North Dakota Game and Fish Department

North Dakota Game and Fish Department This is the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department page. https://gf.nd.gov/comments

The creation in 1930 of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department was a continuation of efforts to preserve fish and game species in the state. At its inception the enforcement of game and fish laws was the department’s primary conservation tool. Over the years the legislature has increased enforcement authority and assigned regulatory powers to the agency aiding its efforts to preserve fish and w

ildlife and their habitats. Social media comment policy - https://gf.nd.gov/social-media-comment-policy

06/10/2026

In this episode of NDO Podcast (gf.nd.gov/ndo-podcast) we’re onsite at Lake Sakakawea’s Douglas Bay for walleye spawning. Ron Wilson, Department North Dakota Outdoors editor, steps in as co-host to learn more about the significance of collecting walleye eggs from Russ Kinzler, Department Missouri River System fisheries management supervisor, a 33-year veteran of this annual spring operation.

The June 2026 edition of North Dakota Outdoors is now available online at https://gf.nd.gov/magazine/2026/jun. Features ...
06/09/2026

The June 2026 edition of North Dakota Outdoors is now available online at https://gf.nd.gov/magazine/2026/jun. Features this month include...

- On the Conservative Side - Determining deer tag numbers
- An Ancient Fish in a Modern River - The living fossils of the Missouri River
- The Unexpected Gobble - On the hunt for a turkey
- Nesting Grounds of Rock Stars - Eared grebes in North Dakota
- Back to Basics: 2026 Fish Challenge

06/08/2026

Native prairie is prairie that has never been developed or plowed. Find out how these lands benefit both people and animals in this week’s NDO News.

Celebrate North Dakota Prairie Day with us! Join us for Prairie Day 2026: Timeless Prairies, Thriving Ranches at Fort A...
06/05/2026

Celebrate North Dakota Prairie Day with us!

Join us for Prairie Day 2026: Timeless Prairies, Thriving Ranches at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park tomorrow June 6. Enjoy prairie walks, birding, family-friendly activities and learn about the many benefits prairies provide for wildlife, ranching, clean water, healthy soils, and more. No cost to attend.

Register at: https://ndglc.org/events

06/04/2026

Saturday, June 6 is North Dakota Prairie Day. In today’s NDO Webcast, find out why native prairies are important for cattle, people and wildlife.

LAST CALL ⏰The application deadline for the 2026 deer gun season is tonight at midnight.
06/03/2026

LAST CALL ⏰

The application deadline for the 2026 deer gun season is tonight at midnight.

The Drift - Planting SeasonWritten by Cayla BendelAfter a devout turkey season, I always find myself a bit behind. House...
06/03/2026

The Drift - Planting Season
Written by Cayla Bendel

After a devout turkey season, I always find myself a bit behind. Household obligations, preparations for fishing, and garden plans have all temporarily fallen to the wayside. Memorial Day weekend has quickly become the catch-up, kick-off to summer weekend and this year was no exception.

We spent most of that Saturday on a morning scavenger hunt for all the plants and seeds we'd need and fencing material for our newest garden pest, Rhett. Back at home, just unloading it all quickly turned into getting it all either in the ground or in a pot. With Fischer helping intermittently, although mostly requesting he be sprayed with the hose.

Instead of readying the boat, we opted for an impromptu trip to Jamestown Sunday to Monday for some camping, shore-fishing and beach time. It did not disappoint, given the sunshiny weekend we were gifted.

But Memorial Monday found us back in the garden tending to already grim-looking plants from just two days in the ground after the heat spell.

Tuesday night after work I made a quick trip to a pollinator plot I had helped a local Pheasants Forever chapter plant in 2025 to clean it up and get it some water, and Wednesday night found me at the 2026 chapter pollinator planting, helping to broadcast seed and plant native plugs.

Thursday I had the good fortune of travelling to Audubon Wildlife Management Area to "help," by that I mean mostly banter and snap a few pictures, install a water pump that will eventually be used to fill a series of wetlands for waterfowl and other wetland bird production, as well as waterfowl hunting access in fall.

By the time Friday rolled around I got to thinking about how much time over the last week I had dabbled in planting, habitat projects, gardening and the likes thereof. Much of the office was quiet last week, not from prolonged holiday vacations but because it's go-time here on the prairie.

Some folks were out capturing the inaugural plantings of the Governor's Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program, while our wildlife crews were out seeding food plots and habitat plantings on WMAs. Tis the season as I've seen plenty of tractors on roadways and in fields getting crops in the ground.

In a matter of days, spring arrived in full force and there's only so many days to make habitat and grow plants in North Dakota. No matter, a garden-raised bed or a quarter section, cherry tomatoes, soybeans or native grass, it just felt like one of those times of the year, where we're all in the same boat. Just not my boat, because, unfortunately, it's still covered in the driveway.

Behind the Badge - Why North Dakota?Written by District Game Warden Noah RaitzI admit that when I was first thinking abo...
06/02/2026

Behind the Badge - Why North Dakota?
Written by District Game Warden Noah Raitz

I admit that when I was first thinking about getting into conservation enforcement, I was not thinking about moving to North Dakota. Not because I didn't like the state or had a reason not to move here. It was the opposite. I lacked the knowledge of what North Dakota had to offer. I was also in high school, so I had no idea what my plan was other than going to college.

I was just talking about this with another warden and the recruitment of candidates for our game warden positions. Sure, we hire wardens born and raised in North Dakota, but that's not a requirement for the job. As proof of that, I grew up 30 minutes from the North Dakota border but didn't start to think of it as an option until college.

I attended the University of North Dakota and one summer I worked for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department as a fisheries seasonal in Devils Lake. I enjoyed the work, but it also showed me the fishing opportunities the state offered that I had never explored before.

I also helped with sharp-tailed grouse surveys in college, which showed me the upland hunting opportunities that, again, I had never explored.

I grew up hunting waterfowl, but not in North Dakota until college, when I was introduced to field hunting. As you can guess, this showed me the prized waterfowl hunting so many people are passionate about in North Dakota.

I say all that because North Dakota's habitat and natural resources are worth appreciating. It might not be flashy mountains or cabin-packed lakes, but that doesn't mean we don't have a lot to offer. We have the prairie, badlands, the Missouri River system, and many other unique landscapes throughout the state.

What do those have in common? They are made up of large areas of undeveloped landscapes for anyone to enjoy. Or in my case, to work in. That's my office, the habitat for our fisheries and wildlife resources. I may not have a fast-food restaurant or big shopping mall down the road, but I do have various hunting and fishing opportunities within 5 minutes of my house.

I was asked recently what the favorite part of my job is, and it wasn't very difficult to answer. It's the interactions I get to have with the public. Getting to listen to a young angler tell me about the big fish they caught, or a new hunter showing off their first duck. It's also the older generation telling me about hunting or fishing stories from before I was born.

To circle back to where I started, I did not expect to end up in North Dakota, but I am sure glad I did. Enforcing game and fish regulations is easy when the majority of our interactions don't end in a citation, but instead a hunter or anglers' story about that day's success or defeat.

06/01/2026

This is the time of year when there are a lot of baby animals on the landscape. If you encounter one that seems to be abandoned, chances are its parent is either nearby or will return later to care for its young. The best thing you can do is leave it alone. Learn more in this week's NDO News.

It’s time to fish a little more!Here's your chance to explore new waters, chase more species, and add a little friendly ...
05/29/2026

It’s time to fish a little more!
Here's your chance to explore new waters, chase more species, and add a little friendly competition to your time on the water. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just looking for a reason to get outside, this challenge is all about fun, discovery, and making the most of North Dakota’s fisheries.

Visit gf.nd.gov/fish-challenge to get started!

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