A fun howl-o-ween program will be held at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge on Friday evening. At Audubon refuge, as dusk creeps across the sky and breezes relax, night life is awakening on nature's wild side.
Kids are invited out for an evening of fun and learning about the animals that are active at night bats, owls, coyotes, and creepy crawlers. Two programs will be held: pre-school through grade four from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and grades five through seven from 7 to 9 p.m.
Participants will create a spooky craft, learn about creepy critters, and take a nocturnal nature hike as part of the program. Bring a flashlight. There is no charge for this program and all participants must pre-register by calling 442-5474 ext. 117.
-------------------
CWD surveillance continues in 2011
The state Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2011 hunting season, by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis from 12 units in North Dakota. In addition, all moose and elk harvested in the state are eligible for testing.
Samples from hunter-harvested deer taken in the central portion of the state will be tested from units 2H, 2I, 2J1, 2J2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3 and 3C. In addition, deer will be tested from units 2C and 2D in the northeast, and unit 3F2 in the southwest. Every head sampled must have either the deer tag attached, or a new tag can be filled out with the license number, deer hunting unit and date harvested.
Minot area hunters are encouraged to drop off deer heads at the following locations:
- Bottineau Mattern Family Meats
- Granville S&E Meats
- Harvey Lonetree Game and Fish district office
- Minot S&K Processing, Hensen's Fur and Leather
- Parshall Myers Custom Meats
- Riverdale Riverdale Game and Fish district office
- Turtle Lake Barry's Jack and Jill
- Upham J. Clark Salyer NWR office
- Westhope Country Meats
Moose and elk heads should be taken to a Game and Fish office.
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.
-----------------------
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.
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.