Physically Challenged Children's event
The 23rd annual Physically Challenged Children's Fishing Event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery.
The fishing event will take place in a hatchery pond stocked with rainbow trout. The Great Planers Trout and Salmon Club will be providing lunch and prizes donated by area businesses. All fishing tackle, including bait, will be provided.
To pre-register for the event call the Garrison Dam National Fish hatchery at 654-7451. Registration is requested to be made no later than Thursday, Sept. 13.
Deer season for young hunters opens Sept. 14
Friday, Sept. 14, at noon signals the start of a 9 1/2 day deer hunting season for youth ages 12-15.
Licensed youth ages 12 and 13 are allowed to hunt statewide, but only for antlerless white-tailed deer. Deer hunters age 14 or 15 with a "youth season" license can hunt statewide for any deer, except antlerless mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. In addition, a special license is required to hunt antlered mule deer in those same units.
After opening day, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Solid daylight fluorescent orange vests or coats, and hats are required for all young hunters and their adult mentors.
Each youth deer hunter must be under direct supervision of an adult while in the field.
In addition to the deer license, hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and hunting certificate. The youth deer season closes Sunday, Sept. 23.
Nest box workshop at Audubon Refuge
Area youth are invited to attend a nest box building workshop at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge. The workshop is set for Thursday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and features tree swallow/bluebird nesting boxes. Pre-cut lumber will be available for each youth that has pre-registered for the workshop. Youth will nail the boxes together, and take them home where the nest boxes will provide a great opportunity for families to watch birds.
Those who are interested in attending this workshop must pre-register by Sept. 17 by calling 442-5474, ext.110. A limited number of pre-cut boxes will be available. There is no charge for this workshop. In case of inclement weather, the workshop will be moved indoors. Audubon National Wildlife Refuge is located 3 miles north of Coleharbor on U.S. Highway 83 and 1 mile east.
Sandhill crane season opens Sept. 15
North Dakota's sandhill crane season opens Sept. 15. Hunters are urged to use caution and identify birds to prevent shooting at whooping cranes as they begin their fall migration.
The sandhill crane season is open through Nov. 11 in Unit 1 (west of U.S. Highway 281), and through Oct. 21 in Unit 2 (east of U.S. 281). Limits are three daily and six in possession in Unit 1, and two daily and four in possession in Unit 2. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day through Nov. 3. Beginning Nov. 4, shooting hours are extended until 2 p.m. each day.
In addition to other licenses required, prospective hunters need a $5 crane permit. Hunters can apply online at (gf.nd.gov). Harvest Information Program certification is required. To get HIP certified, access the department's website, or call (888) 634-4798.
Youth Waterfowl Weekend held Sept. 15-16
North Dakota's two-day youth waterfowl season is Sept. 15-16. Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger can hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers statewide. The daily bag limit and species restrictions for the youth season are the same as for regular duck and goose seasons.
Resident and qualifying nonresident youth waterfowl hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. In addition, all youth hunters must be Harvest Information Program certified, and youth ages 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course. Hunters age 15 and younger do not need a federal duck stamp.
Shooting hours for the youth waterfowl season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the resident youth hunter into the field, and a licensed adult is required to accompany a nonresident youth hunter. Landowners seek doe hunters
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is currently working with 21 landowners in 17 hunting units across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2012. The current list of landowners has 230 openings for doe hunters. Participating landowners are located in hunting units 2C, 2D, 2G2, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3, 3C, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4B, 4D and 4E. The program is not intended for buck hunters, but designed to direct hunters with antlerless licenses to specific areas to reduce deer populations.
Interested hunters can get their name on a list of possible participants by accessing the Game and Fish Department's website at (gf.nd.gov). Hunters who do not have Internet access can call the department's main office in Bismarck at 328-6300.
Not everyone who signs up will end up with a new place to hunt, because not everyone's schedule will match up with a landowner's, and more people will likely put their name on the list than there are openings. North Dakota's 2012 regular deer gun season runs from Nov. 9-25.
2012 North Dakota waterfowl regulations set
North Dakota's 2012 waterfowl season has been set, with season details similar to last year. The only significant changes are the daily limit on scaup has increased from two to six, and a waterfowl rest area in Rolette County has been eliminated.
Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 22 for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Sept. 29. The season for swans opens for both residents and nonresidents Sept. 29.
Mike Johnson, game management section leader for the State Game and Fish Department, said duck numbers look good this year.
"Overall waterfowl prospects are tough to predict," Johnson said. "How the season progresses depends on weather conditions and migration patterns. We have high numbers of ducks in the state right now but it's important to remember that one-third of these are blue-winged teal and many will leave before the season begins."
Hunters may take six ducks per day with the following restrictions: five mallards of which two may be hens, three wood ducks, two redheads, two pintails and one canvasback. For ducks, the possession limit is twice the daily limit. The daily limit of five mergansers may include no more than two hooded mergansers. The waterfowl rest area 4 miles north of Rolette has been eliminated.
The hunting season for Canada geese in the Missouri River zone will close Dec. 28, while the remainder of the state will close Dec. 20. The season for whitefronts closes Dec. 2, while the season on light geese is open through Dec. 30. Shooting hours for all geese are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day through Nov. 3. Beginning Nov. 4, shooting hours are extended until 2 p.m. each day.
Extended shooting hours for all geese are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays through Nov. 28, and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from Dec. 1 through the end of each season.
The daily bag limit for Canada geese during the regular season is three, with six in possession. The daily limit on whitefronts is two with four in possession, and light goose is 20 daily, with no possession limit.
The special youth waterfowl hunting season is Sept. 15-16. All migratory bird hunters, including waterfowl, must register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Hunters purchasing a license from the Game and Fish Department can easily get a HIP number. Otherwise, hunters must call (888) 634-4798. A HIP numbers is required only once per year.