NDGF Newsletter - August 23

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PLOTS Guide Available Online, at Vendors in Early September

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen Guide is available online at the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. In addition, PLOTS Guides will be available at most license vendors throughout the state in early September.

The guide will feature about 1 million PLOTS acres, a level reached in 2007 and maintained each year since.

Because the guide is printed in August and distributed in early September, some PLOTS tracts highlighted in the guide may have been removed from the program since the time of printing. There will also be some PLOTS tracts that will remain in the program, but the habitat and condition of the tracts will have changed significantly. Conversely, Game and Fish may have added new tracts to the program after the guide went to press.

To minimize possible confusion, Game and Fish will update PLOTS map sheets weekly on its website at gf.nd.gov.

Hunters can also view the guide, and find a list of vendors where guides are available, on the website.

The PLOTS Guide features maps highlighting these walk-in areas, identified in the field by inverted triangular yellow signs, as well as other public lands.

The guides are free, and available at county auditor offices and license vendors in the state; by walk-in at the Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office; and at district offices in Riverdale, Harvey (Lonetree), Williston, Dickinson, Jamestown and Devils Lake.

The guides are not available to mail, so hunters will have to pick one up at a local vendor, or print individual maps from the website.

 

Agencies Prohibit Hunting over Bait

Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.

In addition, the governor’s proclamation relating to chronic wasting disease includes a provision that prohibits hunting big game over bait on both public and private land in deer Unit 3F2, where a deer carrying CWD was harvested last fall.

Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of baits for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting.

Baits include but are not limited to grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay or any other natural or manufactured foods. It does not apply to the use of scents and lures, water, food plots, standing crops or livestock feeds being used in standard practices.

 

Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 3

North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 3 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas.

The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with. Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff's department.

Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer Unit 3F2, where a deer carrying chronic wasting disease was harvested last fall.

The archery season is open through Jan. 2, 2011. Hunters should refer to the 2010 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.



Youth Outdoor Festival in Fourth Year

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will usher youngsters into fall during the fourth annual Youth Outdoor Festival in Minot.

The event is Sept. 2 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 in 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.