A Day Hunting or Fishing is a Good Day Regardless of Success

When it comes to conversations about hunting and fishing, it’s pretty easy to understand when someone relates they caught a 5-pound walleye or bagged a limit of mallards. For me, those references bring to mind a stream of different fish and fowl I’ve seen, caught or shot for a comparative point of reference. But when

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Game & Fish Advisory Meetings Coming Up, Your Chance to Share Thoughts

Several decades ago, the state legislature created an advisory board for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. One of the results of that is that each fall and spring, advisory board members host public meetings in their district. These public meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask

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Close of Deer Season an Opportunity to Chase Other Game

When North Dakota’s regular deer gun season closes – this year on Sunday, Nov. 20 – it’s kind of a bittersweet end to the traditional hunting calendar for a lot of folks. But for some avid upland bird hunters, the end of deer gun season is a new beginning of sorts, as most of the

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Keep an Eye Out for Feral Pigs and Report Them Immediately

As thousands of deer hunters fan out across the state over the 16.5-day deer gun season, many others who didn’t draw a license will enjoy some duck and goose hunting before the waters lock up with ice. Pheasant season will continue to provide more field time, along with archery deer hunters too. The North Dakota

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Zebra Mussels are Here, Boaters & Anglers Need to Be Vigilant to Stop the Spread

One of the many North Dakota hometowns I claim is LaMoure, in the southeastern part of the state. The James River runs by just off the western edge of town, and it was there, at a popular fishing spot called the James River Dam site, that some of the first Asian carp in the state

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Learn: Summer Boat Ramp Ettiquette

Even with more places to fish, boat and enjoy the water than ever before in North Dakota, the increase in opportunity also means an increase in anglers, boats and personal watercraft. It’s a unique combination that can lead to isolated problems at boat ramps when everyone has the same idea: Get on the water sooner

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North Dakota Lakes Enter Spring with Healthy Oxygen Levels

It doesn’t take a biology or chemistry degree to understand fish need water, and it’s no secret the expanded wet cycle since 1993 was the key ingredient in creating a modern version of the good old days in terms of fishing in North Dakota. But reduced snowpack and consequently less fresh spring run-off the last

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Recovery of Whooping Crane Population Slow but Visible

A few weeks ago my column explained the transition of documenting bald eagle “sightings” from when they were an endangered species, until now when they are no longer endangered. While bald eagles are of course still protected as a national symbol, they are common enough now that individual sightings no longer warrant a special report,

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Fishing Regulations Set to Change April 1st

The early arrival of spring and ice out on lakes this year is providing some additional days for open-water fishing in North Dakota this year. Along with a new license that is needed starting April 1, a new two-year fishing proclamation also kicks in April 1, with a few noteworthy changes from the last two

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Keep an Eye Out: Spring Time is Eagle Nesting Season!

The first robin sighting of the year is one sign queuing up the exit of winter. And while it’s true that you might spot a robin in North Dakota at any time of year, they are a welcome sign that spring is approaching and winter is on the way out. In recent years we’ve started

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Game & Fish: We May See a Bighorn Sheep Season, So Apply Now

It’s time again for what is affectionately called the “Big Three” application period, and this year has good news on all fronts. The State Game and Fish Department is bumping up the number of elk and moose licenses over last year, and bighorn sheep are back in the mix after a year with no season.

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Game & Fish Observing Nature in Flux

Last week I covered some highlights from the 2015 outdoors scene with a look at pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse populations, plus record fishing license sales. While these were some of the many positive outdoor stories from the past year, there’s seldom a year of “perfect” conditions when most or all species are trending higher across

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Doug Leier: Looking Back on 2015, Forward to 2016

I’ve always enjoyed my final column of the year and first column of the next year, as a kind of closing one door and then looking ahead to what may or may not be coming for the next year.  This year, instead of one review and one preview, I’ll cover the past and future for

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Know the Law: Transporting Big Game

It was a hot August Saturday and I was at the pool with the kids. It was even too hot to fish? Ironically the conversation turned from water and fish to big game during the dog days of summer. My friend was looking at a possible trip to Wyoming or Montana, and even planning years

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Summer is the Season to Get Outside, Don’t Wait!

Each July I promise myself to fish more the rest of the summer. It’s usually because I’m wondering where the first month of summer went and I realize I haven’t gotten out as much as intended … thus far.  I do know I’ve never made it to fall freeze-up and said I’ve spent way too

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ND Outdoors: 2015 Legislative Recap

The 2015 North Dakota legislative session recently wrapped up. While the number of bills related to hunting, fishing, trapping and outdoor recreation was down somewhat from previous years, it was still a busy session as the North Dakota Game and Fish Department tracked 23 outdoors-related bills, 12 of which were passed by both chambers and

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