03-18-2008, 07:10 PM
Effective April 1, anglers, boaters and personal watercraft users must abide by new regulations intended to prevent the introduction or spread of aquatic nuisance species into and within North Dakota.
ANS include aquatic animals, plants and diseases which are not native to North Dakota and have the likelihood to become well-established if introduced.<br />
Greg Power, fisheries chief for the state Game and Fish Department, said North Dakota does have some problem areas, such as curly leaf pondweed in the Missouri River System, Eurasian water milfoil in parts of the Sheyenne River drainage and common carp in a number of waters.<br />
"In the past, anglers and boaters were encouraged to practice ANS guidelines," Power said. "Now, these guidelines are rules that must be followed. It is vital that water users understand these important requirements. If introduced, ANS can devastate a fishery and cause serious ecological and economic damage to our state."<br />
To comply with these regulations, water enthusiasts must:<br />
"¢ Inspect and remove all aquatic vegetation from boats, personal watercraft, trailers, and associated equipment such as fishing poles and lures before leaving a body of water.<br />
"¢ Remove all aquatic vegetation from bait containers when leaving the water.<br />
"¢ Drain all water from boats and other watercraft, including bilges, livewells and motors, at the ramp site before leaving a water body. The only exception is livewells used to transport game fish or baitfish, and potable water and sewage water which must be disposed of properly.<br />
"¢ Not transport live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation into North Dakota. All water must be drained from watercraft upon entering the state.<br />
"¢ Not dump bait into any North Dakota water.<br />
"¢ Not introduce any fish into North Dakota water.<br />
"¢ Not transport nongame fish (other than legal live baitfish) in water away from the water body in which they were taken.<br />
More ANS information can be found in the 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide and by accessing the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.<br />
For local information contact district fisheries supervisors Fred Ryckman, Williston, 774-4320; Jeff Hendrickson, Dickinson, 227-7431; Jason Lee, Riverdale, 654-7475; Paul Bailey, Bismarck, 328-6688; Randy Hiltner, Devils Lake, 662-3617; Gene Van Eeckhout, Jamestown, 253-6482; Missouri River System supervisor Dave Fryda, Riverdale, 654-7475; or ANS coordinator Lynn Schlueter, Devils Lake, 662-3617.
Anglers Take Note of 2008-10 Fishing Regulations<br />
North Dakota's 2008-10 fishing proclamation has been set with regulations effective April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2010.<br />
The 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide will be available at license vendors by the end of the month.<br />
Notable regulation and administrative rule changes include:<br />
"¢ Any container used to hold bait must be free of aquatic vegetation.<br />
"¢ Spottail shiners are no longer a legal live baitfish.<br />
"¢ Wanton waste is not allowed. No person shall possess any game fish species and then waste, destroy or abandon the edible flesh.<br />
"¢ Two weeks are added to the end of the darkhouse spearfishing season (will now continue through March 15).<br />
"¢ Opened 16 additional lakes to darkhouse spearfishing.<br />
"¢ Removed the maximum size (12 inches in diameter) of a hole used for ice fishing. However, a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter must be adequately marked and visible from a minimum of 150 feet.<br />
"¢ Removed the 14-inch minimum walleye restriction on Lake Elsie, Brewer Lake, Dead Colt Creek Dam, Sprague Lake and Lake Tewaukon. Also removed the 24-inch pike restriction on Sprague Lake and Lake Tewaukon.<br />
"¢ It is illegal to leave fish houses on state-owned or managed land after March 15.<br />
"¢ Regulations are in place to reduce the introduction or spread of aquatic nuisance into or within the state.
Department Evaluates 2007 Deer Season<br />
North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 100,000 deer during the 2007 hunting season, according to statistics released by the state Game and Fish Department.<br />
Deer gun hunters harvested more than 98,100 deer, muzzleloader hunters took more than 1,000, and youth hunters accounted for more than 1,400. Deer bow statistics are not yet available.<br />
The overall hunter success rate was 74 percent.<br />
Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 79 percent, and antlerless whitetail was 71 percent.<br />
Mule deer buck success was 77 percent, while mule deer doe hunters had a success rate of 81 percent.<br />
The success rate for young hunters during the nine-and-a-half day youth season was 45 percent. However, combined with the success rate by youth license holders during the regular season, overall success jumped to 80 percent.<br />
Muzzleloader season hunters had a success rate of 44 percent.<br />
The Game and Fish Department allocated 148,550 deer gun licenses in 2007, and more than 97 percent were issued to hunters.<br />
Department biologists are in the process of determining recommendations for deer licenses in the 2008 deer proclamation, which will be sent to the governor's office for approval in late April.<br />
Deer license numbers are determined by evaluating hunter harvest and deer survey data, deer-vehicle collision reports, depredation reports, and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.
New Fishing, Furbearer Licenses Needed April 1<br />
Hunters, trappers and anglers are reminded that new fishing and furbearer licenses are required April 1.<br />
The dates for the furbearer license coincide with fishing season. The 2008-09 licenses are effective April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.<br />
Licenses can be purchased online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov., and accessing the online services link.<br />
Anglers are also reminded this is the first year of a new two-year fishing proclamation. Refer to the 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide for regulations.
ANS include aquatic animals, plants and diseases which are not native to North Dakota and have the likelihood to become well-established if introduced.<br />
Greg Power, fisheries chief for the state Game and Fish Department, said North Dakota does have some problem areas, such as curly leaf pondweed in the Missouri River System, Eurasian water milfoil in parts of the Sheyenne River drainage and common carp in a number of waters.<br />
"In the past, anglers and boaters were encouraged to practice ANS guidelines," Power said. "Now, these guidelines are rules that must be followed. It is vital that water users understand these important requirements. If introduced, ANS can devastate a fishery and cause serious ecological and economic damage to our state."<br />
To comply with these regulations, water enthusiasts must:<br />
"¢ Inspect and remove all aquatic vegetation from boats, personal watercraft, trailers, and associated equipment such as fishing poles and lures before leaving a body of water.<br />
"¢ Remove all aquatic vegetation from bait containers when leaving the water.<br />
"¢ Drain all water from boats and other watercraft, including bilges, livewells and motors, at the ramp site before leaving a water body. The only exception is livewells used to transport game fish or baitfish, and potable water and sewage water which must be disposed of properly.<br />
"¢ Not transport live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation into North Dakota. All water must be drained from watercraft upon entering the state.<br />
"¢ Not dump bait into any North Dakota water.<br />
"¢ Not introduce any fish into North Dakota water.<br />
"¢ Not transport nongame fish (other than legal live baitfish) in water away from the water body in which they were taken.<br />
More ANS information can be found in the 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide and by accessing the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.<br />
For local information contact district fisheries supervisors Fred Ryckman, Williston, 774-4320; Jeff Hendrickson, Dickinson, 227-7431; Jason Lee, Riverdale, 654-7475; Paul Bailey, Bismarck, 328-6688; Randy Hiltner, Devils Lake, 662-3617; Gene Van Eeckhout, Jamestown, 253-6482; Missouri River System supervisor Dave Fryda, Riverdale, 654-7475; or ANS coordinator Lynn Schlueter, Devils Lake, 662-3617.
Anglers Take Note of 2008-10 Fishing Regulations<br />
North Dakota's 2008-10 fishing proclamation has been set with regulations effective April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2010.<br />
The 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide will be available at license vendors by the end of the month.<br />
Notable regulation and administrative rule changes include:<br />
"¢ Any container used to hold bait must be free of aquatic vegetation.<br />
"¢ Spottail shiners are no longer a legal live baitfish.<br />
"¢ Wanton waste is not allowed. No person shall possess any game fish species and then waste, destroy or abandon the edible flesh.<br />
"¢ Two weeks are added to the end of the darkhouse spearfishing season (will now continue through March 15).<br />
"¢ Opened 16 additional lakes to darkhouse spearfishing.<br />
"¢ Removed the maximum size (12 inches in diameter) of a hole used for ice fishing. However, a hole greater than 10 inches in diameter must be adequately marked and visible from a minimum of 150 feet.<br />
"¢ Removed the 14-inch minimum walleye restriction on Lake Elsie, Brewer Lake, Dead Colt Creek Dam, Sprague Lake and Lake Tewaukon. Also removed the 24-inch pike restriction on Sprague Lake and Lake Tewaukon.<br />
"¢ It is illegal to leave fish houses on state-owned or managed land after March 15.<br />
"¢ Regulations are in place to reduce the introduction or spread of aquatic nuisance into or within the state.
Department Evaluates 2007 Deer Season<br />
North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 100,000 deer during the 2007 hunting season, according to statistics released by the state Game and Fish Department.<br />
Deer gun hunters harvested more than 98,100 deer, muzzleloader hunters took more than 1,000, and youth hunters accounted for more than 1,400. Deer bow statistics are not yet available.<br />
The overall hunter success rate was 74 percent.<br />
Hunter success for antlered white-tailed deer was 79 percent, and antlerless whitetail was 71 percent.<br />
Mule deer buck success was 77 percent, while mule deer doe hunters had a success rate of 81 percent.<br />
The success rate for young hunters during the nine-and-a-half day youth season was 45 percent. However, combined with the success rate by youth license holders during the regular season, overall success jumped to 80 percent.<br />
Muzzleloader season hunters had a success rate of 44 percent.<br />
The Game and Fish Department allocated 148,550 deer gun licenses in 2007, and more than 97 percent were issued to hunters.<br />
Department biologists are in the process of determining recommendations for deer licenses in the 2008 deer proclamation, which will be sent to the governor's office for approval in late April.<br />
Deer license numbers are determined by evaluating hunter harvest and deer survey data, deer-vehicle collision reports, depredation reports, and comments from the public, landowners and department field staff.
New Fishing, Furbearer Licenses Needed April 1<br />
Hunters, trappers and anglers are reminded that new fishing and furbearer licenses are required April 1.<br />
The dates for the furbearer license coincide with fishing season. The 2008-09 licenses are effective April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.<br />
Licenses can be purchased online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov., and accessing the online services link.<br />
Anglers are also reminded this is the first year of a new two-year fishing proclamation. Refer to the 2008-10 North Dakota Fishing Guide for regulations.