North Dakota Game and Fish Department Update- Dec. 17, 2018

Tentative 2019 Season Opening Dates

To help North Dakota hunters prepare for hunting seasons in 2019, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department annually provides its best estimate for opening dates for the coming year.

Dates become official when approved by governor’s proclamation. Tentative opening dates for 2019 include:

•Spring Turkey April 13

•Deer and Pronghorn Bow, Mountain Lion Aug. 30

•Dove Sept. 1

•Youth Deer Sept. 13

•Grouse, Partridge, Squirrel Sept. 14

•Youth Waterfowl Sept.14

•Early Resident Waterfowl Sept. 21

•Regular Waterfowl Sept. 28

•Pronghorn Gun Oct. 4

•Youth Pheasant Oct. 5

•Pheasant, Fall Turkey Oct. 12

•Mink, Muskrat, Weasel Trapping Oct. 26

•Deer Gun Nov 8

•Deer Muzzleloader Nov. 29

Fish House Regulations

Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float.

A popular question this time of year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left unattended, it must be able to float; if it’s not able to float, it must be removed when the angler leaves the ice.

Other fish house regulations include:

•Fish houses do not require a license.

•Occupied structures do not require identification. However, any unoccupied fish house must have an equipment registration number issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, or the owner’s name, and either address or telephone number, displayed on its outside in readily distinguishable characters at least three inches high.

•Fish houses may not be placed closer than 50 feet in any direction to another house without consent of the occupant of the other fish house.

•All unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters after midnight, March 15.

•Anglers should refer to the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide for other winter fishing regulations.

Aquatic Bait Regulations  

Anglers are reminded that it is illegal to import minnows and other forms of live aquatic bait into North Dakota.

Anglers should buy bait from a licensed North Dakota retail bait vendor. Bait vendors can properly identify species and have taken steps to ensure all bait is clean of any aquatic nuisance species.

For more information, refer to the 2018-20 North Dakota Fishing Guide, available at license vendors or online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

2017-18 Darkhouse Spearfishing Stats

As anglers begin another winter of darkhouse spearfishing, now is a good time to look back on last winter’s record-breaking season.

The 2017-18 North Dakota darkhouse spearfishing season set records for total participants and northern pike speared, according to statistics compiled by the state Game and Fish Department.

A total of 3,717 participants speared 28,138 pike last winter, besting the totals established during the 2015-16 season of 3,289 participants and 17,269 harvested pike. Average weight of harvested pike was 7 pounds.

The number of anglers who registered was 5,387, and 3,772 of those were from North Dakota. Minnesotans accounted for 1,197. The average age was 45, and 90 percent were male.

Devils Lake and Lake Sakakawea accounted for 30 percent of the spearing harvest in the state.

Spearers are reminded that all individuals who participate in darkhouse spearfishing must first register online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, spearers age 16 and older must possess a valid fishing license.

When a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter is left in the ice when a darkhouse is moved, the area in the immediate vicinity of the hole must be adequately marked by the spearer with a natural object or a brightly painted or colored wooden lath.