October NDGNF Weekly Newsletter

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Game Warden Exam Reminder

Individuals interested in taking a game warden exam scheduled for Nov. 1 are reminded to submit a letter of intent to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department before 5 p.m., Oct. 30.

Letters of intent should be addressed to chief game warden Robert Timian, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501‑5095. The test will be given at 10 a.m., Nov. 1, at the department's main office in Bismarck.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a bachelor’s degree. Other requirements are a current North Dakota peace officer license, or eligibility for a license, and a valid driver’s license. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal skills in communications and writing, and must not have a record of any felony convictions.

Game wardens enforce game and fish laws and related regulations in an assigned district and other locations as determined by the department. Wardens normally work alone under varied conditions, at all hours of the day, night, and weekends. In addition to law enforcement duties, wardens assist in the areas of public relations, education programs, and hunter and boat safety education.

Game warden duties also require the ability to perform physically demanding tasks involving lifting and carrying large, heavy objects, walking and running over uneven terrain and tolerating adverse weather and other environmental conditions.

Selection procedures include an evaluation of the application, a structured oral interview, background and reference checks, and psychological and medical examinations.

The salary for beginning game wardens through training and probation is $2,400 per month. Upon completion of training and probation, the salary range is $2,992‑4,986 per month. Wardens also receive the state benefits package, including travel allowance. Uniforms and other equipment are provided.

Find Your Deer License, and Check it for Accuracy

Deer gun season is only a month away. Do you know where your deer license is?

Every year North Dakota Game and Fish Department staff gets last-minute inquiries from hunters who can’t find their licenses. When it happens on opening day, it’s difficult to get a replacement license quickly.

Deer hunters in need of a replacement license must print out a duplicate (replacement) license application from the Game and Fish Department HSOforum, gf.nd.gov, or call 701-328-6300 to have an application mailed or faxed.

The form must be completely filled out and notorized, and sent back in to the department with a fee. The application will be processed the day it is received at the office, and the license will be mailed out the next day.

Another reason to find your license now is to check it for accuracy. Double-check the license to make sure the unit, species and deer sex is what you intended.

Department Taking Orders for 2008 OUTDOORS Calendars

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking orders for its North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar, the official source for all hunting season and application dates for 2008. Along with outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery, it also includes sunrise-sunset times and moon phases.

To order, send $3 for each, plus $1 postage, to: Calendar, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095. Be sure to include a three-line return address with your order, or the post office may not deliver our return mailing.

The calendar is the North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine’s December issue, so current subscribers will automatically receive it in the mail.

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Wildlife Groups, Deer Hunters Participate in Sportsmen Against Hunger

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages wildlife groups and deer hunters to take part in a program to help local food pantries.

Sportsmen Against Hunger, a charitable program started by the North Dakota Community Action Association, encourages community wildlife groups to develop venison donation programs and hunters to donate game.

The program continues to grow each year, said Ann Pollert, NDCAA executive director. In 2004, 115 deer were processed and distributed to needy families across North Dakota. In 2005, the number increased to 241, and last year 370 deer were processed and delivered.

Currently, about 15 clubs across the state donate money to pay for processing deer donated by hunters. Pollert says the money received from these organizations stays in the region. If it is from a statewide organization, the money is sent to where it is needed.

The Game and Fish Department is contributing by collecting deer hides and donating all proceeds for processing venison. In addition, the department donates venison and pays for processing of big game animals that need to be removed due to nuisance problems or other situations.

Local wildlife groups interested in starting a venison donation program should contact Pollert directly at 701-232-2452, or by email at [email protected].

Hunters wanting to donate deer are also encouraged to contact Pollert for a list of cooperating meat processors.

Motorists Advised to Slow Down, Watch for Deer

Late October through early December is when deer are most active, resulting in the peak period for deer-vehicle accidents. Because of this, motorists are advised to slow down, exercise caution, and be alert for deer crossing roadways.

Most deer-vehicle accidents occur primarily at dawn and dusk when deer are most active. When one deer crosses the road, there is a good chance a second or third may follow. It is also important to pay attention on roadways posted with Deer Crossing Area caution signs, because deer are known to be in the area.

If an accident does happen, a local law enforcement agency should be contacted. Also, a permit is required to take parts or the whole carcass of a road-killed deer. Permits are free and available from game wardens and local law enforcement offices.

A few precautions can minimize chances of injury or property damage in a deer-vehicle crash.

· Always wear your seat belt.

· Don’t swerve or take the ditch to avoid hitting a deer. Try to brake as much as possible and stay on the roadway. Don’t lose control of your vehicle or slam into something else to miss the deer. You risk less injury by hitting the deer.

· If you spot deer ahead, slow down immediately and honk your horn.

· No published research supports the effectiveness of deer whistles on vehicles. Deer can’t hear ultrasonic frequencies.

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Salmon Spawning Efforts Complete

Fisheries crews have completed their annual salmon spawning operation at Lake Sakakawea, reports Dave Fryda, Missouri River System supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Riverdale.

Nearly 500,000 eggs were collected from Sakakawea and the Garrison Dam Tailrace. “We surpassed our goal of 350,000 eggs,” Fryda said. “Montana just sent us a request for 150,000 eggs, so we will be able to meet their needs.”

Average size of female salmon was about 6 pounds, slightly bigger than last year. In addition, fish condition was better, and the number of eggs per female increased.

Current plans are to stock approximately 75,000 salmon in Lake Sakakawea and 50,000 in the Missouri River.

Fryda said fisheries crews won’t spawn anymore fish unless South Dakota sends a request. “If they need additional eggs, we will get them more,” he said.

Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in North Dakota, state Game and Fish Department and Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery personnel collect and fertilize eggs and transport them to the hatchery.

Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend several months in the hatchery before being stocked in Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River.

Witnesses Asked to Report Violations

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages hunters, anglers and landowners who have witnessed a fish or wildlife violation to file a report with the Report All Poachers program.

RAP is a cooperative project between the Game and Fish Department, State Radio Communications and the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. The RAP line offers rewards – from $100 to $1,000 depending on the nature and seriousness of the crime – for information that leads to conviction of fish and wildlife law violators. Reports can also go directly to game wardens or other law enforcement agencies. Callers can remain anonymous.

Witnesses should note vehicle description, including make, color, license plate number and state issued. Description of the violator should also be considered.

In 2007, state radio has sent 161 incident reports to game wardens, with approximately 20 percent of those RAP calls. Robert Timian, chief of enforcement for the Game and Fish Department, said even though some citizens are not interested in the reward, it is still important to play a role in landing potential violators.

“A typical call received through RAP is from someone saying ‘I want to report someone shooting too many ducks’, or ‘someone didn’t tag a buck.’ A violation of any type can be reported,” Timian said.

Reporting a violation is extremely important, Timian said, because each warden covers a large district. “With a staff of 34 wardens covering the entire state we can’t be everywhere,” he said.

Witnesses should report a violation by calling the RAP telephone number at 800-472-2121. RAP will then contact the local game warden immediately. If the witness gives the RAP operator a phone number, the witness will be contacted right away.

Maps Showing School Trust Lands Available on Web

Maps showing aerial photographs and Global Positioning System coordinates of school trust lands are now available on the North Dakota State Land Department HSOforum at www.land.state.nd.us.

Users should click on aerial photographs of school trust lands, and then access the map search icon. “We did the maps because we are hoping that it will help the public who may want to hike or hunt on school trust lands,” said Mike Brand, director of the surface management division.

Maps of school trust lands are available in two formats: color aerial photographs from 2003 with outlines of the school trust lands showing latitude and longitude of section corners, and only the outlines of the school trust lands with latitude and longitude of corners. Maps can be used either with or without a GPS unit.

The state trust lands link can also be accessed at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department HSOforum at gf.nd.gov.

Game and Fish Assess Mountain Lions in North Dakota

Data collected by the state Game and Fish Department over the past several years has allowed biologists to make some observations regarding the continued presence of mountain lions in North Dakota.

Dorothy Fecske, department furbearer biologist, said DNA analysis of 17 lions sampled since 2004 indicates that mountain lions probably have been breeding in the badlands of western North Dakota for at least the past decade.

“Most of the lions were not related to each other,” Fecske said. “This provides clear evidence that multiple breeding-age females likely occurred in the badlands since the late 1990s.”

Also, the age and sex composition of lions taken in the badlands during the past two hunting seasons indicates the population apparently has not declined because of hunter harvest.

During the past two hunting seasons (not including 2007), no breeding-age females were taken by hunters and all animals taken appeared in good nutritional condition. “The adult breeding-age females are the most important animals to keep track of, especially for a relatively small and isolated lion population like we have in North Dakota,” Fecske said.

Data also suggests the mountain lion population may be expanding into the northern Missouri River breaks, the counties bordering Lake Sakakawea and the upper reaches of the Missouri River. Four confirmed sightings have been documented in this area over the past 18 months, compared to only one confirmed sighting the previous five years. Also, the Three Affiliated Tribes reported an increase in mountain lion sightings on the Fort Berthold Reservation in 2007 than in previous years.

According to a habitat suitability map, the badlands and Missouri River breaks contain sufficient suitable habitat to support a small population of 45 to 74 resident adult animals if there were no hunting mortality. Fecske said mountain lions historically have appeared in this region of the state.

Since July, the department has continued to receive reports of lions and lion activity in North Dakota, including a road-killed male found in Hettinger County; a photo of a lion kitten estimated at 6-9 months old in Mercer County; and a litter of two 6-8-week-old kittens in Dunn County.

Also, hunters during the 2007-08 mountain lion hunting season (through Oct. 12) have harvested three lions – two in Dunn County and the other in McKenzie County. Two were sub-adult females, while the other was an adult female. Hunters can take any mountain lion other than kittens (lions with visible spots), or females accompanied by kittens.

Another note of interest is that a young male, fitted with a radio-collar last November after inadvertently getting caught in a trap in the badlands, has remained in the region. The lion has traveled over an area of 140 square miles in 11 months.

“We continue to document lion activity in North Dakota. We don’t have all the answers yet, but every passing month we are learning more about the state’s lion population and how to properly manage it,” Fecske said.

A report summarizing mountain lions in North Dakota, including a status report prior to 2006 and information collected since, is available on the Game and Fish Department HSOforum at gf.nd.gov.

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Plan Accordingly with Remaining Doe Licenses

Deer hunters who want to purchase remaining doe licenses shouldn’t wait too long because some units only have a few left, according to Carrie Whitney, licensing supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

“If you want to buy a license in a specific unit, don’t wait because they might be gone by opening day,” Whitney said.

Another reason to buy early is because licenses aren’t issued at the time applications are received. “The application is processed the day it is received, but the license isn’t available to be sent out until the next business day,” Whitney said. “So if a deer hunter applies for a license on Friday morning of opening day, it will be mailed the next business day.”

The Game and Fish Department will continue to sell remaining doe licenses through the end of the archery season. As of Monday, Oct. 29, more than 14,000 licenses for antlerless deer were still available in the following units: 1, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F1, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 2L, 3A4, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4E and 4F.

These licenses are available to hunters who don’t already have a license, or for those who want additional licenses. They can be used during the bow season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. Hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

Hunters can apply online at the Game and Fish Department HSOforum, gf.nd.gov. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The regular deer gun season begins at noon Nov. 9 and continues through Nov. 25. Muzzleloader season starts at noon Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 16. Archery season is open through Jan. 6, 2008.

Hunters Take Notice When Parking Vehicles

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters to park their vehicles in a place that will not block roads or approaches to farm fields.

Kevin Kading, private land section leader, said this has become an issue for landowners who are enrolled in the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, and for those who are not enrolled in PLOTS.

“This serves as a good reminder for hunters to pay attention to farm equipment, and to park their vehicles in a place that will not block a roadway, field approach or gate,” Kading said.

During hunting season, farmers and ranchers are busy with fall farm duties, including harvesting crops, moving cattle and hauling bales. “Some landowners may have land enrolled in the Working Lands PLOTS program,” Kading said. “These lands may contain crop or hay fields, or pastures with cattle. The farmer or rancher needs access to those fields or pastures, especially this time of year.”

One landowner mentioned to Kading that it was difficult for him to get his equipment past a hunter’s vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. “We are just asking hunters to make it easier for landowners by being aware of the surroundings when parking a vehicle,” he said. “You can find a place to park that won’t infringe on the landowner.”

Kading also asks hunters to practice proper etiquette, such as picking up trash and empty shells, and not to clean game in the road ditch or by PLOTS signs. “Hunters must respect the landowners and the land,” Kading added. “This is private property. Keep the land the way you would want it if it was your own.”

Deer Season Questions, Answers

Every year the North Dakota Game and Fish Department receives questions from deer hunters who want to clarify rules and regulations.

Some common questions are listed below. Hunters with further questions are encouraged to call the department at 701-328-6300, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays.

What are the shooting hours? Deer season opens statewide Nov. 9 at noon CST (11 a.m. MST). After opening day, shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

What licenses do I need for deer gun season? A fishing, hunting, and furbearer certificate, the general game and habitat stamp or a combination license, and the deer license. Gratis license holders need only the gratis license.

What licenses do I need to hunt on an Indian reservation and whose rules do I follow? If you will be hunting within the reservation and hunting exclusively on Indian lands, only a reservation license is required and tribal regulations apply. If you will be hunting on land owned in fee-title by a non-Indian within the reservation, a state license is required and all state laws, licenses and regulations apply.

I received a lottery license, and I own land in another unit. Can I hunt on my land in the other unit with my lottery license? Only if the unit in which your land is located adjoins the unit in which you have the lottery license.

My spouse and I each have a gratis license for different pieces of land. Can we hunt on each other’s land? Yes, but only if each other’s land is located within the same hunting unit.

Can I use my first season license during the muzzleloader season? No. The first season license may be used only for the regular deer gun season.

When can additional concurrent, second and third season licenses be used? Hunters possessing these unfilled antlerless deer licenses can use them during the archery season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. These licenses must be used for antlerless deer only, and hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

I can’t find my deer license. What should I do? You must obtain an application for a duplicate license from the Game and Fish Department – by calling 701-328-6300 or printing it off the HSOforum at gf.nd.gov – or from a county auditor. Fill out the form, have it notorized and return it to the department along with a fee. You may not hunt without the deer license in your possession.

I didn’t harvest a deer with my youth season license. Can I hunt the regular deer gun season with this license? Yes, but you are subject to the restrictions listed on the license.

I was unsuccessful in filling my mule deer buck license in a restricted unit during the youth season. Can I hunt the remainder of the state during the regular gun season? No. You are restricted to the same unit as during the youth season.

What if I have an antlerless deer permit and I shoot a deer with two-inch spikes, but I could not see them when I shot? Game wardens have some leeway about what is an antlered deer. However, it is always a hunter’s responsibility to fully identify your target before shooting.

I shot a deer, but it is rotten. What can I do? You must take possession of the animal by tagging it. A license only allows you the opportunity to hunt. It is not a guarantee to harvest a deer, or to the quality of the animal.

What should I do if I find a wounded deer? Contact a game warden. Do not shoot the deer unless you want to tag it, or are instructed by the warden to do so.

Is camouflage blaze orange acceptable for the deer gun season? No. You must wear both a hat and outer garment above the waistline totaling at least 400 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange.

I hunt with a bow. When do I have to wear orange? During the regular deer gun season you must wear orange. During the muzzleloader season, however, bowhunters do not need to wear orange.

Can I hunt road rights-of-way? Do not hunt on road rights-of-way unless you are certain they are open to public use. Most road rights-of-way are under control of the adjacent landowner and are closed to hunting when the adjacent land is posted closed to hunting.

Can I hunt on a section line if it is posted on both sides? No. If the land is posted on both sides, the section line is closed to hunting, but is still open for travel.

Can I retrieve a wounded deer from posted land? If the deer was shot on land where you had a legal right to be and it ran on posted land, you may retrieve it. However, you may not take a firearm or bow with you. The department suggests contacting the landowner as a courtesy prior to entering.

What if the landowner says I cannot retrieve a deer from posted land that was shot on land where I had a right to be? Contact a game warden.

Can I drive off a trail on private land to retrieve a deer? Unless prohibited by a landowner or operator, you may drive off-trail on private land once a deer has been killed and properly tagged. You must proceed to the carcass by the shortest accessible route, and return to the road or trail by the same route. However, off-trail driving is prohibited in all circumstances on state wildlife management areas, Bureau of Land Management lands, national wildlife refuges, national grasslands, federal waterfowl production areas and state school land.

Can I transport someone else's deer? Yes, but you will need a transportation permit from a game warden. The license holder, person transporting the animal, and the carcass must be presented to the game warden before the permit is issued.

What if I am going to take my deer head to a taxidermist and meat to a butcher shop? How do I keep the tag with it all? The tag should remain with the head and the carcass tag should remain with the meat.

May I carry a pistol when I am hunting with a deer rifle? Yes, but the handgun must meet minimum requirements listed in the deer hunting regulations to be legal for taking deer.

How do I carry a revolver in a vehicle when hunting? The cylinder of a revolver must be completely unloaded.

How do I carry a muzzleloader in a vehicle when hunting? Remove the cap from a percussion gun or the powder from the flash pan of a flintlock.

Can I use a bow to fill my regular deer gun license? Yes. You may use any legal firearm or bow during the regular deer gun season.

Can I use a gun to fill my bow license? No. Archery licenses may be filled only with bow and arrow.

Can I carry both bow and gun afield during deer gun season if I have both licenses? Yes, but only if you are going to fill your gun license. To fill your archery license, you may not have a gun in your possession.

Are muzzleloading handguns legal for deer hunting? Yes. They must be .50 caliber or larger.

Are the .22-250 and .243 legal for deer hunting? Yes. Centerfire rifles of 22 caliber or larger are legal.