ND GNF Weekley Newsletter 15-May-06

[marine_man]

- Watercraft Users Urged to Exercise Caution, Patience

- Youth Conservation Camp Scheduled in August

- Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses Remain

Watercraft Users Urged to Exercise Caution, Patience

As weather conditions become more favorable for outdoor activities, lake recreation areas become congested with watercrafts of all shapes and sizes. With that in mind, users are encouraged to exercise caution, patience and safety, both at the ramp and on the water.

Boating has always made for a favorite family outing, and has become even more popular in recent years. Lower water levels on some major reservoirs the past few years have meant fewer usable ramps, causing overcrowding at ramps, especially during weekends and holidays, said Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

“It is important to plan accordingly,” Boldt said. “Unexpected situations will arise that may cause someone to spend a little longer at a ramp, and when this does we hope those in line will be patient, and even lend a helping hand.”

In order to make an outing more enjoyable, Boldt suggests boaters take necessary steps to ensure a more fluent transition while launching and loading boats.

When launching a boat, don't pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch. Prepare the boat in the parking area by removing covers, loading equipment, removing tie downs, and attaching lines. When ready, pull into line and wait your turn. Have one person handle the boat and one take care of the tow vehicle to speed up the process. Launch on the designated side of the ramp.

When it is time to load the boat, know which side of the ramp is designated for loading. Don't block the loading area with your boat until your tow vehicle is ready to load. Wait until you are clear of the launch area to unload gear. As soon as your trailer is in the water, load and secure your boat to the trailer. Remove the boat and trailer from the water as quickly as possible. Get clear of the ramp, and pull into the parking area to finish securing your boat and unload gear.

If an accident does occur, a report must be filled out and sent to the Game and Fish Department only if it involves injury, death, or disappearance of a person, or if property damage exceeds $2,000.

An accident report involving injury, death or disappearance of a person must be submitted to the department within 48 hours of the occurrence. A boat operator has five days to file a report in cases where damage to property exceeds $2,000. Failure to report is a noncriminal offense punishable by a fee of $50.

Youth Conservation Camp Scheduled in August

The North Dakota Wildlife Federation will hold a youth conservation camp Aug. 6-12 at the Triangle Y Camp near Garrison on Lake Sakakawea. Boys and girls ages 12-16 are invited to participate.

Hands-on activities include firearms safety, archery, dog training, boating, fishing, water ecology, outdoor survival, trapshooting, and soil and range studies.

Co-sponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the camp is limited to the first 80 individuals registered. Cost is $200, which covers all meals and accommodations.

A nonrefundable deposit of $50 is required for pre-registration and will be credited toward the camp cost. For more information, contact the Wildlife Federation at 888-827-2557.

Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses Remain

Slightly more than 100 any-deer bow licenses are still available to nonresidents in 2006, according to Carrie Whitney, licensing supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The Game and Fish Department began issuing nonresident any-deer bow licenses March 1, and nearly 1,050 of the allotted 1,155 licenses for 2006 have been purchased.

Remaining licenses are issued on a first come, first served basis. Nonresidents can print out an application for mailing at the Game and Fish Department HSOforum, gf.nd.gov, or call 701-328-6300 to request an application. Only one license is allowed per hunter.

The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15 percent of the previous year’s mule deer gun license allocation. The department issued 7,700 mule deer licenses in the 2005 deer gun lottery.

[marine_man]

Does anyone read these, or want me to continue posting them?

marine_man

[Curly]

I was planning on coming out this fall to hunt ducks when the kids have their 4 day MEA weekend here, but understand non-residents can't hunt public ground the first week of the pheasant season which would be the week before the school break. Do you know anything about this? If true, what day of the week would the public land open back up for non-residents?

Thanks

[marine_man]

Here's the info from the ND GNF HSOforum:

A Nonresident May Not Hunt G&F Lands Oct. 14-20

Nonresidents may not hunt on lands owned or leased by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including state wildlife management areas and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS), for the first week of pheasant season (October 14-20). This provision applies to all types of hunting, not just pheasants. The best way to remember this is that if the sign on an area says, "North Dakota Game and Fish Department," on it anywhere, the area is closed to nonresident hunting from Oct. 14-20.

This restriction does not apply to lands owned or managed by other state agencies that may be open to hunting, such as state school lands, US Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl production areas, other federal lands open to hunting, or to private lands not enrolled in the G&F PLOTS program.

So, you'd be able to hunt public land (PLOTS, etc) on October 21.

marine_man