ND GNF Newsletter 05-Sep-06

[marine_man]

Youth Deer Hunting Season Opens Sept. 15

North Dakota’s youth-only deer hunting season opens for first-time hunters Friday, Sept. 15 at noon, and continues through Sunday, Sept. 24.

“Youth hunters who put forth the effort should find plenty of opportunities,” according to Bill Jensen, big game biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. “We anticipate a good deer hunting season.”

The season is statewide, except for restricted licenses and units in western North Dakota. After opening day, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Solid daylight fluorescent orange vests or coats, and hats are required for all youth deer season hunters and their adult mentors.

Each youth deer hunter must be accompanied by an adult while in the field.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Weekend Set Sept. 16-17

North Dakota’s two-day youth waterfowl season is Sept. 16-17. Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers statewide.

The daily bag limit, including species restrictions, and all other regulations for the regular duck and goose hunting seasons apply, including: all youth waterfowl hunters must be HIP certified; youth ages 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course; and a general game and habitat license is required. Hunters age 15 and younger do not need a federal duck stamp.

Hunters who purchase a license through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office, HSOforum (gf.nd.gov), or instant licensing telephone number (800-406-6409) can easily get HIP certified.

Otherwise, hunters must call 888-634-4798, or log on to the Game and Fish HSOforum, and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate.

Shooting hours for the youth waterfowl season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the resident youth hunter into the field, and a licensed adult is required to accompany a nonresident youth hunter. The two-day weekend hunt does not count against a nonresident adult hunter’s 14-day regular season waterfowl dates.

Sandhill Crane Season Opens Sept. 16

North Dakota’s sandhill crane season opens Sept. 16. Hunters are urged to use caution and identify birds to prevent shooting at whooping cranes as they begin their fall migration.

The sandhill crane season is open through Nov. 12 in unit 1 (west of U.S. Highway 281), and through Oct. 22 in unit 2 (east of U.S. Highway 281). Limits are three daily and six in possession in unit 1, and two daily and four in possession in unit 2. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day through Oct. 28. Beginning Oct. 29, shooting hours are extended until 2 p.m. each day.

As in past years, prospective hunters need a special $5 crane permit. Hunters can apply online, or print out a resident or nonresident application for mailing, at the Game and Fish Department HSOforum, gf.nd.gov.

Hunters can also send the permit fee, along with personal information, including height, weight, sex, social security number, date of birth, color of hair and eyes, and hunter education number and state issued, to Crane Permit, NDGF, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501.

2006 Conservation PLOTS Guide at Vendors by Sept. 8

More than 850,000 acres of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program are open to hunters this fall and are featured in the 2006 Conservation PLOTS Guide, which will be available at most vendors throughout the state by Sept. 8.

Interested hunters can also view the guide, and find a list of vendors where guides are available, through the department’s HSOforum at gf.nd.gov.