PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their September meeting at the Holiday Inn Express in Winner. FINALIZATIONS Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations The Commission added golden mussels to the current list of Aquatic Invasive Species. Currently, golden mussels have established popu...

Sept. 18 at noon Central time signals the start of a nine-and-a-half-day deer hunting season for licensed youth hunters. The youth license is valid during the youth deer season that closes Sept. 27, and the regular deer gun season running from Nov. 6-22. After opening day, hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise t...

North Dakota's two-day youth waterfowl season is Sept. 19-20. In addition, the special veteran and active military personnel waterfowl season is set for the same weekend. Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters 15 and younger, and veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, includ...

North Dakota's sandhill crane season opens Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 15. Limits are three daily and nine in possession in unit 1 (west of U.S. Highway 281), and two daily and six in possession in unit 2 (east of U.S. Highway 281). Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day, with extended shoot...

Annual August roadside survey also includes other species, with the cottontail rabbit index similar to last year he Minnesota pheasant index is up nearly 20% in the 2026 Minnesota August Roadside Survey, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "The increase in the pheasant index across the stat...

North Dakota's late summer roadside surveys indicated pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse numbers are slightly up from last year, while gray partridge numbers are down. Total pheasants observed (80 per 100 miles) are up 3.8% from last year. Broods per 100 miles (9.6) and average brood size (5.3) are similar to last year....

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-09-08 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked bear hunters throughout the first few days of the bear season. Anglers and boaters were also checked at the Northwest Angle. Violations for the week included hunters using unregistered bear baits, overlimit of bears, tra...

By Doug Leier The 2026 archery deer season opened Sept. 4, and regular deer gun season opens at noon Friday, Nov. 6. Before hunters head afield this year, North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials are reminding sportsmen and women that protecting the state's deer herd remains a shared responsibility. The departm...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advises boaters to take extra care at public water access sites throughout Minnesota, where ongoing drought conditions continue to cause low water levels. Nearly all of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with conditions ranging from moderate to extreme drought...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department allocated five bighorn sheep licenses for the 2026 hunting season. This includes one auction license and four lottery licenses, three fewer than 2025. "The reduction in hunting licenses should not be regarded as bad news for the state's population of bighorn sheep," s...

Hunters can help in the effort to manage upland game birds in North Dakota by collecting feathers from harvested birds and sending in wing envelopes. Biologists can determine if birds are male or female, age ratios, survival, nesting success, hatch dates and overall production, all of which is vital to helping manage N...

North Dakota's fall turkey application deadline is Sept. 2. Fall turkey hunters, including gratis applicants, can submit an online application through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website, gf.nd.gov. Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply. Nonresidents can apply for remaining fall turkey licen...

By Doug Leier The Report All Poachers call I received when I was a game warden was from an elderly lady who watched a young man intentionally run over a couple of squirrels. Doesn't sound like a big poaching crime but I'll never forget how angry she was. This "poacher" swerved to run over one squirrel, then c...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday no-camping restriction for Labor Day week, which will allow overnight camping Sept. 8-9 on those wildlife management areas that otherwise have this two-day restriction in place. A complete list of WMA regulations is available on the Game and Fish...

Minnesota waterfowl seasons are around the corner, and hunters have a wide variety of opportunities to look forward to in 2026, with seasons starting Saturday, Sept. 5. Early teal season runs Saturday, Sept. 5 through Wednesday, Sept. 9, with shooting hours from sunrise to sunset. "Hunters should review the regula...

Hunters and others enjoying the outdoors this fall should be aware of the daily fire index, take precaution and be prepared. Many parts of the state remain dry with ample fuel for wildfire. Fall remains a risk period due to increased human activity outdoors in rural areas, drying ground vegetation and high wind potenti...

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports bear hunters continue to prepare for opening day with baiting activities as the excitement of fall begins. Wild rice has provided a promising harvest opportunity this season if you are able to beat the waterfowl to your favorite location. With the help of a Koochiching County deputy, ...

By Doug Leier With fall fast approaching, North Dakota's hunting seasons have already opened. The 2026 season officially kicked off Aug. 15 with the early Canada goose management season. Depending on the hunting zone, the first closure is Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone, followed by Sept. 15 in the western zone and ...

Firearm and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area that is designated as antlerless permit lottery must purchase their license by Thursday, Sept. 10. Hunters who purchase their license (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) by Sept. 10 are automatically entered into the lottery for the DPA they...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-08-24 CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking bear baits in the woods. Enforcement action was taken for bait materials that are not readily biodegradable and for abandoned property on a WMA. CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week working ...