Birding Field Trip Set for May 12
A birding field trip sponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 in Burleigh County, according to Nathaniel Umphrey, department outreach biologist.

It doesn't matter if you are a first-time birder, or have spent many hours spying on our feathered friends, Umphrey said. "We'll take anyone, but we are going to give preference to those who have never been on this trip before," he said.

The outing is open to the first 25 people who call and register. Participants will be going to McKenzie Slough, Long Lake and the Kimball Bottoms area.

Participants are asked to bring binoculars, a bird book and a snack, and need to meet at the department at 7 a.m., and can expect to return around noon. The trip is free and transportation will be provided.

Anyone interested in signing up for the field trip should contact Umphrey at 328-6332.

Nonresident Any-Deer Bow Licenses Remain
Approximately 200 any-deer bow licenses are still available to nonresidents in 2007, according to Carrie Whitney, licensing supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The Game and Fish Department began issuing nonresident any-deer bow licenses March 1, and more than 950 of the allotted 1,147 licenses for 2007 have been purchased.

Remaining licenses are issued on a first come, first served basis. Nonresidents can print out an application for mailing at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or call 701-328-6300 to request an application. Only one license is allowed per hunter.

The number of nonresident any-deer bow licenses available is 15 percent of the previous year's mule deer gun license allocation. The department issued 7,650 mule deer licenses in the 2006 deer gun lottery.

New Fishing, Furbearer Licenses Needed April 1
Hunters, trappers and anglers are reminded that new fishing and furbearer licenses are required April 1.

The dates for the furbearer license coincide with fishing season. The 2007-08 licenses are effective April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.

Anglers are also reminded this is the second year of the current two-year fishing proclamation. Refer to the 2006-08 North Dakota Fishing Guide for regulations.

2006 Prairie Chicken Hunting Season Summarized
A total of 30 prairie chickens and 52 sharp-tailed grouse were taken during the state's 2006 prairie chicken hunting season, according to statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The nine-day October season was open in two units - Grand Forks County (north unit) and the other in southeastern North Dakota (south unit). Fifty resident hunters were awarded licenses in each unit.

Forty-six hunters bagged 12 prairie chickens and 33 sharptails in the north unit, while 39 hunters took 18 prairie chickens and 19 sharptails in the south unit.

Hunters had a season limit of two prairie chickens, and a sharptail limit of three daily and 12 in possession.

From the north unit three hunters were successful in taking two prairie chickens, six hunters were able to bag one, and 37 were unsuccessful. In the south unit, six hunters took a limit of prairie chickens, six hunters were able to harvest one, and 27 were unsuccessful.

The department received 299 applications - 175 for the north unit and 124 for the south unit.

The application process and 2007 season information will be announced in July.

Bighorn Sheep, Elk and Moose Seasons Set
Additional elk and moose hunting opportunities highlight the 2007 special big game seasons, according to Randy Kreil, wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Applications will be available the middle of this week. The deadline for submitting applications is March 21.

A total of 261 elk licenses are available, an increase of 20 from last year. More licenses will be available again this year for Unit E3, Kreil said, in an attempt to reduce the number of elk outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. "Units E3 and E4 will have a second open period in October," he added. "In 2006, elk harvest increased significantly because of the increased number of licenses and the additional time to hunt."

Bow season dates for units E1 and E2 are Aug. 31 - Sept. 30. Regular season dates are as follows: Unit E3, Aug. 10-26; Unit E4 early, Aug. 10-16, and late, Aug. 17-26; Unit E1, Oct. 5-28 and Nov. 30 - Dec. 9; and Unit E2, Oct. 5-28 and Nov. 16 - Dec. 16. The second open period for units E3 and E4 is Oct. 5-28.

A total of 147 moose licenses are available in 2007, an increase of 18 from last year. Units M9 and M10 have been expanded to include areas where moose numbers have increased. However, Unit M1C will remain closed due to a continued moose population decline in the northeastern portion of the state.

Bow season dates for all moose units are Aug. 31 - Sept. 30. Regular season dates for units M4, M8, M9 and M10 are Oct. 5-28. Regular season dates for units M5 and M6 are Nov. 23 - Dec. 16.

Six bighorn sheep licenses are available in four units, the same as last year. One license is available in units B1, B2 and B3; two in Unit B4; and one license auctioned through the Minnesota-Wisconsin Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep.

In an effort to increase the harvest of older rams, opening day has been moved back on the calendar two weeks in order to coincide with the rut, Kreil said. Bighorn sheep regular season dates run from Oct. 12-28, with bow season from Oct. 5-28.

Bighorn sheep, moose, and elk lottery licenses are issued on an once-in-a-lifetime basis in North Dakota. Persons who have received a license through the lottery in the past are not eligible to apply for that species again.

Spring Turkey Licenses Remain
The 2007 spring wild turkey lottery has been held and more than 300 licenses remain in seven units. These licenses will be issued only as a first license - only one license per hunter - and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Licenses remain for the following units: Unit 04, portions of Billings and Golden Valley counties south of Interstate 94; Unit 06, Bowman County; Unit 15, Emmons County; Unit 31, Mountrail County; Unit 44, Slope County; Unit 45, Stark County; and Unit 47, that portion of Stutsman County that lies east of U.S. Highway 281.

Hunters who do not have a license for the 2007 spring season can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Otherwise, hunters must call 328-6300 to request an application.

Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply.