Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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Outdoor notes: *Reminder that it’s illegal to chase, harass, or pursue any wildlife species with motorized vehicle. *Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night. Tournaments: *Jan. 14: Lake Josephine. *Jan. 28: Devils Lake, 6-Mile Bay. Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 3: 1,449.37 feet above mean sea level (MSL). *Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.32 MSL. *Lake Sak...
When the phone rings or the inbox pings, it's reminiscent of unwrapping a Christmas present. I literally have no idea what's behind the rings and pings. It's one part of my job that truly keeps me on my toes and I enjoy it. Questions about regulations, to the hottest fishing bite, or simply a random wildlife observation, I just never know what's coming. As the saying goes, I truly believe there's no such thing as a silly question. There isn't. The phone conversations allow for a more natural...
The lessons learned coming out of the drought in 2022, where a wet spring spurred regrowth of upland grasses and the thickening of the cattail sloughs which remained on the landscape, are many. Foremost among them came with the pleasant surprise of many upland hunters who found higher numbers of pheasants in their favorite stomping areas where good cover and loafing grasses reestablished over the summer months following the vernal soaking. While in the moment, the teachings of nature may be...
Outdoor notes: *Reminder that it’s illegal to chase, harass, or pursue any wildlife species with motorized vehicle. *Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night. Tournaments: *Jan. 7: Devils Lake. *Jan. 14: Lake Ashtabula, Sibley Crossing; Lake Josephine. Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 27: 1,449.37 feet above mean sea level (MSL). *Stump Lake ele...
I quit blaming Mother Nature years ago for nasty weather and started pointing the finger at Old Man Winter. Not that it mattered but it seemed fair, even though we have no control over the weather. For man and beast on the prairie, a winter that starts late and ends early with a few drifts of life-bearing moisture and short cold snaps mixed in is about as much as we can ask for. Anyone who’s grown up around here knows we adjust to the cold and the snow. From warming up the truck a little, to m...
Outdoor notes: *Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night. *Reminder that it’s illegal to chase, harass, or pursue any wildlife species with motorized vehicle. *Dec. 30: Missouri River Canada Goose Zone season closes. *Dec. 30: Light goose season closes. *Dec. 31 & Jan. 1: Free fishing weekend. N.D. residents can fish for free. *Jan. 1: Pheasant, grous...
7-25 Watercraft registrations North Dakota watercraft owners should note that 2023 is the first year of a new three-year registration period. Watercraft registrations must be renewed online by visiting My Account at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. A credit card is required. The price to register motorboats in North Dakota under 16 feet in length, and all canoes, is $18; motorboats from 16 feet to less than 20 feet in length is $36; and motorboats at least 20 feet in length is $45. Fees are prorate...
Outdoor notes: *Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night. *Dec. 22: Western Canada Goose Zone season closes. *Dec. 30: Missouri River Canada Goose Zone season closes. *Dec. 30: Light goose season closes. *Jan. 1: Pheasant, grouse, partridge, turkey, and archery deer seasons close Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 13: 1,449.2 feet above mean sea leve...
Darkhouse spearfishing registration Individuals required to possess a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) to darkhouse spearfish must first register online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Northern pike and nongame fish are legal statewide, while walleye can be speared at only Stump Lake and the Devils Lake complex south of U.S. Highway 2 and the Missouri River System (including lakes Oahe and Sakakawea and the Missouri River) up to the first vehicular bridge. Spearers and anglers are reminded that...
Outdoor notes: *Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night. *Dec. 17: Canada Goose Eastern Zone season closes. *Dec. 22: Western Canada Goose Zone season closes. Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, Dec. 6: 1,449.24 feet above mean sea level (MSL). *Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.21 MSL. *Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,831.82 MSL; 15,900 cubic feet per second average (...
Late season pheasant hunting is by far my favorite. The throngs of people have disappeared from the landscape as colder, snowier, and windier conditions generally keep the fair weather uplanders inside watching football on the weekends. Access to places both public and private – with the demands of deer season now subsided – is far more open and landowners are often welcoming once their tags are punched, and the holidays are upon us. Taking the time to introduce yourself and explore those rel...
We have the perfect ice building weather starting this week. With that and so many out on the ice already finding success the ice fishing season is in full swing. For me, especially never knowing when the ice will be safe enough, I usually don't schedule anything until mid-December. I have booked a couple early bird trips starting this week so my reports will be more detailed. Devils Lake is starting to clear up under the ice and the fish ate beginning to bite. Lake Oahe is showing signs of...
While the spring trap shooting season – be it organized through the North Dakota State High School Clay Target League ("ND CTL" at ndclaytarget.com) – or via a local shooting sports club, may be a few months off, those avid young shotgunners are already chomping at the bit for more competition and excitement behind the trap house. With high school leagues starting in March this year, it really won't be too long until those seasons start, and the holidays are the right time to help an avid tra...
Outdoor notes: *Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges, and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night. *Reminder that most roads and trails closed to hunting if posted on both sides. *Hunters reminded to put identification on tree stands and blinds when set up on N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs. *Dec. 10: High Plains Unit duck, coot, and merganser seasons open. *Dec. 11: Muzzleloader deer season closes. *...
Fishing tournaments require 30-day notice Organizers planning fishing tournaments, including ice fishing contests this winter, must submit an application, along with fishing tournament regulations, to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at least 30 days prior to the start of the event. The 30-day advance notice allows for review by agency staff to ensure the proposed tournament will not have negative biological consequences, or conflicts with other proposed tournaments for the same location and/or time. Fishing tournaments may not occur...
While shooting the breeze in between rounds of trap this fall, one shooter explained his use of livescope sonar under the ice last season to pick off schools of perch on a favorite water we both shared throughout much of our winter fishing time. He'd simply drill the holes, drop the transducer, spin it around and find the pods of roving perch in the basin. Then he'd move in the general direction of the school, punch another hole, and catch a handful before they moved on, repeating the process...
People are venturing out on the small ponds and a few areas up here on and around Devils Lake already. The ice isn't great, but we are seeing 3 to 6 inches of it. The further north we go, the more ice we are seeing. One of the problems we are dealing with and are going to see early on especially up here on Devils Lake is that the water is pretty dirty from all the wind we had prior to the lake freezing over. This usually slows the bite down right away. Our sunlight is limited the way it is and...
I remember the early morning mental image as clear as the ringing in my head that followed. Walking over to pick up the auger from the last in my line of ice holes, I was suddenly staring at my boots pointing skyward and felt the impact along my shoulders and the back of my head against the hard surface of the frozen lake. The flash in my field of vision that followed with the pain and dizziness suggested a concussion, and the rest of the day on the ice was a blur. Young and invincible I waived...
Outdoor notes: *It is illegal to chase, harass, and pursue any wildlife species, including coyotes, with snowmobile or tracked vehicles. *Reminder that most roads and trails closed to hunting if posted on both sides. *Hunters reminded to put identification on tree stands and blinds when set up on N.D. Game & Fish Dept. WMAs. *Nov. 29: Dove season closes. *Dec. 1: Snowmobile N.D. trails open, snow conditions permitting. Go to their website, (snowmobilend.org) and click “Trail conditions” for inf...
It's strange how one day in November, you can be staring out at a beige and brown field, watching deer move back and forth, going about their annual chase in an effort to beget the next generation; and then the next day, staring silently as drifts and drifts of white grow in the front yard, pinning you indoors until the first plows make their way to the neighborhood. It doesn't always happen in November, sometimes it's late December, right around the holidays, or as it was last spring,...
It was my third trip to eastern Montana in as many weeks. The week leading up to the gun opener I had high hopes of shooting a dandy mule deer buck. During the archery season, I had snuck in to 70 yards on him twice, but never was able get in closer for a shot. The night before the gun opener, I thought for sure I would glass him up the next morning, sneak in within 300 yards, and be packing him out by noon. It was a foolish idea to think it would be that easy, but I have always been guilty of...
The holiday shopping season is underway, and while a number of big-ticket items such as new ice augers, shotguns, and other fishing and hunting must haves top the list of anglers and hunters, its those little items that bring a gleam to any sportsman's eye when they empty their stocking on Christmas morning. With a target price range of $20 to $30, these little gifts are perfect for that hunter or angler on your list and will keep them well stocked for their favorite seasons. Spoon Selection...
It’s strange how one day in November, you can be staring out at a beige and brown field, watching deer move back and forth, going about their annual chase in an effort to beget the next generation; and then the next day, staring silently as drifts and drifts of white grow in the front yard, pinning you indoors until the first plows make their way to the neighborhood. It doesn’t always happen in November, sometimes it’s late December, right around the holidays, or as it was last spring, mid-Apr...
From deer to ducks and pike to perch, hunters and anglers must take only their own daily limit or fill their own deer tag. For as long as I can remember, party hunting, group fishing or any other way to describe it has never been legal in the state. In North Dakota there is no legal distinction between shooting someone else’s deer, and catching an extra fish to “help” your buddy fill out. Once a hunter or angler has reached the limit, he or she cannot legally shoot or catch anything th...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this fall at eight locations across the state. In addition, the district 7 meeting in Bismarck will be streamed live on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. For the statewide livestream, questions can be submitted via chat during the meeting. The District 3 meeting, which...
