Last season's cottontail harvest was 13,918, a decrease of 31 percent from 20,032 in 2003. Number of hunters was down 30 percent to 2,942, compared to 4,175 in 2003. Kill per hunter was 4.7, down from 4.8.

Counties with the highest percentage of cottontails taken by resident hunters in 2004 were Cass, 11.1 percent; Walsh, 8.3; and Barnes, 7.5. Top counties by nonresident hunters were Emmons, 33.3; and Grant and Hettinger, 25.0.

The 2004 tree squirrel harvest was 7,492, down 25 percent from 9,927 in 2003. Number of hunters was down 23 percent to 1,708, compared to 2,227 in 2003. Kill per hunter was 4.39, down from 4.46.

Counties with the highest percentage of tree squirrels taken by residents were Walsh, 20.3 percent; Pembina, 13.2; and Grand Forks, 7.0. Tree squirrels were not taken by nonresident hunters in 2004.

Even though the 1930 appointment of Burnie W. Maurek as head of a one-man game and fish commission officially marked the beginning of the state Game and Fish Department, records indicate some form of governing was taking place as far back as 1875, when for the first time, North Dakota's territorial legislature placed a restriction on game birds that prohibited trapping or shooting quail or grouse from March through July. Glaringly absent from this new law was any provision for enforcement.

A healthy wildlife population helped attract settlers, and because of no enforcement presence, hunters and anglers were able to take what they wanted whenever they desired, causing fish and wildlife numbers to decline.

In an attempt to solve illegal taking of game, the legislature did implement some regulations in the 1880s. In 1885 the first daily limit of 25 fish was established. In 1896 the first small game hunting license was created and sold for 75 cents. A limit of eight big game animals per year was established in 1899. However, illegal taking of game and fish was still rampant.

In the early 1890s W.W. Barrett, who was designated head of game and fish functions in 1891, wrote in his first biennial report, "We have but a few of the following animals in our state: deer, elk, moose, buffalo, mountain sheep, caribou and antelope...it is evidently wise to protect them for a series of years."

In 1909 a Game and Fish Board of Control was established to oversee game and fish law enforcement. This five-member body didn't pan out as intended, so in 1929 state legislators passed a law for a game and fish commissioner to take over duties of the board.

In 1930 Gov. George F. Schafer appointed Maurek as commissioner, officially providing the foundation for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The first pheasant hunting season took place in 1931, and three years later the first Hungarian partridge hunting season was implemented.

But the biggest breakthrough happened in 1937 with the passage of the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, indicating the start of scientific management of wildlife in North Dakota. Funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, states use P-R funds to manage wildlife populations and habitat; conduct research, surveys and inventories; and to administer hunter education programs.

P-R funds were noted in the 1950s for aiding in establishing bighorn sheep in the badlands and resurrecting giant Canada geese in the state. Nearly 50,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands and forest lands were purchased and designated for wildlife management areas. Millions of trees were planted as shelterbelts, enabling a number of wildlife species to have a sanctuary that benefited populations.

The Soil Bank Program of 1956 was deemed the largest land retirement program in some 30 years. While it was largely ineffective for reducing cropland surpluses, it did offer some much needed habitat for wildlife species, providing a big boost for the pheasant population. By 1960 2.7 million acres of idled land had been seeded to cover in North Dakota.

Fishing license sales increased dramatically in the 1950s. As the Pittman-Robertson Act did for wildlife, the passage of the Dingell-Johnson Act in 1950 had the same influence on fisheries management.

The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on fishing equipment and tackle, trolling motors, motorboat and small engine fuels, and pleasure boats. States use Sport Fish Restoration Program funds to stock fish; acquire and improve sport fish habitat; provide aquatic resource education opportunities; conduct fisheries research; and build boat ramps, fishing piers and other facilities necessary to provide recreational boating access.

In the 1980s, an amendment to the D-J Act, Wallop-Breaux, expanded the tax to motor boat fuels and imported equipment, making more money available to states. North Dakota has used the funding to expand fish hatchery facilities and to improve boating access.

While the Game and Fish Department was organized 75 years ago with an emphasis on law enforcement, habitat has been a vital link to the past, and will have a profound influence on fisheries and wildlife management in the future.

Next week's newsletter will look at North Dakota's current fish and wildlife resources, and some of the issues facing today's fish and wildlife managers.

Spring Ruffed Grouse Population Shows Increase
North Dakota's spring ruffed grouse survey indicated a 37 percent population increase statewide compared to 2004, reports Stan Kohn, upland game bird biologist for the state Game and Fish Department.

To conduct the survey, observers tallied the number of male grouse heard drumming on 196 miles of spring survey routes in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills and McHenry County (J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge).

All three areas had at least a 30 percent increase in the number of drumming males compared to 2004, Kohn said. The statewide average number of ruffed grouse drums heard per best stop was 1.07, up substantially from last year's 0.78.

Ruffed grouse populations run in 9-10 year cycles, and have been low for the last three years. "Hopefully, this is the first sign that the cycle in ruffed grouse numbers has bottomed out in North Dakota and we are on a slow movement upward in the population," Kohn said.

Statewide, observers counted 5,114 sharptails on spring dancing grounds this year compared to 5,465 in 2004, a 6 percent decrease, according to Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at Dickinson.

More than 700 square miles were censused. Male grouse recorded per square mile decreased from 7.3 in 2004 to 6.7 this year.

An indication of the fall season won't be known until mid-August, Kobriger said, upon completion of brood surveys.

Boating accidents must be reported if they involve injury, death, or disappearance of a person, or if property damage exceeds $500. An accident report involving injury, death or disappearance of a person must be submitted to the department within 48 hours of the occurrence. A boat operator has five days to file a report in cases where damage to property exceeds $500. Failure to report is a noncriminal offense punishable by a fee of $50.

Access the website at discovernd.com/gnf, click on the fishing and boating link, scroll down to "tagged fish report" and simply enter the information requested. Report forms are also available at all game and fish offices.

Fish tags come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Anglers who catch a tagged fish are asked to record the type of fish, tag number, when and where it was caught, who caught it, and if the fish was kept or released. Any specific information is considered confidential.

A total of 9,230 wild turkey licenses are available for the fall hunting season, a decrease of 1,750 from last year, reports Randy Kreil, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife chief. " Turkey numbers have declined in many parts of the state due to increased hunting pressure and lower than average reproductive rates," Kreil said. "Landowners and Game and Fish Department field staff are reporting significantly fewer turkeys."

The fall wild turkey season opens Saturday, Oct. 8 and continues through Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The intent of continuing the season into mid-January, according to Kreil, is to increase pressure on turkeys as they move into farmsteads where they can cause damage to stored livestock feed supplies.

The 58th annual spring survey, conducted May 9-15, showed an index of more than 4.1 million birds, 4 percent lower than last year but still 100 percent above the 1948-2004 average, according to Mike Johnson, migratory game bird management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Duck indices were up from 2004 for green-winged teal (63 percent), canvasback (24 percent), ruddy ducks (10 percent), and a category labeled "other" species comprised mostly of ring-necked ducks (25 percent). Indices for all other species were unchanged or below 2004. The most significant decreases were for gadwall (14 percent) and mallards (10 percent).

All species except pintail remained above the 1948-2004 average. The index for mallards was up 121 percent from the long-term average while gadwalls were up 191 percent. Pintails, which have declined to low numbers continentally, were down 19 percent.

The survey is conducted by biologists driving more than 1,800 miles on eight routes spread across the state running from Canada to South Dakota. Observers count all ducks and water areas within 220 yards of the roadway, Johnson said. "This large sample gives indices from which we can compare year-to-year changes and the long-term trends of habitat conditions and waterfowl numbers."

While the 2005 water index was down from last year, it still remained 21 percent above the 1948-2004 average. Despite what the water indices show, observers noted that water conditions were fairly poor in many areas. "This is because we count water areas, not the amount of water contained in wetlands," Johnson said. "Many seasonal wetlands contained only minimal water and water levels in most semi-permanent wetlands were well below the high water period that began in 1993."

However, Johnson mentioned, rains which began during the survey period have continued across the state, with some regions experiencing considerable rainfall that has restored wetland levels. "While this increase in water was too late to significantly affect breeding duck distribution, it will certainly contribute to the potential for renesting by failed hens and improve brood survival," Johnson said.

The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production, and a better insight into what to expect this fall, Johnson said. "Our observations to date indicate that production should be above average," he added. "Despite the large populations of ducks and prospects for a good production year, fall weather always has a big impact on the success of the hunting season."

North Dakota law requires all children ages 10 and younger to wear a personal flotation device while in boats of less than 27 feet in length. "The law also requires all personal watercraft users to wear a life jacket," Boldt said, "as well as anyone being towed on skis, tubes, boards or other similar devices."

Boldt also stresses that children should wear a PFD while swimming, as they can become tired, develop cramps and struggle in the water. "It is just another time when safety should come first," Boldt added, "because you never know when circumstances could dictate the need for a life jacket."

Failure to wear a PFD is the main reason people lose their lives in boating accidents. Four boating fatalities were reported in North Dakota last year. None of the victims were wearing a life jacket.

The National Safe Boating Council warns boaters that most drowning victims had a life jacket available, but were not wearing it when they entered the water. "At that point, it is extremely difficult to put a life jacket on," Boldt said.

When purchasing a PFD, Boldt suggests considering the most prevalent water activity. Water skiers and tubers should wear a life jacket with four nylon straps rather than one with a zipper, she mentioned, because straps are stronger than zippers upon impact with water. Anglers or persons paddling a canoe should opt for a PFD that is comfortable enough to wear for an entire outing.

Senate Bill 2338 establishes a management plan for prevention and control of ANS, including providing penalties for anyone contributing to the spread of these unwanted species.

ANS are exotic plants and animals that can do great damage to fishery and other aquatic resources by overwhelming native and desirable species. They are transported from lake to lake by boats, trailers and other recreational equipment, said Lynn Schlueter, special projects biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's fisheries division, Devils Lake.

"A lot of people are unaware that a hitchhiker is catching a ride on their equipment," Schlueter said. "That is why it is extremely important to take appropriate precautions at each lake."

Schlueter urges inspection of the boat or personal watercraft, trailer, fishing or scuba gear before leaving the lake, and to remove all plants, plant fragments and mud. "It only takes a few minutes to prevent ANS problems," he said.

The following guidelines help prevent ANS from invading North Dakota waters:

• Drain water from the boat motor, livewell, bilge, and behind the transom before leaving that lake.
• Power-wash your boat, motor or PWC, and trailer with water 110 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter.
• Disinfect livewell and bilge with a bleach solution (one part chlorine to 20 parts hot water). Wash using water 100 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter.
• Disinfect fishing, hunting, scuba or other gear with a bleach solution and hot water. Allow equipment to air dry thoroughly.
• Do not dump bait, or the water the bait was transported in, into the lake. Do not move fish from one lake to another.
• Place excess bait in fish grinder, garbage or bury at home.
• Return fish into the lake from which they came.
• Do not transplant fish to other lakes, it's illegal.
• Do not release pets or aquatic garden plants into the wild. Dispose of unwanted pets or aquatic plants to proper facilities.