By Doug Leier The beginning of my career as a game warden provided many stories. Good. bad. Funny. And sometimes sad. Among the lessons learned was "never say never." And I'm guessing from his story for Behind the Badge, that Shawn Sperling, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden, can rela...

Featured Update CO Robert Haberman (NE EEO) presented at a Board of Water and Soil Resources training for soil and water conservation district staff, focusing on relevant program updates and field applications. Haberman conducted ATV enforcement efforts, ensuring compliance with regulations and promoting safe and respo...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages boat owners to renew expired watercraft registrations before this year's boating season. The DNR urges boat owners to renew online (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) or in person rather than by mail. People can renew in person at a local deputy registrar's office (dps.mn.go...

Spring turkey hunting in Minnesota begins this month, with opportunities available from Wednesday, April 15, through Saturday, May 31. There are six seasons labeled A-F. Wild turkey hunting is popular in Minnesota and turkey hunting - including setting decoys, listening for gobbles and calling to birds - can make for a...

Minnesota's popular stream trout season opens Saturday, April 11, with quality fishing opportunities in every region of the state. Brook trout and splake fishing also open on April 11 for Lake Superior and its tributary streams. Trout anglers can find information on Minnesota's trout streams on the Minnesota Department...

Prospective bear hunters have until Friday, May 1, to apply for a bear hunting license from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Hunters can submit applications for the 2026 season online, at any license agent or by phone at 888-665-4236. People can apply for preference only, which will accrue a preference po...

A total of 36,353 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 20,877 deer during the 2025 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish made available 42,300 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 57%, with each hunter spendin...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's 2025 bighorn sheep survey, completed by recounting lambs in March, revealed a record 378 bighorn sheep in the badlands of western North Dakota, up 8% from 2024 and 10% above the five-year average. The 2025 survey was the fifth record count in the past six years. Brett Wiedman...

By Doug Leier If you haven't picked up your new fishing or combination license yet, consider this your friendly reminder. The old one expired at the end of March, and the new license year begins April 1. If you're like most, it's on your to-do list ... just not necessarily at the top. You meant to take care of it earli...

Whooping cranes are migrating and sightings will increase as they make their way through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state should report sightings so the birds can be tracked. The whooping cranes that do travel through North Dakota are part of ...

A 3-pound yellow perch caught March 1 by Wisconsin angler Alan Hintz is the new state record, according to North Dakota Game and Fish Department personnel. Hintz caught the 16.5-inch perch through the ice in the Pelican Bay area on Devils Lake. The previous record of 2 pounds, 15 ounces, also from Devils Lake, was set ...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-03-30 CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spoke at multiple firearms safety classes throughout the week, giving the laws and ethics talk. Time was spent patrolling for ATV activity throughout the area. CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area ang...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this spring at eight locations across the state. These public meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. The district 7 meeting in ...

Keen EagleCam viewers catch a glimpse of a chick in the nest Eagle chick (circled in red) in the nest on March 26. DNR staff were alerted to the chick's arrival and confirmed the sighting thanks to the many keen EagleCam viewers watching closely. Based on observations, staff believe the first chick hatched Thursday, Ma...

By Doug Leier North Dakota watercraft owners getting set for open water fishing should know that 2026 marked the beginning of a new three-year registration cycle. Whether you're getting ready for a summer on the lake or planning a quiet paddle down a local river, making sure your watercraft registration is current is a...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging homeowners to remove birdfeeders now and check their property for food sources that could attract bears. While most female bears with cubs and yearlings are still near their denning areas, some full-grown bears are starting to emerge from their dens in search...

The most recent Minnesota moose population estimate is approximately 4,470 animals, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' 2026 population survey. Results suggest that after a steep decline from a population estimate of 8,000 in 2009, Minnesota's moose population appears to have somewhat leveled, f...

Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications must be submitted online before midnight, March 25. Applicants can apply by visiting My Account at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website, gf.nd.gov. Elk, moose and bighorn sheep lottery licenses are issued as once-in-a-lifetime licenses in North Dakota. Hunters wh...

The state Game and Fish Department's annual spring aerial mule deer survey is scheduled for April 1-24 in western North Dakota and typically takes about two weeks to complete, weather permitting. During the survey period, people could notice low-flying small airplanes over some parts of the badlands. Game and Fish biol...

North Dakota's waterfowl season opens for residents Sept. 26, while nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl Oct. 5. The resident-only portion of the season has been extended from seven days in previous years to nine days in 2026. This change, which was first presented to the public starting summer 2025, provides addit...