May ND GNF Newsletter

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Paddlefish Snagging Season to Close to Additional Harvest at 10 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, May 7

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced today that the state's 2008 paddlefish snagging season will be closed to any additional harvest effective at 10 p.m. Central Daylight Time, Wednesday, May 7, 2008, to protect the population level of the fish.

The 2008-10 fishing proclamation allows for the Game and Fish Department director to close the snagging season early if it appears more than 1,000 paddlefish will be harvested. If the season had remained open through the intended closing date of May 31, the harvest cap of 1,000 fish would have been exceeded substantially, putting additional pressure on the existing population.

This marks the seventh time in the past eight years that the season was closed early, in large part due to low river flows caused by the ongoing drought.

An additional snag-and-release season will run for a seven-day period from Thursday, May 8 through Wednesday, May 14. Paddlefish snaggers with an unused paddlefish tag can continue snagging, but must release all fish immediately. If a snagger has already used their tag on a harvested paddlefish, they are not allowed to participate in the additional snag-and-release period. For potential new snaggers, existing paddlefish tag vendors will still have tags available for sale during this additional snag-and-release season.

Snag-and-release will be open only in that area of the Missouri River starting on the north shore from the Confluence boat ramp then east (downstream) one-half mile, and that area of the Missouri River starting on the south shore from the Confluence with the Yellowstone River then east (downstream) one-half mile (both areas will have boundary signs).

Paddlefish snagging is allowed only from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CDT) during each day of the additional seven-day season. No gaffs may be used.

Birding Field Trip Set for May 24

A birding field trip sponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 in Burleigh County, according to Nathaniel Umphrey, department outreach biologist.

The outing is open to 25 people who call and register, and preference is given to those who have never been on the trip before. Participants will be going to McKenzie Slough, Long Lake and the Kimball Bottoms area.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a first-time birder, or a veteran of watching our feathered friends,” Umphrey said.

Participants are asked to bring binoculars, a bird book and a snack, and need to meet at the department at 7 a.m., and can expect to return around noon. The trip is free and transportation will be provided.

Anyone interested in signing up for the field trip should contact Umphrey at 328-6332, or e-mail [email protected].

First Fish Certificate Captures Moment

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is reminding parents to capture their little angler’s first catch on a specially designed First Fish certificate.

First Fish has no qualifying weights or measurements. The only requirement is the successful landing of a North Dakota fish. Certificates are available to all who request them, and they have ample room for all the important information, such as name, age, lake and a short fish story, plus a blank space for a photograph big enough to contain the smile of the happiest little angler.

Free certificates are available by contacting the Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300, or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Youth Conservation Camp Aug. 3-9

The North Dakota Wildlife Federation will hold a youth conservation camp Aug. 3-9 at the Triangle Y Camp near Garrison on Lake Sakakawea. Boys and girls ages 12-16 are invited to participate.

Hands-on activities include archery, canoeing, dog training, fishing, outdoor survival, trapshooting and wetland studies.

Cosponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the camp is limited to the first 80 individuals registered. Cost is $290, which covers all meals and accommodations. For more information, contact the ND Wildlife Federation at 888-827-2557.

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Northern Pike and Walleye Egg Take Exceed Goals

North Dakota Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries crews have completed spring spawning operations with more than enough northern pike and walleye eggs to meet state needs.

Jerry Weigel, fisheries production and development section leader for the Game and Fish Department, said even though they exceeded production goals, the two seasons couldn’t have been more contrasting.

“We had ideal conditions during the week we were taking pike eggs, and the worst conditions for spawning walleye,” Weigel said.

In just six days, crews collected more than 20 million pike eggs from South Eckelson Lake (Barnes County), Alkali Lake (Stutsman County) and Lake Irvine (Ramsey County).

“We had nice warm weather with little or no wind, a lot of eggs and the quality was great,” Weigel said. “In fact, we were able to help Montana and South Dakota by sending them some of our surplus.”

Walleye spawning operations took place in less than ideal circumstances, as snow, strong winds and cold weather were the norm. “More often than not crews were running gear on days with extremely high winds,” Weigel said, while noting a good spawning day was when winds were less than 20 miles per hour. “There were days when conditions did keep us off the water, but you can only wait so long to pull nets once they are in place.”

It took nearly three weeks to finish collecting eggs from Alkaline Lake (Kidder County), Antelope Lake (Pierce County), Lake Sakakawea and Devils Lake. But despite the conditions, the goal of collecting 30 million walleye eggs was reached.

“It wasn’t a good run,” Weigel said. “Egg quality is not looking so good as a result of the brutal conditions.”

Eggs were taken to federal fish hatcheries near Valley City and Riverdale, where eggs will hatch and then be put into rearing ponds as fry. Fingerlings will be distributed to state waters in early June.

Missouri River Safety Day Set for May 31

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Cumulus Broadcasting and Gate City Banks are sponsoring Missouri River SPLASH – a recreation and boating safety event for everyone who enjoys the Missouri River.

The six-hour event will be held May 31 in Mandan from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Moritz Sport and Marine. Displays, hands-on activities, demos, regulations, registrations and prizes are included.

Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the Game and Fish Department, said the event is free, and people of all ages are invited to attend. “It is a great event for the entire family as a lot of public interaction with many different agencies will take place,” Boldt said. “And you don’t have to stay for the entire day. People will be able to come and go as they please.”

Safety on the Missouri River has been a major enforcement issue for the Game and Fish Department, as the number of boaters and jet skiers has almost doubled in the past five years. “More people are using this area because of the low water at Lake Sakakawea, and with more users in a limited space problems are bound to arise,” Boldt said. “Holding this event should alleviate some of the problems.”

An added incentive is for people who bring a completed boating safety exam to the event. “People who pick up a Boat North Dakota safety course, complete the included home-study test and bring it with them on May 31 will be eligible to win a kayak,” Boldt said. “In fact, anyone who shows us a certified boater card is eligible to win a life jacket, tow behind tube or other prizes.”

State law requires youngsters ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor to first pass the state’s Boating Basics Course. In addition, some major insurance companies give adult boat owners who pass the course a premium discount on boat insurance.

Boat North Dakota safety courses are free and available at the Game and Fish Department, or in Bismarck and Mandan at any local boat dealer, all Gate City Bank locations, and at Cumulus Broadcasting.

Spring Mule Deer Survey Complete

North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game biologists recently completed the annual spring mule deer survey. Based on observations, the population index in the badlands continues to remain higher than the long-term average.

Bruce Stillings, big game biologist, Dickinson, said biologists counted 2,649 mule deer in 291 square miles. Mule deer density per square mile was 9.1, a slight decrease from 9.6 in 2007, but significantly higher than the long-term average of 6.6 mule deer per square mile.

Biologists have completed aerial surveys of the same 24 study areas since the 1950s. The survey assists the department in obtaining solid mule deer population data for the badlands, such as demographic trends and production ratios (buck-to-doe and fawn-to-doe).

Mild winters, good production, and a conservative and responsible harvest strategy have provided above-average mule deer density in the badlands.

Game and Fish Provides Darkhouse Spearfishing Stats

The 2007-08 North Dakota darkhouse spearfishing season saw five-year highs in both participation and the number of northern pike harvested.

Nearly 800 participants speared more than 6,300 pike last winter, according to state Game and Fish Department spearfishing data.

The state opened some of its waters to darkhouse spearfishing for the first time in 2001. The season that attracted the most participants (979) and saw the most pike harvested (6,770) was 2002-03.

Improved water clarity on a number of lakes played a large role in participation and success last winter, department fisheries officials said. Morrison Lake is a good example of improved clarity conditions as this Ramsey County fishery topped the list in terms of the number of pike speared in 2007-08. The prior two winters, the pike harvest at Morrison Lake was inconsequential due to turbid conditions.

Other top lakes for darkhouse spearfishing this past winter were Devils Lake, Grass Lake (Richland County), Buffalo Lodge Lake (McHenry County), Lake Sakakawea, and Island Lake (Rolette County).

These top six lakes accounted for 76 percent of the spearing harvest in the state

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Partnership Will Benefit Private Landowners and Wildlife

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has entered into a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Pheasants Forever to create and fund a Farm Bill biologist position in Jamestown.

Stephen Stensgard, a native of Fergus Falls, Minn. has been hired for the position. He is an employee of PF, and will assist NRCS with promotion, planning and implementation of Farm Bill programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Continuous CRP, Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program and others.

Kevin Kading, private lands coordinator for the Game and Fish Department, said Stensgard will function as the person private landowners should call for creating or enhancing wildlife habitat on their land. “Even though this is new, the template has been a proven success in many other Midwestern states,” Kading said. “This position is available to assist private landowners with Farm Bill programs from start to finish. Landowners can work with Stensgard to help develop plans and enroll their land in programs that will benefit their operation and wildlife habitat. The department is very excited about this opportunity with NRCS and PF.”

Farm Bill biologists have been employed with PF since 2005. Currently, 33 are working in seven states – Ohio, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and now North Dakota. Last year, Farm Bill biologists contacted and consulted 5,400 landowners, resulting in the improvement of 310,000 acres of land for wildlife.

Jim Inglis, PF’s Farm Bill biologist coordinator, said in a PF press release that North Dakotans have another resource for conservation information. "Our Farm Bill biologists possess knowledge of federal, state, and local programs that will assist landowners in finding the right program to meet their personal habitat and land use goals," Inglis said.

Michael Collins, assistant state conservationist for field operations with NRCS in Jamestown, said in a recent statement that it is a pleasure to have a Farm Bill biologist in the area to promote wildlife and spark a planning interest on private lands by using a variety of Farm Bill programs. “This is a great example of a cooperative effort with Pheasants Forever, North Dakota Game and Fish and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and we look forward to good things to come," Collins said.

Stensgard, who is located in the Jamestown NRCS area office, has a degree in fisheries and wildlife biology from the University of North Dakota. He has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fergus Falls Wetland Management District in western Minnesota, and as a wildlife biologist technician with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He can be reached by calling 701-252-2121 ext. 129.

Safe Boating Week Emphasizes Need for Life Jackets

There’s no safety substitute for wearing a personal flotation device while recreating on public waters, and the facts prove it.

Safe Boating Week, a public awareness campaign held annually in May, emphasizes the need for boaters to wears life jackets. Failure to wear a PFD is the main reason people lose their lives in boating accidents.

Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the state Game and Fish Department, said the good news is there were no fatalities in North Dakota last year. The bad news is there are still boaters who refuse to wear a life jacket.

“The following statistics should be eye-opening for those who think this is just a bunch of talk,” Boldt said.

· Each year, about 700 people nationwide die in boating-related accidents.

· Nearly 70 percent are caused by drowning, and eight of 10 victims were not wearing a life jacket.

· Also, eight of 10 victims were using boats less than 20 feet in length.

· 70 percent of reported fatalities occur on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.

“The facts speak for themselves,” Boldt said. “Boaters need to take it seriously. And if it’s beginning to sound like a broken record, it means we are doing right by getting the message out.”

North Dakota law requires Coast Guard approved PFDs in the following circumstances:

· On watercraft less than 16 feet in length, one wearable PFD must be on board for each person.

· Anyone being towed on water-skis, surfboard, or a similar device must wear a PFD.

· No person may operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft without each person on board wearing a PFD.

· Watercraft of 16 feet or longer must have one wearable PFD for each person on board, and one throwable flotation device.

· On any vessel less than 27 feet in length, all persons 10 years of age or younger must wear a properly fastened, Coast Guard approved PFD.

Boaters are reminded to test life jackets for serviceability and fit. All straps and buckles must be intact and there should be no rips or tears in the fabric.

“Test life jackets by wearing them in the water,” Boldt said. “A properly fitted life jacket should keep the wearer’s face and mouth out of the water and enable him or her to float without effort.”

Leave Baby Wild Animals Alone

The month of May tends to bring excitement to many North Dakotans, none more so than youngsters with the anticipation of the end of another school year. Many show their enthusiasm by scurrying to play outside, sometimes straying outside the comfort zone but always under the watchful eye of a parent.

Likewise, the same can be said for young animals. Often, well-intentioned humans want to pick up and provide for what appear to be orphaned baby animals. Patrick T. Isakson, nongame biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said more often than not young animals are not abandoned or deserted, and the mother is probably watching nearby.

“First and foremost, it is illegal to take animals out of the wild,” Isakson said. “Secondly, young wildlife are purposely placed into seclusion by their mothers to protect them from predators. It is common practice to think they are left behind, but they are not. The best thing you can do is to leave them alone.”

Deer fawns especially look like they are abandoned. “The mother is most likely close by waiting for you to leave,” Isakson said. “A doe will visit and briefly nurse her fawn a couple times a day because short visits reduce the chances of a predator finding the fawn.”

Whether it is a young fawn, duckling, cottontail rabbit or a songbird, anytime a young wild animal has human contact its chance for survival decreases significantly. Captive animals later returned to the wild will struggle to survive because they do not possess learned survival skills.

Handling wildlife is also risky, Isakson said, as wild animals can transmit a variety of diseases to humans, and aggressive actions are typical of mothers protecting their offspring.

The only time a baby animal should be picked up is if a young songbird is found on a doorstep. If that is the case, the young bird should be moved nearby to suitable habitat.

Citizens should also steer clear of adult wildlife, such as deer or moose that might wander into urban areas. Crowding stresses animals, and this could lead to a potentially dangerous situation.

Also, motorists are reminded to watch for deer along roadways. June is one of the peak months for deer‑vehicle accidents because young-of-the-year animals are dispersing from their home ranges. With deer more active during these months, the potential for car‑deer collisions increase.

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Fishing Remains Popular, Drought an Increasing Concern

Despite North Dakota’s low water levels and ongoing drought concerns, fishing license statistics again show positive results.

In 2007, residents and nonresidents purchased more than 170,000 North Dakota fishing licenses, and including children, about 200,000 people fished state waters. More than one in four residents ages 16 or older bought a fishing license. The number of nonresidents coming to North Dakota dropped slightly, but remains relatively strong with Devils Lake the most popular destination.

“Fishing continues to be popular for many North Dakotans, and the number of anglers coming to fish from out-of-state remains strong,” said Greg Power, state Game and Fish Department fisheries division chief.

The three large fisheries in North Dakota – Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake and Missouri River/Lake Oahe – continue to lead the state in terms of participation, effort and fish harvest. On average, approximately 825,000 walleye are harvested annually from these three water bodies combined.

Despite the importance of the big fisheries, numerous smaller lakes and rivers also play a large role in fishing. North Dakota’s 270 small lakes, reservoirs and rivers account for nearly 50 percent of all fishing effort. “These fisheries are very important locally,” Power said. “In most cases, first time anglers are introduced to a smaller lake in their back yard and not the large fisheries. With good fishing opportunities scattered throughout the state, anglers shouldn’t have to travel far from home to find walleye, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, catfish, trout or panfish.”

License sales have held at a high level since rebounding in the mid-1990s. Power attributes this to a decade of decent water levels across most of the state, some very good years of fish reproduction, and a strong stocking program.

However, of major concern is the growing affect the drought has as it spreads slowly eastward across the state. “With the exception of the extreme southeastern portion of the state, most lakes and reservoirs throughout North Dakota could use more water, and in some cases a lot of water,” Power said. “This is especially evident in the western third and south central portions of the state.”

Statewide, in the past few years at least 30 water bodies have lost their fisheries due to extremely low lake levels. In addition, even some of the larger systems, including Lakes Sakakawea, Oahe and Darling, have been impacted.

“Water is an absolute in supporting fishing opportunities, and though weather patterns will dictate when the impacts of the drought will subside, all efforts to conserve water are essential,” Power said.

Anglers Asked to Cooperate with Creel Surveys

The state Game and Fish Department is currently conducting creel surveys on four North Dakota lakes. Anglers are asked to cooperate with creel clerks and answer questions honestly. Interviews only take a few minutes and information is kept confidential.

A summer creel survey at Odland Dam in Golden Valley County continues through September, and a winter creel begins in December and continues through March, 2009. Scott Gangl, fisheries management section leader, said this is the first creel survey held at Odland. “Information will allow us to evaluate the fishery and the special panfish regulation,” Gangl said.

Creel clerks will conduct interviews at Bowman-Haley Reservoir in Bowman County through September. Results will allow Game and Fish staff to evaluate changes in the fishery since the last creel survey in 1992.

A year-long creel survey at Alkaline Lake in Kidder County runs through April, 2009. “This survey, in conjunction with a tagging study, will provide information on harvest and exploitation of this newly-popular walleye fishery,” Gangl said.

A creel survey at Spiritwood Lake in Stutsman County is ongoing through September. Gangl said this survey will provide updated information since the last creel survey in 1996, and be used to evaluate the fishery and the special length regulations.

“In addition to the unique purposes specific to each lake, creel survey information is useful in assessing angler demographics, harvest and catch rates, catch-and-release information, and angling effort,” Gangl said.

Fishing for Free June 7-8

North Dakota anglers are reminded they can fish for free June 7-8.

That is the weekend North Dakota residents may fish without a license, except for paddlefish. All other fishing regulations apply.

Refer to the 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide for season information.