and a trap event for young shooters coming up in our…

By Nick Simonson   There’s a compromise reached in every relationship. My wife loves to cruise on the open water and I love to fish, so much so that the idea of being on a boat without a rod in hand is what I imagine hell must be like.  So while I manned the helm…

GET IT STARTED.  We’re already eyeing up the weekend and thinking fishing as temperatures dip down a bit.  Speaking of eyes, the National Walleye Trail kicks off today in South Dakota.  We’ve got more on that, how not to lose a jumping fish and another friendly deer reminder in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  GO…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   I wasn’t surprised when health officials reported recently that North Dakota residents were mostly complying with social distancing guidelines. We’ve got a pretty good track record when it comes to doing what we can to protect ourselves.   The same could be said for anglers and boaters complying with…

HEATING UP.  We maintain highs in the 70s this week with good conditions heading into a weekend warm-up. Along with a more stable scenario we’ve got word on how all those great platforms get made to help you launch your boat on ND waters, a look at drought conditions sneaking back into the state’s southwestern…

BACK ON TRACK.  We’ll warm up today after Sunday’s front and Monday’s struggle to break out of the sixties, setting us up for a week in the 70s with a predicted warm spike for the weekend! We’ve got the forecast for today and the future along with upcoming archery excitement and a friendly reminder to…

HEADED BACK UP.  While things will be post frontal for the end of your beginning of summer, we’ll see improvement throughout the week for time on the water.  We take a look at what you can do to prevent the spread of ANS, North Dakota-based studies on waterfowl nesting and grazing, and a view of…

RAINY ROUND THE REGION.  While rain will be the story for the top half of your Sunday, we’ve got the moves from the regional wildlife agencies that are making headlines in regard to walleyes, elk and turkeys in the tri-state area.  So pour that cup of coffee, click a link and get up to speed…

By Nick Simonson   Bridges provide the many things that a variety of fish species need throughout the openwater season: shade from the sun, structure that attracts food items, holding places in varying depths, and current breaks to help them expend less energy.  For these reasons, any bridge can provide fast fishing and learning to…

By Nick Simonson   I’m not much for travel, even in the outdoors.  Though it’s the safest way of getting from point A to point B, I sweat profusely while aboard just about any airplane, regardless of whether there’s fishing or hunting on the other side of the trip and often start dreading the flight…

DOUBLE UP!  A great start to your holiday weekend is on tap for this Friday, with sun and moon times along with great conditions lining up to kick off the four-day stretch.  We’ve got more on our Double Edge Day plus concern for ND’s bats, a fun look at how hunters see things and what’s…

WEEKEND WATCH!  Excitement is building for the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend and conditions on either end of it should be great for the outdoors.  We’ll duck some rain and thunder on Saturday and Sunday, but opportunities on those days will exist, just keep an eye to the sky. We’ve got updates on fishing closures from…

By Nick Simonson Criminal charges are expected to be filed against six Barnes County men for their involvement in the illegal taking of big game and other wildlife-related violations in recent months throughout the county, which allegedly includes the poaching of a number of whitetail deer.  Combined, the complaints against the individuals are anticipated to…

BROKEN RECORD?  We’re not talking walleyes or pike either. It seems like the southerly gusts have been with us forever, and they’re going to stick with us into the weekend, but things will stay mostly warm into the long holiday stretch.  We’ve got more on that, an update on hunters ed and changes to youth…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   Looking for anything that qualifies as good news has become a new pastime for some. Given the daily continued pandemic news, it’s no wonder my phone, email and casual conversations have spiked from people asking about how the deer and pheasants fared this winter.   Well, hunters looking for…

GROWING GUSTS.  The wind continues with sustained gusts through tomorrow, but calmer days are ahead; in the meantime enjoy the warm temperatures that come with it.  We’ve got some deer updates from the NDG&F and QDMA along with a look at a modified season underway for the ND CTL as part of our Outdoors Roundup….

WOOSH!  We’re off and running with a warmer and windy start to the week! In addition to a look at the strong, sustained gusts we’ve got a reminder that new hunters can still get in on the deer lottery drawing with the NDG&F online hunter ed course and some great work by PF for prairie…

SETTING THE STAGE.  Today will kick off a great run of weather, warming things up into the mid-70s and low 80s right on into Memorial Day weekend!  To get you set we’ve got the tips on colors to use that trigger bites on any water and how to find your own confidence colors wherever you…

By John Bradley, NDWF Executive Director   Numerous vulnerabilities in our economic and healthcare systems have come to light the last few months during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the crisis has also highlighted just how much Americans love—and need—to connect with nature on our public lands. Across the country, people have been flocking to local,…

STATUS SATURDAY.  We’ll make it into the mid sixties with light east winds for your outdoor adventures today.  While you enjoy that, we check out where we sit in terms of ground moisture, our forested areas and what’s in store on the long-range climate predictor in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Jacked Up.  A pair…

By Nick Simonson   In the era of catch-and-release a number of tools have come to the forefront in ensuring the successful turn back of big fish to be caught again: rubberized nets, mesh cradles, and elongated needle nose pliers help make short work of landing, caring for and releasing fish while limiting damage to…

CONSERVATION ROUNDUP.  Efforts around the state, country and continent are constantly working to preserve habitat, protect creatures and learn more about the magic of migratory animals.  We’ve got insights on all three in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  GREENING UP.  Spring takes on a new hue as vegetation greens up. Simonson Photo. WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):…