North Dakota Spring Snow Goose Hotline, Website Provide Migration Updates

North Dakota Spring Snow Goose Hotline, Website Provide Migration Updates

North Dakota spring light goose hunters can track general locations of geese as birds make their way through the state during the upcoming spring season.

Hunters are able to call (701) 328-3697 to hear recorded information 24 hours a day. Migration reports are also posted on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Updates will be provided periodically during the week as migration events occur, until the season ends or geese have left the state.

Availability of food and open water dictate when snow geese arrive in the state. Early migrants generally start showing up in the southeast part of the state in mid-to-late March, but huntable numbers usually aren’t around until the end of March or early April. If this winter’s mild weather conditions continue, light geese could arrive earlier than normal. However, movements into and through the state will depend on available roosting areas and the extent of the snow line.

North Dakota’s spring light goose season opens Feb. 18 and continues through May 6. Season information, including licensing requirements and regulations, are also available by accessing the Game and Fish website.

Spring Light Goose Licenses Available

Light goose hunters planning to hunt during North Dakota’s spring season can purchase a license online at the state Game and Fish Department’s website. The season opens Feb. 18 and continues through May 6.

Residents can hunt during the spring season by having last fall’s 2012-12 bird licenses. Otherwise, hunters will need to purchase either a 2012-13 combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license.

Nonresidents, regardless of age, need a 2012 spring light goose season license. The cost is $50 and the license is good statewide. Nonresidents who hunt the spring season remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring season does not count against the 14-day fall hunting season regulation.

A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents.

Licenses are available only from the Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office, the department’s website at gf.nd.gov, or by calling (800) 406-6409.

Availability of food and open water dictate when snow geese arrive in the state. Early migrants generally start showing up in the southeast part of the state in mid-to-late March, but huntable numbers usually aren’t around until the end of March or early April. If this winter’s mild weather conditions continue, light geese could arrive earlier than normal. However, movements into and through the state will depend on available roosting areas and the extent of the snow line.

Hunters must obtain a new Harvest Information Program registration number before venturing out into the field. The HIP number can be obtained online or by calling (888) 634-4798. The HIP number is good for the fall season as well, so spring hunters should save it to record on their fall license.

The Game and Fish Department will provide hunters with migration updates once geese have entered the state. Hunters can access the department’s website, or call (701) 328-3697, to receive generalized locations of bird sightings in North Dakota until the season ends or geese have left the state. Migration reports will be updated periodically during the week.

The spring season is only open to light geese – snows, blues, and Ross’s. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The season is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

The statewide season is open through May 6. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit. Electronic and recorded calls, as well as shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, may be used to take light geese during this season.

There are no waterfowl rest areas designated for the spring season. Hunters should note that private land within waterfowl rest areas closed last fall may be posted closed to hunting.

Nontoxic shot is required for hunting all light geese statewide. Driving off established roads and trails is strongly discouraged during this hunt because of the likelihood of soft, muddy conditions, and winter wheat that is planted across the state.

To maintain good landowner relations, hunters are advised to seek permission before hunting on private lands or attempting any off-road travel during this season. Sprouted winter wheat is considered an unharvested crop. Therefore, hunting oroff-road travel in winter wheat is not legal without landowner permission.

All regular hunting season regulations not addressed above apply to the spring season. For more information on regulations refer to the 2012 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations and the 2012 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide.

New CRP General Sign-up, Initiatives Provide Opportunities

Producers interested in submitting bids to enroll land in Conservation Reserve Program acres have a deadline of April 6.

Kevin Kading, North Dakota Game and Fish Department private land section leader, said applications received during the current sign-up period are ranked against others according to the Environmental Benefit Index.

“Producers can receive assistance from private land biologists with the Game and Fish Department, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever,” Kading said. “Private land biologists can help producers find the best possible combination of factors that will positively influence their EBI score, and increase their likelihood of being accepted into the program.”

The Game and Fish Department also offers additional incentives and cost-share if producers enroll their CRP acres into the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program to allow walk-in access for hunting. “This is an option producers should keep in mind when applying for the CRP,” Kading said.

Expired CRP acres, and land currently enrolled in CRP with an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2012 are eligible. In addition, landowners may also offer new acreage into this sign-up if cropping history and other eligibility requirements are met.

In addition, U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack announced on March 2 a new CRP initiative that allows producers nationwide to enroll up to 1 million acres of land in a new CRP initiative to restore grasslands, wetlands and wildlife. This new allocation of acres will be available through a continuous sign-up rather than a general signup. North Dakota has not yet received its allocation of acres for this initiative, but information will soon be available through local county USDA Farm Service Agency offices.

Producers can contact any of the following biologists for more information about the general sign-up or the new CRP initiative, or attend a local workshop listed below. Information on how producers can maximize their EBI score is also available on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

NDGF Private Land Biologists

· Ty Dressler, Dickinson – 227-7431 (Stark, Hettinger, Adams, Slope, Bowman)

· Levi Jacobson, Bismarck – 328-6647 (Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Oliver)

· Nate Harling, Devils Lake – 662-3617 (Bottineau, Rolette, Towner, Cavalier, Ramsey, Pembina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Nelson)

· Todd Buckley, Williston – 774-4320 (Divide, Burke, Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie)

· Terry Oswald, Jr., Lonetree – 324-2211 (Sheridan, Wells, Eddy, Foster, Benson, Pierce)

· Renae Heinle, Jamestown – 253-6480 (Stutsman, Barnes, Lamoure, Dickey, Sargent, Griggs, Cass, Richland, Ransom, Steele, Traill, McIntosh, Logan)

· Ryan Huber, Riverdale – 654-7475 (McLean, Mercer, McHenry, Ward, Renville)

· Kory Richardson, Lake Ilo NWR – 548-8110 (Dunn, Billings, Golden Valley)

· Jon Roaldson, Bismarck – 328-6308 (Grant, Morton and Sioux)

Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists

· Rachel Bush, Jamestown – 252-2521 ext. 129 (Stutsman, Barnes, LaMoure)

· Matthew Flintrop, Dickinson – 225-3811 ext. 118 (Stark, Hettinger, Billings and other western counties)

· Matt Olson, Forman – 724-3247 ext. 114 (Sargent, Richland, Ransom, Dickey)

· Jaden Honeyman, Hettinger – 567-2661 ext. 113 (Adams, Bowman, Slope and other western counties)

· Andrew Ahrens, Devils Lake - 701-662-7967 (Ramsey, Benson, Nelson)

Ducks Unlimited Conservation Program Biologists

· Matthew Shappell, Napoleon – 754-2234 ext. 3 (McIntosh, Logan, Kidder)

· Vacant, Turtle Lake – 448-2377 (McLean, Burleigh, Sheridan)

Pheasants Forever CRP Landowner Workshops

· March 14 – Streeter, Friends Bar and Grill, 2 p.m.

· March 15 – Spiritwood, Spiritwood Bar, 2 p.m.

· March 15 – Pingree, Pingree Café, 10 a.m.

· March 19 – Dickinson, Elks Lodge, 11:30 a.m.

· March 20 – Mott, Pheasant Café and Lodge, 11:30 a.m.

· March 26 – Dickinson, Elks Lodge, 11:30 a.m.

· March 26 – Hettinger, Hettinger Research Extension Center, 1 p.m.

· March 27 – Mott, Pheasant Café and Lodge, 11:30 a.m.

Youth Grant Program Recruits Young Hunters

Wildlife, shooting, civic and fraternal organizations are encouraged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a grant program developed to assist in recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters.

Grant funds will help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets, and eye and ear protection.

Past funding has enabled several groups to conduct youth pheasant and waterfowl hunts, while others have sponsored trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting.

Any club or organization interested in conducting a youth hunting or shooting event can get more information, including a grant application, from North Dakota Game and Fish Department outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at (701) 328-6332.

The deadline to apply for a 2012 grant is April 21.

Click here for the pdf of this page