Outdoors Weekly News from the Dakotas

PIERRE, S.D. – The special Canada geese hunting season, called August Management Take, closed Aug. 29, but September opens the door to several other hunting opportunities.

The mourning dove season runs from Sept. 1 through Nov. 9. The season is open statewide; and shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

There are a few regulations that are unique to the mourning dove season:

The birds may not be hunted within 50 yards of a public road

Lead shot may be used on private land

Crow and common snipe seasons are open from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.

The Early Fall Canada goose season takes flight again in part of the state on Sept. 4, in what is known as Canada goose Unit 1. From Sept. 4 through Sept. 30, the daily limit for Canada geese will be 8 and the possession limit 16. Beginning Oct. 1, the regular Canada goose season begins in Unit 1 with a daily limit of 3 and a possession limit of 6.

The seasons for Sandhill cranes, white-fronted geese, snow geese, Low Plains Duck Middle Zone and Low Plains Duck North Zone all open Sept. 25. The Youth Waterfowl season is Sept. 18-19.

The prairie grouse and partridge season opens Sept. 18 in most of the state. The sage grouse season is Sept. 29-30.

Archery Elk units in the Black Hills open Sept. 1.

The Archery Deer season opens Sept. 25, and the Youth Deer season opens Sept. 11.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department big game biologist Bill Jensen is currently working with 33 landowners in 20 hunting units across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2010.

“The current list of landowners has more than 400 openings for doe hunters,” Jensen said. “We will continue to add landowners and doe hunters over the next several months, and by time the season is over with we could match more than 500 antlerless deer hunters with perhaps 40 landowners.”

Landowners currently participating in 2010 are located in hunting units 2C, 2D, 2G2, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 3A2, 3A4, 3B3, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4D, 4E and 4F.

“The program is designed to direct antlerless hunters to specific areas to reduce deer depredation problems in the future,” Jensen said. “It is not intended for buck hunters.”

The Game and Fish Department first started working with landowners in developing a contact list in 2006, and the program has been very successful, Jensen said. “In fact, several landowners have now dropped out of the program because they have either gotten on top of their depredation problems and/or developed solid relationships with hunters over the past few years that they now welcome them back every year,” he added. “This is how we intended it to work.”

Interested hunters can get their name on a list of possible participants by accessing the Game and Fish Department’s website at North Dakota Game and Fish Hunter Contact. Hunters who do not have Internet access can call the department’s main office in Bismarck at (701) 328-6300.

Hunters will provide their address, hunting unit(s) where they hold valid antlerless licenses, and if using rifle, muzzleloader or bow. From this list the department will select the number of hunters landowners have agreed to host. These hunters will be sent the landowner’s name, phone number and any information relating to the landowner’s specific situation.

Not everyone who signs up will end up with a new place to hunt, Jensen said, because not everyone’s schedule will match up with a landowner’s, and more people will likely put their name on the list than there are openings with landowners.

North Dakota’s 2010 regular deer gun season runs from Nov. 5-21. In addition, the archery season extends from Sept. 3 through Jan. 2, 2011; the youth season is from Sept. 17-26; and muzzleloader runs from Nov. 26 – Dec. 12.

PIERRE, S.D. – This autumn, hunters in South Dakota will enjoy pheasant numbers that continue to be some of the best in the state’s history. The 2010 brood survey count shows a small increase from the 2009 survey.

The Game, Fish and Parks Department completed its annual pheasant brood survey in mid-August, and tallied a statewide pheasants-per-mile count that is up about 3 percent from last year.

“We had a very good year in 2009, and this peek as we go into fall tells us that hunters can look forward to some great opportunities in the coming pheasant season,” said Game Fish and Parks Secretary Jeff Vonk.

The official pheasant population estimate is based on data reported by hunters during the pheasant season, and does not come until after the season is over.

In 2009, South Dakota’s official pheasant population estimate was 8.4 million, and hunters averaged 9.9 roosters each for a total season harvest of more than 1.6 million.

Every year from late July through mid-August, GFP personnel survey 110 established routes scattered across the state to estimate pheasant production and calculate a pheasants-per-mile index. The survey is not a population estimate, but rather compares the number of pheasants seen on the routes and establishes trend information.

“We’ve had a roller coaster ride of weather conditions over the past year,” Vonk said. “Pheasant numbers will be down in a few areas, but they held strong in many other areas because of excellent reproduction in parts of the state where we have good habitat conditions.”

Survey routes are grouped into 13 areas, based on a local city, and the index value of each local city area is then compared to index values of the previous year and the 10-year average.

The 2010 statewide pheasants-per-mile average is 6.45, compared to the 2009 average of 6.26 and the 10-year average of 5.71.

“Our goal has been to increase quality hunting areas that are open to the public. South Dakota has worked intensely with private landowners and other conservation partners to promote habitat programs,” Vonk said. “Statewide Conservation Reserve Program acres have slipped to slightly more than one million acres, but there is encouraging news. Landowner interest in the program remains high and additional acres will likely be enrolled through the recent general CRP signup.”

South Dakota’s regular pheasant season opens on Saturday, Oct. 16 and runs through Jan. 2.

For more information on the pheasant season, including the 2010 Pheasant Brood Survey Report with complete route comparisons for the different local areas, visit the GFP website.

North Dakota’s 2010 waterfowl season has been set, with season details similar to last year. The only significant changes are an increase in the limit on pintails, and elimination of one waterfowl rest area.

Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 25 for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Oct. 2.

Hunters may take six ducks per day with the following restrictions: five mallards of which two may be hens, three wood ducks, two scaup, two redheads, two pintails (an increase of one from last year) and one canvasback. For ducks, the possession limit is twice the daily limit.

The daily limit of five mergansers may include no more than two hooded mergansers.

The waterfowl rest area five miles north and six miles west of McClusky in Sheridan County has been eliminated. In addition, the waterfowl rest area two miles north of Noonan in Divide County will be closed to all small game hunting. Last year it was closed only to waterfowl hunting.

The hunting season for Canada geese in the Missouri River zone will close Dec. 31, while the remainder of the state will close Dec. 23. The season for whitefronts closes Dec. 5, while the season on light geese is open through Dec. 31. Shooting hours for all geese are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. each day through Nov. 6. Beginning Nov. 7, shooting hours are extended until 2 p.m. each day.

Extended shooting hours for all geese are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays through Nov. 28, and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from Dec. 1 through the end of each season.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese during the regular season is three, with six in possession. The daily limit on whitefronts is two with four in possession, and light goose is 20 daily, with no possession limit.

The special youth waterfowl hunting season is Sept. 18-19. Legally licensed residents and nonresidents 15 years of age or younger can hunt ducks, coots, mergansers and geese statewide. Youth hunters must have a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. A licensed adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the youth hunter into the field. The daily bag limit and species restrictions for the youth season are the same as for regular duck and goose seasons.

Nonresidents have the option of buying either a statewide waterfowl license or one with zone restrictions. Nonresidents who designate zones 1 or 2 may hunt that zone for only one seven-day period during the season. Nonresident hunters who chose to hunt in zone 1 or 2 and wish to use the full 14 consecutive days allowed, must use the other seven days in zone 3. Hunters in zone 3 can hunt that zone the entire 14 days.

In accordance with state law, nonresidents are not allowed to hunt on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas or conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) areas from Oct. 9-15.

All migratory bird hunters, including waterfowl, must register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Hunters purchasing a license from the Game and Fish Department can easily get a HIP number. Otherwise, hunters must call (888) 634-4798, or log on to the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov, provide the registration information, and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Those who HIP registered to hunt this spring’s light goose season do not have to register again, as it is required only once per year.

Hunters should refer to the 2010 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide, available in early September, for further details on the waterfowl season.

More than 16,000 antlerless deer gun licenses are still available after the North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently completed its lottery drawing. These remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limit to the number of licenses a hunter can receive.

All hunters, including gratis applicants, can apply online at the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications will be available by Sept. 1 from Game and Fish offices, county auditors and license vendors. Hand delivered applications will not be processed at the department while the applicant waits. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply.

Additional concurrent season doe licenses can be used during the archery season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. These licenses must be used for antlerless deer only, and hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

In addition, hunters ages 14 and 15 who have special youth season licenses may purchase additional concurrent season doe licenses to use during the youth season.

The archery season opens Sept. 3, youth deer Sept. 17, regular deer gun Nov. 5 and muzzleloader Nov. 26.

Jesse Buechel, NPAA #711, won the AIM Pro Walleye Series-South Dakota Walleye Classic tournament on Lake Oahe this past weekend by over 15 pounds! Starting on day one, he brought in the largest 7 fish limit for 39.23 pounds, giving him a little over an 8 pound lead over second place finisher, Chase Parsons, NPAA #806. On day two he brought in another 27.66 pounds, moving his lead to just over 11 pounds. On the final day, he topped it off with another huge limit of 28.67 pounds. This is Jesse’s first major tournament win, and when asked how it feels he replied, “The first win is obviously going to be the one that you remember most. To think of all of the people that have done it for so many years and have had the opportunities…it’s unbelievable! I just figured, if I can get in the top ten with the competition that I’m against it would be phenomenal, but to get a win, and this size of one, (he stumbles over words)…it hasn’t sunk in yet”.

Jesse explained how he was catching his fish, and what he felt was the key to his program. Pulling any crankbait in a white color was more important than a single crankbait profile, in Jesse’s opinion, and didn’t mention one particular crankbait as working better or best.

“I fished about a three to four mile stretch that had good fish on it, and there was one point that was about 200 yards long, that held the most “good” fish. It didn’t hold the biggest fish, but it held a bunch of 21’s and 22’s. Most of my 21’s and 22’s came off of that one stretch. I decided I’m going right to that stretch, and I’m just going to pull it, and pull it, and pull it until I’ve got all 21’s and 22 inchers and then I’ll go searching.

Today, the final day, I knew it was going to be a slower. I went through probably 150 fish the first day, about 75 the second day, and I went through about 35 fish today. My first pass, I hit a 20 3/4. My second pass was a 21 3/4, so I said, “You know what? If I just get one fish a pass, and a good one, then I don’t care.” It was probably wasn’t 9 o’clock before I got my limit in the boat today. At Noon, I still needed to upgrade a 19 ½ incher and, at 12:18 I popped a 25 ½ inch fish. That’s the big hog today…I popped it and it was…I was just doing the “Happy Dance” up on the front of the boat. (Laughs)

That was when I knew, that for somebody to beat me, they were going to have to have 40 some pounds, and after seeing the weights the past two days, I knew that it was done. I was wondering what to do, so I came back and Jason Przekurat was running my secondary spot, and I just said, “You know what? I’m going to respect you”, and I left there and gave him that spot, and I went out to take my GPS Tracker and wrote, “Hi Mom!” It took me about two miles to write it…and, I just wrote, “Hi Mom!” with a heart. I figured if anyone was watching online they would have been able to see that, and if I got the win, I didn’t have to call.

The turning point for me was on day one, about two hours into it, we were letting a board out, and on the way out, when it slammed down, it had that 25 3/4 inch fish, and it just told me instantly that you need to slow your presentation down. I was going 2 MPH during pre-fishing and up until I caught that fish! That first fish told me I had to slow down, so slowed to 1.5 MPH and 20 minutes later I had a second kicker fish and less than an hour later I had a third kicker. So, within an hour I put three kickers in the boat all because I slowed down, that was the turning point.”

The NPAA sponsored Youth event was a big success, but the kids didn’t get to fish in the farm pond, due to the less than favorable weather conditions. Pro angler, Marianne Huskey, NPAA # 150 did a tremendous job of organizing the event, and other pros including; Scott Duncan, NPAA #197, Lynn Jurrens, NPAA #982, Dennis Gulau, NPAA #504 all helped out with the “Kid’s Fishing Clinic”. There were a large number of children that turned out for the event, and after receiving brand new rods and reels, tackle boxes, and other goodies, the kids received their “NPAA Future Pro” T-Shirts that they were able to get signed by all the pros as they weighed in.

The NPAA is a non-profit organization focused on growing the sport of fishing and increasing the professionalism of its members. Its supporting partners include Northland Fishing Tackle, Navionics, Mercury Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Lund Boats, Ranger Boats, Off-Shore Tackle, Fin-Tech Tackle, Berkley, AIM Walleye Series, Masters Walleye Circuit, FLW Outdoors, Frabill, U.S. Forest Service, Liddle Marketing, FPS Financial Planning Services, Do-it Corp., Optima Batteries, John Butts Outdoors, Pasha Lake Cabins, Oahe Wings and Walleyes Guide Service, Outdoor First Media, Advanced Tex Screen Printing, Pro Staff Gear and Worldwide Marine Underwriters. More NPAA member and association news can be viewed at www.npaa.net.

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Waterfowl hunters will be able to harvest one more pintail a day during the 2010 South Dakota Duck Season, but will maintain the daily limit of three Canada geese for the regular waterfowl season.

The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission voted to increase the harvest limit on pintails, and had proposed an increase for Canada geese to five daily, but the United States Fish and Wildlife Service did not approve the increased limit.

Information on waterfowl seasons, including updated information on waterfowl densities after hunting seasons begin, visit online at http://www.gfp.sd.gov/hunting/waterfowl.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is funding a small project in Cavalier County to keep carp in the Pembina River drainage from entering the Devils Lake basin.

For the past few years the Game and Fish Department has been working with landowners and water boards in Cavalier and Ramsey counties in developing a plan that will keep carp out of Devils Lake. If carp were to enter Devils Lake, the carrying capacity of game fish populations would suffer dramatically and the nationally-renowned walleye and northern pike fishery would decline.

This fall, an existing road grade near Loma will be raised to serve as a permanent barrier. In addition, water flow through the area will be enhanced. All permits and approvals have been procured, and construction should be completed prior to next spring’s runoff.

North Dakota's 2010 fall duck flight is expected to be up 20 percent from last year.

Mike Johnson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department game management section leader, said the fall flight estimate is a combination of the breeding duck survey and the brood survey.

Results from the May breeding duck survey indicated the duck index was up 12 percent from 2009 and exceeded the long-term average by 107 percent.

Water conditions in May were up 5 percent from 2009 and 76 percent from the long-term average.

The mid-July waterfowl production survey revealed the duck brood index was up 14 percent from 2009 and 63 percent above the long-term average. Average brood size was 6.7 ducklings, down 0.4 from last year. The long‑term average is 7.1 ducklings per brood.

The water index in mid-July was down 14 percent from last year, but still 28 percent above the long-term average.

The index does not count every water body or duckling in the state. Instead, representative transects across the state are sampled each year. Over time, survey results provide biologists with trend information that allows annual comparisons of waterfowl production in the state.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota departments of Environment and Natural Resources and Game, Fish and Parks and South Dakota State University are working together to investigate dead and dying fish at Wall Lake in Minnehaha County.

The first calls reporting dead and distressed fish came Thursday. An initial investigation by GFP fisheries staff from Sioux Falls found a few dead fish, but thousands of others in distress near the surface of the lake.

Oxygen levels were found to be 0.5 to 0.8 parts-per-million (PPM), which is far below the normal of 5-10 PPM found during the summer.

“Prolonged exposure to oxygen levels this low could result in significantly more dead fish than we’re seeing now,” said Todd St. Sauver, Regional Fisheries Manager. “Based on the oxygen testing results and our observations, we believe Wall Lake is suffering a phenomenon commonly known as summerkill.”

Summerkill occurs when oxygen demands of all living organisms in a lake are greater than the oxygen produced through plant photosynthesis and the air/water interface. Runoff produced by heavy rains Wednesday night, combined with an overcast sky, all contributed to the condition.

“Biologists from DENR collected water samples Thursday afternoon, and there will be additional water and sediment samples collected for testing at SDSU,” St. Sauver said. “It may take several days to complete the tests, and we may not know the exact cause until then. The best we can hope for now is some sunshine and some wind to start raising the oxygen level.”

The City of Sioux Falls has designated a special disposal area for fish cleanup.

Fish waste brought to the landfill must be separated from other domestic solid waste materials and Wall Lake residents are the only residents eligible. Residents must stop at the landfill scale house and inform scale house employees of the contents of their load.

The GFP will also have a special lined container at the Wall Lake boat ramp for lake residents who need to dispose of fish waste.

General information regarding the Landfill, including hours of operation, rates, and materials accepted are located on the City’s web site at www.siouxfalls.org, or you may call the Landfill at (605) 367-8162.

Until testing is complete, the South Dakota Department of Health cautions people about using Wall Lake and consuming or handling fish from the lake.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries crews stocked a record number of walleye into state waters, according to Jerry Weigel, fisheries production and development section leader.

The Garrison Dam (10 million) and Valley City (1.5 million) national fish hatcheries produced 11.5 million fingerlings, besting the record of 10.9 million in 1991. “Fish quality and stocking conditions were great, with really nice fish and lots of cool water and flooded vegetation at the stocking sites,” Weigel said. “The federal hatchery system really delivered given the record walleye request this year.”

The record total was driven by a higher than normal request of 10.1 million fingerlings, with 4 million targeted for Lake Sakakawea.

“We had another 440,000 requested if surplus production occurred, and all of those requests were filled with most getting up to an additional 10 percent,” Weigel said. “In addition, we also supplied Wyoming and Iowa with walleyes as part of a trade or to cover their production shortages.”

Altogether, 114 lakes and rivers were stocked in North Dakota, Weigel said, covering every corner of the state. “Coupled with natural reproduction, we have set the stage for a phenomenal walleye year,” Weigel continued. “We will know more this fall when our crews follow up to check on survival rate of the stocked fish and determine the amount of natural reproduction.”