North Dakota
Department of Natural Resources - News
Fall Turkey Season Proposed,
Online Applications Available
Online applications for North
Dakota’s 2007 fall turkey season are now available. Resident
hunters can apply, or print out an application for mailing, at the
state Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. Paper
applications will be available at license vendors by June 15.
The fall wild turkey
proclamation, submitted to Gov. John Hoeven’s office for approval,
includes a season that extends from Saturday, Oct. 13 through
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008.
A total of 8,025 wild turkey
licenses are intended for the fall hunting season, an increase of
100 from last year. Hunting units 21 (Hettinger and Adams
counties) and 53 (Divide and Williams counties) will remain closed
to fall turkey hunting in 2007 because of a decline in turkey
numbers.
Lottery applications will be
available from Game and Fish Department offices, county auditors
and license vendors. Gratis applications are available only at
Game and Fish and county auditor offices.
Applications are also accepted at
the department’s toll-free licensing line, 800-406-6409. A
service fee is added for license applications made over the phone.
Applications for the fall season
must be postmarked no later than July 5. Only North Dakota
residents are eligible to apply in the first lottery. Nonresidents
can apply for fall turkey licenses that are still available
following the first lottery.
Summer Safety Encouraged on
the Water
Memorial Day weekend generally
kick-starts the summer boating season, and now that it has passed,
even more water recreationists are sure to hit the water.
Nancy Boldt, boat and water
safety coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department,
urges boaters to exercise safety while on the water this summer to
ensure that an enjoyable outing doesn’t end in a tragedy.
“We can’t stress enough how
important it is for water recreationists to play it safe, be
aware, and ensure proper navigation routes,” Boldt said.
Whether you’re navigating a boat
on water or a vehicle on blacktop, many of the same rules apply. A
troublesome issue on some waters in past years, according to Boldt,
is anglers anchoring their boats under or directly in front of
bridge openings. Anchoring under bridges interferes with normal
boat traffic and causes congestion, as does a row of boats
anchoring outside a bridge opening.
“This is against the law,” Boldt
said. “It is illegal for a watercraft to obstruct or tend to
obstruct ordinary navigation.”
Every boat operator should
maintain a safe speed, be aware of their wake, and be able to take
proper and effective action to avoid collisions, Boldt said. “All
boaters should know and practice the navigation rules and maintain
a clear and unobstructed view forward at all times,” she added.
“Most boat collisions are caused by inattention.”
Personal flotation devices are
also an important part of safety on the water, Boldt said.
State law requires recreational
boaters to carry one Coast Guard approved life jacket in good
condition and of the correct size for each person on board. North
Dakota law also requires all children ages 10 and younger to wear
a personal flotation device while in boats of less than 27 feet in
length while the vessel is in operation. All personal watercraft
users are required to wear a life jacket, as well as anyone towed
on water skis, wakeboards or similar devices.
It is important youngsters wear a
properly fitted and fastened life jacket. When purchasing a PFD,
consider the most prevalent water activity. Water skiers and
tubers should wear a life jacket with four nylon straps rather
than one with a zipper, Boldt said, 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.
Water skiers and tubers are
reminded it takes three to ski and tube. When a person is towed on
water skis or a similar device, an observer other than the
operator is required on the vessel.
“Know what is below the water’s
surface, especially near shore where most jet-skiing and
water-skiing activity begins and ends,” Boldt said. “There can be
larger objects under water that are hidden near shore, potentially
leading to a significant injury.
“It is also important for
swimmers to know the depth,” Boldt added, “as serious injuries can
occur from diving into water of unknown depth.”
Regulations to help ensure safe
boating this summer are found in the 2006-08 North Dakota Fishing
Guide. A more comprehensive listing is available in the 2005-07
North Dakota Boat and Water Safety Guide or the Boat North Dakota
Education Book. These guides are available online at the Game and
Fish website, gf.nd.gov, by emailing ndgf@nd.gov, or at a local
Game and Fish Department office.
Boaters Reminded to Report
Accidents
Regardless of how safe and
cautious boaters are on the water, sometimes an accident does
happen. If a boating accident involves injury, death, or
disappearance of a person, or if property damage exceeds $2,000,
an accident report must be filled out and sent to the North Dakota
Game and Fish Department.
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 $2,000.
Spring Duck Index Down from Last
Year, Above Long-Term Average
The North Dakota Game and Fish
Department’s 60th annual spring breeding duck survey showed an
index of more than 3.2 million birds, down 13 percent from last
year but still 51 percent above the long-term average.
The survey, conducted May 7-11,
showed duck indices were down or unchanged from 2006, depending on
the species. Mallards, pintail, gadwall, wigeon, scaup and ruddy
ducks were about the same as last year. Green-winged teal (35
percent) and canvasback (30 percent) had the most significant
decreases. However, all species except pintail remained above the
1948-2006 average.
The 2007 water index was up 39
percent from 2006 and 43 percent above long-term. Mike Johnson,
game management section leader, cautions that the index is based
on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the
amount of water contained in wetlands. “Our survey crews indicated
that many wet basins held very little water at the time of the
survey, and that a high percentage of ponds that had small amounts
of water would soon be totally dry without the addition of
significant precipitation,” he said.
Water levels in some
semi-permanent and many permanent wetlands throughout the state
are still high. In eastern and southeastern North Dakota,
significant snow and spring rains have filled most wetlands.
However, in the western two-thirds of the state many seasonal and
semi-permanent wetlands are dry or nearly dry. That means
brood-rearing habitat will be limited unless significant
precipitation falls soon.
Recent rains likely improved pond
conditions in some portions of the state, Johnson said, but more
rain over a longer duration would be beneficial. “A few hot days
with high winds would most likely negate the recent moisture,” he
said.
Reports indicate South Dakota is
experiencing significantly improved water conditions, due
primarily to late winter and early spring precipitation. Also,
reports from Canada indicate that for the third consecutive year
much of the prairie pothole region and parklands continue to
experience good to excellent water conditions.
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 may be reduced in much of the state
due to dry conditions and reduced wetland availability for brood
production,” he added. “However, fall weather always has a big
impact on the success of the hunting season.”
