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…

GET LEGS.  A calm chill will settle in today, but still no significant snow gives us a good run of weather coming up.  Speaking of running, from staying fit to the perfect fit for your on-vise creations, we’ve got a leg-centered edition of today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo: MARKS THE SPOT. A Madame X fly with…

SCHOOL’S IN.  Learning about fish behavior often provides insight in how to catch them. Fish relate to one another in many ways, including aggregation, shoaling and schooling.  While the general term of “school” is applied to a group of fish, the relationships can be much more in-depth than that and we provide some insight into…

TOOLING AROUND.  We’re enjoying the warmth and checking in on our tackle, gear and of course tools at mid-ice.  We’ve got a best of the shack list for you and your on-ice adventures today as part of our Outdoors Roundup to make sure you have the gear you need on ice – and much of…

By Nick Simonson The Gotcha is another simple shrimp imitator for saltwater species that has become a secret weapon for slab crappies up north.  With its shimmering krystal flash tail, gummy ribbing and flowy wing of fur and flash, the Gotcha can claim a top spot in any panfish box when spring arrives and to…

STEELY.  With the turn of the calendar to February, we’re thinking spring and planning a trip for one of our favorite trout species that is not only challenging to hook but also to land – the steelhead.  We’ve got some info on this species to fill the front half of your weekend and set your…

By Nick Simonson   As January fades into memory and anglers eye up a faster bite as the back half of winter settles in, a number of conditions are at play which will help angling improve through the ice and provide a portent for what can be expected for spring and summer populations when waters…

HEATING UP.  A warm weekend is headed our way as we say goodbye to January and hello to the start of February.  We’ve got the scoop on a pair of melting days, the power of wetlands and some CRP info from the NDG&F in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Wetland Wonders.  Sloughs and other wetland…

By Nick Simonson   The arrow barely hung from its tip stuck smack dab in the middle of the blue circle on the large black block ten yards out from the line on the floor which my now six-year-old son straddled in the open shoot section of the archery range. If I didn’t see it…

YOU DON’T SAY?  We check out some of our favorite field sayings in today’s Outdoors Roundup and note the importance of having a backup, a blade and a second thought when it comes to shooting as we enjoy yet another warm day headed into a nice weekend. Featured Photo:  Blade 2.  Having a spare knife,…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   In the January edition of North Dakota Outdoors magazine, state Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand took a look at the past year and addressed some continuing challenges that remain in the year ahead.   In a way, it’s sort of a “state of the state” when it…

BIG NEWS.  We cover some big game items today including possible elk impacts resulting from a wolf reintroduction, more bighorn opportunities in South Dakota and what’s being done about declining moose populations east of the Red River.  All that and more in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  A young bull moose rests in a small…