 New NDHEA newsletter now
available!
The Fall 2011
installation of our quarterly newsletter can be
accessed by
clicking here or by
going to the NDHEA Newsletters page.
NDG&F January
13th Newsletter
Careful When Removing Fish Houses
Early ice fishing reports from many areas of the
state have been promising. However, the North Dakota
Game and Fish Department advises winter anglers to
be cautious when moving or removing permanent fish
houses and travelling on state lakes.
Robert Timian, chief game warden, said an
unseasonably mild winter has caused some ice houses
to already break through the ice. “Record breaking
high temperatures and strong winds this winter have
resulted in inconsistent ice conditions in much of
the state,” Timian said. “Anglers should assess the
need to move their respective ice houses. If ice
conditions on a lake deteriorate, they should check
the weather forecast and consider removing their
house.”
While snow and colder temperatures are yet to come,
those conditions might come too late to help form
solid ice for any length of time. “When we get into
late February, warm weather and longer daylight will
deteriorate ice conditions, causing shorelines that
are already thin to weaken,” Timian said.
“Therefore, we suggest anglers be aware of these
unique winter conditions and be prepared to move, or
even remove their ice houses.”
Whether the ice house is removed now or in two
months, Timian advises anglers to do so before the
ice begins to thaw. “Fish houses can become frozen
into the ice under these conditions, causing some
anglers to only take parts of the house that are
easily retrievable,” he added. “This is
unacceptable. The owner has a legal responsibility
to remove the entire house and its contents.”
Permanent fish houses must be off the ice by
midnight, March 15. Portable fish houses may be used
after March 15 if they are removed daily.
Hunter Ed Instructor Workshops and Banquet
Scheduled
North Dakota Game and Fish Department hunter
education instructors are invited to attend one of
four regional workshops scheduled in 2012.
The workshops are Feb. 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn
in Grand Forks; March 10 at the Ramada Grand Dakota
Lodge in Dickinson; March 24 at the Best Western
Grand International Inn in Minot; and March 31 at
the Ramada Plaza and Suites in Fargo.
Each workshop runs from 1-5 p.m., with registration
beginning at 12 p.m. Instructors are asked to call
the hunter education office in Bismarck to
preregister. Conference invites, agenda and
registration information will be mailed out to all
certified instructors.
Instructors are also reminded of the 28th annual
Hunter Education Instructor Conference and
Recognition Banquet on Feb. 11, 2012 at the Best
Western Ramkota in Bismarck.
Hunter education instructors are volunteers and
provide their expertise and time free of charge.
Volunteer instructors must be 18 or older, have
hunting experience, have not been convicted of a
felony or serious law violation and have
successfully completed a hunter education course.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer hunter
education instructor should call Jon Hanson, hunter
education coordinator, at (701) 328-6316.
Time to Think Boating Basics
Now is a good time for parents with children who
want to operate a boat or jet ski this summer to
have them take the state’s
boating basics course.
State law requires youngsters ages 12-15 to pass the
course before they operate a boat or personal
watercraft with at least a 10 horsepower motor. In
addition, major insurance companies give adult boat
owners who pass the course a premium discount on
boat insurance.
The course is available for home-study from the
North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck
office. Two commercial providers also offer the
course online, and links to those sites can be found
by accessing the department’s website at
gf.nd.gov.
While the home-study course is free, students will
be charged a fee to take it online. The online
provider charges for the course, not the Game and
Fish Department. The fee stays with the online
provider.
Upon completion of the online test, and providing a
credit card number, students will be able to print
out a temporary certification card, and within 10
days a permanent card will be mailed.
The course covers legal requirements, navigation
rules, getting underway, accidents and special
topics such as weather, rules of the road, laws,
life saving and first aid.
For more information contact Nancy Boldt, North
Dakota Game and Fish Department, by email at
ndgf@nd.gov; or call (701) 328-6300.
Watchable Wildlife Checkoff on State Tax Form
North Dakota citizens with an interest in supporting
wildlife conservation programs are reminded to look
for the Watchable Wildlife checkoff on the state tax
form.
The 2011 state income tax form gives wildlife
enthusiasts an opportunity to support nongame
wildlife like songbirds and birds of prey, while at
the same time contributing to programs that help
everyone enjoy all wildlife.
The checkoff – whether you are receiving a refund or
having to pay in – is an easy way to voluntarily
contribute to sustain this long‑standing program. In
addition, direct donations to the program are
accepted any time of year.
To learn more about Watchable Wildlife program
activities, contact the North Dakota Game and Fish
Department at 328-6300; or email
ndgf@nd.gov.
Winners in the NDHEA 2011 Raffle
(click on
picture to see a larger view)
Greg Eider, assistant manager of
Bismarck Scheels, David Morgan, assistant manager of
Bismarck Scheels, on the right Charles Vasicek,
NDHEA Membership Chair.
Bill Titus Golden Boy 22 Mag
Lincoln, ND 58504
Kenny Weinand Golden Boy 22 Mag
Watford City, ND 58854
Ralph Skogland Golden Boy 17 HMR
Watford City, ND 58854
Randy Sagvold Golden Boy 17 HMR
Fort Ransom, ND 58033
Brent Herbal Golden Boy 22 LR
Bismarck, ND 58503
Joel Iverson Golden Boy 22 LR
Valley City, ND 58072
Lavora Keeler Golden Boy 22 LR
Bismarck, ND 58503
Larry Salbert Golden Boy 22 LR
Kathryn, ND 58049
Matt Bosch Golden Boy 22 LR
New Salem, ND 58563
Royce Nelson Golden Boy 22 LR
Bismarck, ND 58501
Keith Domke Receives Hunter
Safety Educator of the Year
(click on
pictures to see a larger view)
Picture on left
"Keith Domke"
Center picture
"Wayne Beyer & Keith Domke"
Picture on Right
"Richard McCabe on left, Keith
Domke center and Don Baasch on
right
Keith Domke of Jamestown
received the North Dakota
Wildlife Federation’s Hunter
Safety Educator of the Year
award during its 76th annual
convention, Jan. 28-29 in
Bismarck. He was nominated by
Stutsman County Wildlife
Federation, Jamestown.
Keith has been involved with the
Hunter Education and Safety
program for 23 years, serving as
a certified gun and bow
instructor and an active
director for the North Dakota
Hunter Education Association.
Keith is active in assisting
other instructors with youth
hunts and range shooting events.
He has trained hunting dogs,
using them to add another
dimension for the youth he takes
on hunts.
Keith's volunteerism began in
the Eagle Scout program and
continues today. He serves as a
scout leader, lends assistance
to the local 4H program, and has
served as a civic leader in
Jamestown.
“Keith Domke has been a mentor
to youth and adults alike,
introducing them to hunting and
sport shooting,” says Rodney
O’Clair, President, NDHEA. “He
is the type of individual every
community wants. Any community
with a person like this is a
lucky one.”
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NDHEA
February 2012 meeting
This years meeting will be February 11th, 2012 at the
Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. You can
download/or view the meeting
agenda here.
NDG&F Information
In Remembrance
Alvin Hottman, 74, hunter education instructor from
Dawson, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2011. He was
certified in 1974, had 24 years of service and was
involved with certifying over 300 students.
Please keep Alvin’s family and friends in your thoughts
and prayers.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the
family at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Napoleon.
Mountain Lion Kitten Shot in Western North Dakota Rural
Home
State Game and Fish Department officials are confirming
that a rural western North Dakota homeowner shot and
killed a 38-pound mountain lion kitten inside his home
on Wednesday evening.
According to chief game warden Robert Timian, upon
returning to his farmstead northwest of Grassy Butte
Wednesday, the homeowner discovered the mountain lion
kitten lying on his couch. The man then grabbed a .22
pistol kept near his doorway, shot the animal, and then
contacted Game and Fish.
Timian said the initial investigation revealed the
garage door was open during the day, and the door from
the garage into the house was open when the owner
returned home. Since the lion apparently killed four
domestic cats in the house, and other domestic cats were
present, it’s possible the lion was attracted to the
house by cat scent coming through the open door, Timian
added.
“This is a very unusual situation,” Timian said. “The
homeowner probably wasn’t in any danger from the small
lion, and he was well within his rights to dispatch it.”
The home is located in an area of North Dakota where
mountain lions are present. While Game and Fish
periodically gets reports of lions in or near
farmsteads, Timian said this is the first one that has
entered a home. The fact that it was a young animal may
have been a factor in its presence around a dwelling.
North Dakota Part of Sage Grouse Conservation Plan
While
southwestern North Dakota is on the edge of the sage
grouse’s native range, the state still has an important
role in improving long-term prospects for this large
upland bird.
North Dakota Lieutenant Governor Drew Wrigley, along
with North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director
Terry Steinwand, attended a meeting in Cheyenne, Wyo.,
last week to participate in discussions about a
region-wide comprehensive sage grouse plan.
“North Dakota will continue to do its part to protect
the sage grouse population and to avoid the need for
endangered species status and the accompanying land-use
restrictions,” Wrigley said.
Because of a long-term population decline throughout
their native range, in 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service considered listing sage grouse under the
Endangered Species Act. The service determined that
listing was warranted, but other species had a higher
priority for federal recovery efforts. The service is
scheduled to revisit sage grouse listing in 2015.
“Sage grouse have had a rough time the past decade or
more, not just here, but in all the Western states where
they exist,” Steinwand said. “While we’re on the
periphery of their range and we don’t have a lot of
these birds in North Dakota, we need to be part of the
long-term population recovery plan.”
Part of that long-term plan is a series of public
scoping meetings scheduled by the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management. Visit the BLM website at
http://www.blm.gov for
information on scoping meetings in North Dakota.
Listing under the ESA basically
means that the federal government would assume primary
management of sage grouse instead of the state,
Steinwand said. “We’re committed to using whatever
resources we can to help get those birds stabilized and
headed in the other direction.”
In North Dakota, Steinwand added, a number of projects
are already underway.
Highlights of Game and Fish involvement over the past
several years include:
- Game and Fish has funded
research over the past six years to determine
species demographics such as survival, nest success,
bird movements and reproduction success.
- Helped form a working
group, in conjunction with a core group of local
landowners, to provide information to agricultural
producers about sage grouse conservation.
- Worked closely with the
Natural Resources Conservation Service and Bureau of
Land Management on extensive sagebrush plantings
designed to connect fragmented areas and provide
incentives to local landowners.
- Provided funding and
piggybacked with federal programs to provide
incentives for private landowners to implement
grazing practices that increase residual grass cover
that benefits sage grouse.
“We’re going to continue our
efforts, in cooperation with other agencies and private
landowners, to work on projects to benefit sage grouse,”
Steinwand said. “It’s in the best interest of all the
states in sage grouse range to keep these birds off the
endangered species list.”
On the Web: Learn more about the Game and Fish
Department’s sage grouse population management efforts
from the pages of North Dakota Outdoors magazine:
Safeguarding Sage Grouse
Tracking Sage Grouse Survival
Sage Grouse Season Could Close
Another 3F2 Mule Deer Tests Positive for CWD
A mule deer taken from unit 3F2 during opening
weekend of the deer gun season has tested positive for
chronic wasting disease.
Dr. Dan Grove, North Dakota Game and Fish Department
wildlife veterinarian, said a hunter shot a doe in
western Grant County and submitted the head for testing
as part of the hunter-harvested surveillance program.
Testing was performed at Michigan State University. As
of Tuesday, Nov. 22, Game and Fish was awaiting
verification of initial tests results from a lab at Iowa
State University.
“According to the hunter, the animal looked healthy,”
Grove said. “It showed no visible signs of having any
health issues.”
This is the third deer to test positive for CWD, and all
three were from taken from unit 3F2 in southwestern
North Dakota. The first two were during the 2009 and
2010 deer gun seasons. All three were within 15 miles of
each other.
“The latest positive emphasizes the importance of
continued monitoring along with current and expanding
CWD restrictions in and around this unit,” Grove said.
The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually
collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in
specific regions of the state. In addition to unit 3F2,
samples during the 2011 deer gun season were collected
from units in the central third of the state.
CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer
family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no
evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans
or livestock.
Early Season on Mountain Lions Closes in Zone 1,
Quota Filled
Mountain lion hunting during the early season in zone 1
is closed immediately. The 10th cat was taken Nov. 12,
filling the zone’s early-season quota.
The late season in zone 1, with a quota of four, opens
Nov. 21.
Zone 1 includes land south of ND Highway 1804 from the
Montana border to the point where ND Highway 1804 lies
directly across Lake Sakakawea from ND Highway 8,
crossing Lake Sakakawea then south along ND Highway 8 to
ND Highway 200, then west on ND Highway 200 to U.S.
Highway 85, then south on U.S. Highway 85 to the South
Dakota border.
The mountain lion season in zone 2, which is the rest of
the state outside zone 1, has no quota and is open
through March 31, 2012.
The mountain lion season is open only to North Dakota
residents. A furbearer or combination license is
required.
Ninth Cat Taken in Zone 1, One More Closes Early
Season
North Dakota’s ninth mountain lion in zone 1 was taken
Nov. 8. If one more is taken from zone 1 before Nov. 20,
the early-season quota of 10 will be reached and
mountain lion hunting in zone 1 will close immediately.
If the final lion is taken before Nov. 20, the state
Game and Fish Department will notify media outlets
announcing the close of the early season in zone 1.
Hunters can also check the number of lions taken in zone
1 by accessing the Game and Fish Department website at
gf.nd.gov.
The late season in zone 1, with a quota of four, opens
Nov. 21. There is no carry-over if the early-season
quota is not filled.
Zone 1 includes land south of ND Highway 1804 from the
Montana border to the point where ND Highway 1804 lies
directly across Lake Sakakawea from ND Highway 8,
crossing Lake Sakakawea then south along ND Highway 8 to
ND Highway 200, then west on ND Highway 200 to U.S.
Highway 85, then south on U.S. Highway 85 to the South
Dakota border.
The mountain lion season in zone 2, which is the rest of
the state outside zone 1, has no quota and is open
through March 31, 2012.
The mountain lion season is open only to North Dakota
residents. A furbearer or combination license is
required.
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