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Sharptail, Huns Show Slight Increase, Ruffs Down
– Youth Outdoor Festival Sept. 6 in Minot
– Youth Waterfowl Clinic Sept. 7-8 in Bismarck
– Landowners Seek Doe Hunters
– Upcoming Events
– Game and Fish Media
Sharptail, Huns Show Slight Increase, Ruffs Down
North Dakota hunters should expect to see a slight increase in sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge numbers this hunting season, based on spring survey numbers. However, the ruffed grouse population continues on a downward trend.
The season for sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse and Hungarian partridge opens Sept. 8.
Aaron Robinson, State Game and Fish Department upland game management biologist, Dickinson, said the spring sharptail breeding population was up from last year. However, he said the continued losses of native prairie and acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program are negatively affecting the sharp-tailed grouse population in North Dakota.
Hungarian partridge numbers show a moderate increase from 2011. “Similar to recent years, scouting areas will be critical to success,” Robinson said. “Pockets of decent hunting may be found in areas where multiple pairs reproduced successfully.”
This spring’s statewide ruffed grouse drumming counts took a dip of 37 percent from 2011. The number of drumming males decreased almost 42 percent in the Pembina Hills and 24 percent in the Turtle Mountains.
Biologists are in the process of compiling summer brood date, which provides a more complete assessment of the fall season. Results will be available the first week in September.
The sage grouse and prairie chicken seasons will remain closed in 2012 due to low populations.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sharptails, ruffed grouse and Huns each have a daily limit of three and a possession limit of 12.
Hunters, regardless of age, must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate and general game and habitat license. In addition, hunters age 16 and older need a small game license.
For further season information and regulations, hunters should consult the North Dakota 2012-13 Small Game Hunting Guide.
Youth Outdoor Festival Sept. 6 in Minot
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the sixth annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot.
The event is Thursday, Sept. 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, Game and Fish Pond area.
Department outreach biologist Greg Gullickson, Minot, said this event illustrates the importance of wildlife clubs introducing youth to all the different outdoor activities North Dakota has to offer. “The Minot area clubs are a showcase of different groups getting together with one common goal – providing today’s youth with fishing and hunting opportunities in the outdoors,” Gullickson said.
Kids will have an opportunity to experience a number of activities, including archery, fishing, waterfowl and upland game. “It doesn’t matter if your passion is ducks, deer, fish or pheasants,” Gullickson said. “The Conservation and Outdoor Skills Center at the fair provides the perfect setting.”
Prizes will be awarded and food provided for young outdoor enthusiasts.
For more information, contact Gullickson at (701) 720-1640.
Youth Waterfowl Clinic Sept. 7-8 in Bismarck
The State Game and Fish Department’s Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program is a primary sponsor for a youth waterfowl hunting clinic Sept. 7-8 in Bismarck. Ducks Unlimited is hosting the event.
The clinic is for youth ages 16 and under and their parents, and is held at the DU Great Plains Regional Office. Sessions include duck identification, decoy spreads, hunting gear, duck calling and retriever training. The first 20 kids age 9 and older to register can participate in a training event at Capital City Sporting Clays.
Activities run from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7. The shooting event is Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and from 1-3 p.m.
Preregistration is required by calling DU at (701) 202-8896, or emailing jkross@ducks.org.
The Game and Fish Department’s Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program provides grant dollars to help local communities and organizations fund events that promote youth hunting and shooting sports. For more information, contact outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at (701) 328-6332.
Landowners Seek Doe Hunters
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is currently working with 21 landowners in 17 hunting units across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2012. The current list of landowners has 230 openings for doe hunters.
Participating landowners are located in hunting units 2C, 2D, 2G2, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3, 3C, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4B, 4D and 4E.
The program is not intended for buck hunters, but designed to direct hunters with antlerless licenses to specific areas to reduce deer populations.
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 rifle, muzzleloader 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, 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 openings.
North Dakota’s 2012 regular deer gun season runs from Nov. 9-25. In addition, the archery season extends from Aug. 31 through Jan. 6, 2013; the youth season is from Sept. 14-23; and muzzleloader runs from Nov. 30 – Dec. 16.
Upcoming Events:
Aug. 31: Mountain lion, deer bow seasons open
Sept. 1: Dove season opens, fur harvester class in Dickinson
4: Fur harvester class in Jamestown
6: Fur harvester class in Jamestown, Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot
Complete List of Schedule of Events
Game and Fish Media:
July 2012 North Dakota Outdoors Magazine
North Dakota Outdoors Weekly Webcast: Archery Safety Tips
North Dakota Outdoors Weekly Video: Bow Safety