North Dakota Pronghorn Season Set, Online Apps Available

Male Pronghorn 

North Dakota’s 2015 pronghorn hunting season is set, with 410 licenses available in three open units, according to Jeb Williams, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department.

Along with unit 4-A, which was the only open unit in 2014, units 3B and 4C will hold a limited number of licenses. A total of 250 licenses are available in 4-A, 100 in 3B and 60 in 4C. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn.

Similar to last year, the three units will have a season that is split into an early “bow-only” portion, and a later gun/bow season.

The bow-only portion of the season is from Sept 4 (noon) – Sept. 27. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.

From Oct. 2 (noon) – Oct.18, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or bow equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.

Survey results indicated the number of pronghorn in the primary range was similar to last year, Williams said.

“Pronghorn in the three units have maintained a high buck-to-doe ratio, so we are having another limited season to take advantage of a surplus number of bucks and provide hunting opportunity, while still encouraging population growth,” Williams said.

Game and Fish biologists surveyed more than 9,900 square miles, which covers 100 percent of the primary range for pronghorn in North Dakota. The buck-to-doe ratio remained stable at 44 bucks per 100 does.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a 2015 pronghorn license. Williams said people who have accumulated bonus points and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points.

In addition, state law allows youth who turn age 12 on or before December 31, 2015 to apply for a license.

Applicants can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications will be available the week of July 20 for printing off the website, and from Game and Fish offices, county auditors and license vendors, or by calling 800-406-6409.

The pronghorn license fee is $30, and the deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 5.

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North Dakota’s 2013 deer season is set, Apply soon

North Dakota’s 2013 deer season is set, with 59,500 licenses available to hunters this fall, 5,800 fewer than last year and the lowest since 1983.

Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the State Game and Fish Department, said after a significant reduction in gun licenses in 2012, harvest and survey data revealed deer populations are still below management objectives in most units.

“The statewide hunter success rate in 2012 was 63 percent, which is higher than in 2011 (52 percent), but is still lower than our goal of 70 percent,” Kreil said. “The decrease of licenses in 2013 is necessary to allow deer populations to increase toward management goals.”

Winter aerial surveys showed deer numbers were down from 2011 levels in the northern and eastern portions of the state, specifically units 1, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2K1, 2K2, and 3A1. Kreil said although deer are still below management objectives in 2A, 2F1 and 2F2, aerial surveys showed numbers were slightly above levels recorded in 2011 or 2012.

“The winter of 2012-13 was severe in the northern and eastern portions of the state, which will impede population recovery in those areas,” Kreil said. “Furthermore, high quality deer habitat continues to be lost statewide and will limit the potential for population recovery.”

Currently, all hunting units in the state are below management objectives except in 3E2, 3F1, 3F2 and 4F.

Out west, mule deer licenses in the badlands will decrease slightly this year. As was the case last year, no antlerless mule deer licenses are available in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. This restriction applies to regular gun, resident and nonresident any-deer bow, gratis and youth licenses.

According to Kreil, the spring mule deer survey did show positive trends, with numbers up 15 percent over last year. “This modest increase indicates the mild winter of 2011 and no doe harvest in 2012 might be having a positive effect on the mule deer herd,” he added. “With the no-doe-harvest regulation remaining in place for 2013, there may be some reason for optimism concerning mule deer.”

Hunters are able to draw one license for the deer gun season and one for the muzzleloader season, and purchase an archery license. Like last year, there is no concurrent season and a hunter cannot receive more than one license for the deer gun season.

The number of licenses available for 2013 is 1,150 antlered mule deer, a decrease of 50 mule deer licenses from last year; 1,166 for muzzleloader, down 116 from last year; and 115 restricted youth antlered mule

North Dakota’s 2013 deer gun season opens Nov. 8 at noon and continues through Nov. 24. Online applications for the regular deer gun, youth, muzzleloader, and resident gratis and nonresident landowner seasons will be available May 13 through the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Also, paper applications will be at vendors throughout the state the week of May 13. The deadline for applying is June 5.

Bow hunters should note that both resident and nonresident archery licenses this year are available only through the department’s Bismarck office or website, or by calling (800) 406-6409. Archery tags will not be sold over the counter at license vendor locations in 2013.

Gratis and nonresident landowner applicants will want to take note of a new law passed recently by the state legislature. House Bill 1131 reduces the number of acres required to qualify from 160 to 150. In addition, gratis applications received on or before the regular deer gun lottery application deadline (June 5) will be issued any-legal-deer license. Applications received after the deadline will be issued based on licenses remaining after the lottery – generally only antlerless licenses remain.

HB 1131 also allows residents who turn age 12 in 2013 to receive an antlerless white-tailed deer license, and allows an individual who turns 14 this year to receive one deer license valid for the youth deer season. Previously, a young hunter had to turn the appropriate age prior to the end of the respective big game season.

deer, a decrease of five from last year.

North Dakota Upcoming Outdoor Events Calendar

Image via Wikipedia

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 11: Elk regular season - late part (Unit E1) closes

11: Moose regular seasons (Units M5, M6) close

31: Elk regular seasons (Units E2, E5) close
31: Any elk extended seasons (Units E3, E4) close

Complete List of Schedule of Events

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North Dakota Outdoors Upcoming Events Calendar

Image via Wikipedia

Upcoming Events:

Nov. 3 Bighorn sheep bow only and regular seasons close 
4: Deer gun season opens
4: Any elk extended seasons (Units E3, E4) open

5: Bobcat firearms, traps and archery seasons open
6: Daylight Savings Time ends - Set clocks back 1 hour
13: Sandhill crane zone 1 closes

Complete List of Schedule of Events

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• North Dakota Upcoming Outdoor Events (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Nebraska-Application Period Underway for Deer, Elk and Antelope Draw Units (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

North Dakota: Public 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.

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.

North Dakota Upcoming Outdoor Events

Outdoor Information Supersite: Family-Outdoors

Upcoming Events:

Oct. 14: Public sight-in day, BMRPA Moffit Range.14: Bighorn sheep bow only season opens. 8-14: Nonresidents may not hunt state wildlife management areas and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) areas.15: Pheasant delayed season opens.

21: Bighorn sheep regular season opens.22: Public sight-in day, BMRPA Moffit Range.22: Mink, muskrat, and weasel trapping seasons open.23: Fall crow season closes.23: Sandhill crane zone 2 closes.

Complete List of Schedule of Events