NDGF Latest News Release

Remaining Doe Licenses Issued First-Come, First-Served
More than 38,000 antlerless deer gun licenses are still available after the North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently completed its lottery drawing. These remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limit to the number of licenses a hunter can receive.

Hunters can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications will be available by Aug. 22 from Game and Fish offices, county auditors and license vendors. Hand delivered applications will not be processed at the department while the applicant waits. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply.

Hunters are reminded that these additional doe licenses can be used 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. Hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

Remaining doe licenses in units 2C and 2D can be used during the seven-day September antlerless deer gun season (Sept. 26 – Oct. 2). Hunters are restricted to either unit 2C or 2D.

The regular deer gun season begins at noon Nov. 7.

Unit	Type	Available	Unit	Type	Available
1	B	1040	3B1	F	120
2C	B	5760	3B3	D	860
2D	B	2180	3C	D	80
2E	B	3670	3D1	D	140
2F1	B	3390	3D2	D	170
2F2	B	1060	3E1	B	110
2G	B	450	3E1	D	800
2H	B	1290	3E2	B	110
2I	B	1410	3E2	D	900
2J1	B	70	3F1	B	220
2J2	B	2980	3F1	D	820
2K1	B	400	3F2	D	670
2K2	B	5140	4E	D	170
2L	B	1050	4E	F	50
3A1	B	60	4F	D	270
3A2	B	650	4F	F	270
3A4	B	2170

Landowners Seek Doe Hunters
North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game biologist Bill Jensen is currently working with a number of landowners across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2008.

“We are hoping to match landowners who want a good deer harvest with antlerless whitetail and mule deer hunters looking for a place to hunt,” Jensen said. “We have worked with several dozen landowners in the past, and most have reported good success in matching up with doe hunters.”

This program is not intended as a guide service for buck hunters, Jensen said, but to direct antlerless hunters to specific areas to reduce deer depredation problems in the future.

“These landowners have contacted us and asked for help in reducing the deer population in their areas,” Jensen said. “We’re happy to direct some hunters to them, but we don’t want them to be overrun either. This is the reason we have developed and set up the contact list.”

Landowners participating in the program are located in hunting units 2C, 2E, 2G2, 2I, 2J1, 2J2, 2G2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4D, 4E and 4F.

Interested hunters can get their name on a list of possible participants by accessing the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Hunters who do not have Internet access can call the department’s main office in Bismarck at 701-328-6300.

Hunters will provide their address, hunting unit(s) where they hold valid antlerless licenses, and if using firearm or bow. From this list the department will select the number of hunters landowners have agreed to host. These hunters will be sent the landowner’s name, phone number and any information relating to the landowner’s specific situation.

Not everyone who signs up will end up with a new place to hunt, Jensen said, because not everyone’s schedule will match up with a landowner’s, and more people will likely put their name on the list than there are landowners.

North Dakota’s 2008 deer gun season runs from Nov. 7-23. In addition, a September antlerless deer gun season is open from Sept. 26 – Oct. 2 in hunting units 2C and 2D. The archery season extends from Aug. 29 through Jan. 4, 2009; the youth season is from Sept. 12-21; and muzzleloader runs from Nov. 28 – Dec. 14. 

Deer, Pronghorn Archery Seasons Open Aug. 29
North Dakota’s deer and pronghorn archery seasons open Friday, Aug. 29 at noon, and hunters should refer to the 2008 deer and pronghorn hunting guides for season information and regulations.
The pronghorn archery season runs through Oct. 5, while the archery deer season is open through Jan. 4, 2009.

Bow hunters are reminded of a few proper etiquette guidelines for using tree stands: do not erect or use tree stands on private property without landowner permission; follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas; do not use the tree stand of another hunter without that hunter’s permission; and do not remove or tamper with a tree stand without the owner’s or landowner’s permission.

Tree stands are private property, and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff's department.

The Game and Fish Department made available 149,400 deer gun licenses to hunters this fall. Bowhunters are reminded that those individuals with additional concurrent season doe licenses can use these during the archery season in the designated hunting unit.

Hunting Big Game over Bait Prohibited on WMAs, Other Public Lands
With big game hunting seasons fast approaching, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters that hunting big game over bait on state wildlife management areas is prohibited.

In addition, hunting over bait is also not allowed on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, all North Dakota state school lands, and all North Dakota state park lands.

Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of baits for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting.

Baits include but are not limited to grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay or any other natural or manufactured foods. It does not apply to the use of scents and lures, water, food plots, standing crops, or livestock feeds being used in standard practices.

BOW, Delta Waterfowl to Host Waterfowl Workshop
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program and Delta Waterfowl are sponsoring a waterfowl hunting workshop Sept. 27-28 in Minot.

Saturday’s events will include instruction on waterfowl identification, firearm safety, hunting with decoys and calling birds. Sunday will feature a mentored hunt, followed by cleaning game.

Women interested in participating in the workshop must have a firearms safety certificate, 2008 hunting license and duck stamp. Waders or rubber boots are recommended. Shotguns and ammunition will be provided if necessary.

The workshop is open to the first 20 woman ages 18 or older to register. The cost is $20, and preregistration with payment is required.

For more information contact Nancy Boldt, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, at 701-328-6312; or email ndgf@nd.gov.

Registration forms are available on the Game and Fish website (gf.nd.gov) by accessing the education/outreach link.