North Dakota Game & Fish Department News

Try Hunting Doves This Season

Want to take someone new hunting this fall? If so, the upcoming dove season offers a great opportunity to introduce a new hunter to North Dakota’s outdoors.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has a Virtual Dove Hunting Mentor webpage with all the basics, including license requirements, regulations, gear recommendations and tips for finding a place to hunt.

The season opens Sept.1 and continues through Nov. 29.

All dove hunters regardless of age must possess a general game and habitat license, and hunters 16 and older need a small game license.

Hunters are also reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting any migratory game birds, including doves. Those who already HIP registered, prior to hunting the spring light goose or August management take/early September Canada goose seasons in North Dakota, do not have to register with HIP again.

Federal Duck Stamp

Required Sept. 1

A federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older beginning Sept. 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots.

This year’s 2021-22 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, or at license vendors registered with the department’s licensing system. Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors, but can still be purchased at many U.S. Postal Service offices.

The electronic stamp is a purchase item like any other hunting or fishing license. When the purchase is completed the electronic stamp is valid immediately. “Federal Duck Stamp” will be printed on the license certificate, along with an expiration date 45 days from the date of purchase. The actual physical stamp will be sent by postal mail.

The physical stamp is processed and sent by the official duck stamp vendor in Texas, and should arrive to the individual buyer well before the expiration date printed on the electronic license. The physical stamp must remain in possession of the hunter after the 45-day electronic stamp has expired. Individuals with questions regarding the status of their physical stamp can contact the federal duck stamp vendor customer service number at 800-852-4897.

The federal duck stamp has a fee of $25. An additional $2 fee is added to cover shipping and handling costs of the physical stamp.

Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 3

North Dakota’s deer bow season opens Friday, Sept. 3 at noon and continues through Jan. 2, 2022.

Bowhunters can buy a license online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or at vendors linked to the department’s online licensing system.

Hunters should plan accordingly and allow for time to receive their tag in the mail, as this year, the tag will arrive by postal mail, and not over the counter while the customer waits. This applies while purchasing a bow license at a license vendor, or at the Game and Fish Department’s main office in Bismarck.

All archery hunters must have a bow tag in possession before hunting.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands, ground blinds and game cameras on public hunting areas, including displaying an equipment registration number, or the owner's name, address and telephone number, on all equipment left unattended on Game and Fish wildlife management areas.

In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer hunting units 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3C west of the Missouri River, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B and 4C.

Hunters should refer to the 2021 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.

Flowering Rush Found on James and Sheyenne Rivers

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department needs assistance in identifying populations of flowering rush, an aquatic nuisance species, with separate findings by department staff on the James and Sheyenne rivers.

Ben Holen, ANS coordinator, said fisheries staff are actively looking for flowering rush and other ANS species during regular work activities. In addition to these efforts, fisheries management personnel dedicate time solely to ANS detection and surveillance on waters around the state.

Flowering rush can be identified by its umbel cluster of 25-50 pink flowers and can generally be found along shorelines of slow-moving water, but can also grow deeper than three meters under water in some areas of the country.

“We really want to catch these ANS introductions early, because it allows us to have a full assortment of management options, including eradication in some instances,” Holen said. “The more eyes we have on the landscape, the better.

“Under the right conditions, flowering rush can outcompete native vegetation, restrict lake access for shore anglers and impede boating,” he continued. “In canals and drainage ditches, flowering rush has significantly reduced water flow.”

To report a flowering rush sighting or any other ANS visit https://gf.nd.gov/ans/report.

For more information about ANS in North Dakota, visit https://gf.nd.gov/ans.