The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has scheduled two public auctions for confiscated fishing, hunting and trapping equipment. The auctions, which will be held online Aug. 31 and Sept. 28, include equipment that was confiscated following serious game and fish violations. Following are additional key dates: A ...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds anglers to review state regulations and safety guidelines to protect fish populations during the late-summer fishing season. Anglers intending to release a fish after catching must do so immediately after unhooking the fish. The only exception to this rule is the minima...

If you've spent any time driving the backroads of North Dakota over the last few decades, you know the sight well - inverted yellow triangles indicating a Private Land Open To Sportsmen tract. What started as a visionary idea to bridge the gap between private landowners and public hunters has grown into a modern-day fo...

Collared bears provide important data to inform management decisions The Minnesota bear hunting season opens Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to avoid shooting marked research bears. These bears have large, colorful ear tags and wear radio collars. Researchers with t...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-08-17 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked angles on Lake of the Woods and monitored bear-baiting activity. A complaint was received about early baits being established. Anglers were found in possession of over their limit of walleyes, using too many lines, posse...

North Dakota's deer bow season opens Sept. 4 at noon and continues through Jan. 3, 2027. Nonresident hunters should note that they may only hunt on private land, excluding Private Land Open To Sportsmen, during the first 9 ½ days of the deer bow season. They may begin hunting public land and PLOTS on Sept. 14. B...

The fall turkey season is set with 3,700 licenses available to hunters, 610 fewer than last year. License numbers in 13 of 21 hunting units are recommended to be reduced this fall, the remaining hunting units will have the same number of licenses as in 2025. The special flock reduction bow season will close on Jan. 3, ...

North Dakota law requires all waterfowl hunters, regardless of age, to have a state-issued waterfowl habitat restoration electronic stamp in possession while afield. Waterfowl include ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots. In addition, a federal duck stamp is required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older beginning Se...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's Private Land Open To Sportsmen maps for 2026 are available online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. This year features about 925,000 PLOTS acres. Because PLOTS tracts can be added or removed from the program throughout the year, hunters are encouraged to use the Game a...

By Doug Leier On a beautiful morning at the Cass County Soil Conservation District Office south of Mapleton, I watched them all come together. Literally. Richard Fordyce, USDA under secretary, Sen. John Hoeven, Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Jeb Williams, Game and Fish director, and a few dozen others. Some set out at 4 a.m. to...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program recently awarded $2.1 million dollars to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Walk-In Access Program to increase public access to private lands for wildlife-based recreation. The US...

As the 2026 wild rice season approaches, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters that, while Aug. 15 is the earliest possible legal harvest date, rice stands must also be ripe before they can be harvested legally. "While Aug. 15 is the official opening date, most rice waters aren't ripe by...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, local wildlife clubs and other sponsors will host the 19th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival Sept. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Game and Fish Conservation and Outdoors Skills Park on the grounds of the North Dakota State Fair. Young outdoor enthusiasts will get to partake in a ...

North Dakota's pronghorn lottery has been held and all 1,310 licenses were issued. In total, 17,640 applications were received, including 814 gratis applications.

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-08-10 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) assisted teaching wilderness safety and survival at Lake Bronson State Park to area 4H. ATV activity monitored in Beltrami Island State Forest, with a fair number of berry pickers utilizing the forest. Minor ATV infractions enco...

A total of 2,200 tundra swan licenses are available by lottery for the 2026 season. The deadline to apply is Aug. 19 North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $50. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the sea...

North Dakota's 2026 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, with some noteworthy changes from last year. These changes include: Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 26. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota on Monday, Oct. 5. Starting...

North Dakota's early Canada goose season dates are set, with bag limits and licensing requirements the same as last year. Opening day is Aug. 15 in all three zones. Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone; Sept. 15 in the western zone; and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone. Early Canada goose limits are 15 dail...

A deer near Stillwater has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease. The female deer was reported to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources by a landowner who observed it for several days and noted it was unafraid of people and appeared emaciated. On July 16, the deer died and was retrieved by DNR sta...

by Doug Leier I'll never tire from stressing the importance of safety because hunting, fishing and spending time outdoors is beneficial in multiple ways. Outdoor recreation brings people - old friends, new acquaintances, family - together. If you simply need time away from stress at work or need to refocus, the outdoo...