Anglers fishing on Upper Red Lake during the 2026 open-water season that starts Saturday, May 9, will have a five-walleye possession limit, with only one walleye longer than 17 inches allowed. This is the same regulation that was in place for the 2025 open-water season. "Upper Red Lake walleye have been managed at...

North Dakota's 2026-28 fishing proclamation is set, with regulations effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028. New fishing licenses are required April 1. Anglers can find the North Dakota 2026-28 Fishing Guide online at the state Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or at Game and Fish Department offices...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-03-16 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked walleye and Pike anglers on Lake of the woods. Tip up angling is slow for most folks, with mostly small fish being reported. Anglers are still reminded to only buy dead bait that has been certified VHS free. Violations f...

GFP Seeking Public Comment on Elk Action Plan Pierre, S.D. - During the March South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission meeting, the department provided information on the draft revision of the Elk Action Plan and recent public input. Elk populations in South Dakota occur in the Black Hills and a few limited a...

North Dakota anglers, hunters and trappers should note that new licenses are required beginning April 1. Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download...

New high-resolution camera and sound enhance user experience Falcons in the nest, photo taken with new camera in 2026 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' FalconCam is live for the 2026 nesting season. This year's livestream is using a new camera that offers a much sharper view of peregrine falcons - and, for...

By Doug Leier Whether you go by the calendar or conditions on the ground, winter in North Dakota is always a season of transition. Officially, the books say it starts Dec. 21 and wraps up March 21. For me, winter started with a true cold and snow snap just before Thanksgiving. For some, it didn't truly feel like winter...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-03-10 CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) patrolled the area trails for snowmobile activity. Time was spent providing the laws and ethics talk to a snowmobile safety class in Karlstad. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of snowmobile-related violations. C...

USA Today 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards has nominated Minnesota's Gitchi-Gami State Trail for Best Recreational Trail. Nominations are selected by a panel of experts and USA Today 10BEST editors. This Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-built and -managed paved trail is currently 36-miles. It crosses multiple sta...

Camping and lodging reservations for Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are available 120 days in advance, meaning reservations for early July are now open. For those who plan to camp this summer, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is sharing some helpful tips. Start by finding the right location Fir...

The North Dakota Game Wardens Association is sponsoring scholarships for the fall semester for higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field. Applications must be submitted by email to ndgamewardens@gmail.com no later than May 1.

Unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters beginning March 15. Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily. In addition, anglers are encouraged to look around and clean up the site if any trash is found left behind.

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their March meeting at the State Library in Pierre on March 5-6. FINALIZATIONS Iron Creek Lake No Wake Zone The Commission created a "No Wake Zone" on Iron Creek Lake in Lawrence County. Iron Creek Lake is a 24-acre impoundment, and th...

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission passed a resolution to end the current Nest Predator Bounty Program at their March meeting in Pierre and create two separate programs within the existing budget and time period. The Nest Predator Bounty Program began in 2019 with the implementation of the Second Ce...

In recognition of his outstanding overall career performance, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division named Conservation Officer Patrick McGowan the 2025 Conservation Officer of the Year. McGowan and four other conservation officers received awards last week during a ceremony at Camp Ripley. ...

Anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will have the opportunity to harvest three walleyes starting on the fishing opener on Saturday, May 9. Harvested walleyes must be 17 inches or greater, with only one over 20 inches. "We are pleased to keep the three-walleye limit for the open water season that was in place late last summ...

North Dakota Game and Fish Department harvest statistics show overall success for the 2025 season was 100% for bighorn sheep, 87% for moose and 62% for elk. Bighorn Sheep The Department issued eight bighorn sheep licenses, one of which was an auction license. The Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife issued two lic...

Proposed amendments include additional overnight lodging opportunities, redeveloping public water accesses and more The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments on two draft management plan amendments for Itasca State Park. The comment period is open through April 10. A state park management...

Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website, gf.nd.gov. The application deadline is March 25. A total of 1,062 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 102 from last year. A total of 296 moose licenses are available, which ...

By Doug Leier Early March often creates the impression that winter is nearly over. Day length is increasing, snow begins to settle, and we can see the finish line of our annual winter marathon. However, it's too early to assume pheasants and deer are going to win the race. Winter lingering on can impact wildlife surviv...