North Dakota's 2026 deer season is set, with 39,100 licenses available to hunters, down 3,200 from last year, the lowest total in over a half century. Muzzleloader licenses were also reduced, and antlerless deer gun licenses are not available in several units. A total of 240 nonresident any deer archery licenses are av...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced today that the state's 2026 paddlefish snagging season will close Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Central time to any additional harvest to provide long-term protection of the paddlefish population. An additional snag-and-release extended season will begin May 9 and run throu...

Anglers are invited to participate in the fifth annual North Dakota Fish Challenge. The challenges encourage exploration of North Dakota's many fisheries, and this year promote the joy of just catching a fish, no matter the size or species, with the newly added 100 Fish Challenge. To complete the challenge, just catch ...

By Doug Leier By mid-May, some North Dakota anglers have had weeks on the water since the new license season of April 1 began. That's a subtle reminder to purchase your new license if you haven't already. If your boat registration is expired, it's time to renew. Both of which can be done efficiently on the Game and Fis...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has certified a new catch-and-release state record lake sturgeon, an 80-inch fish caught by Travis Keating April 18 on the Rainy River in Lake of the Woods County. Keating called the sturgeon "the biggest fish of my life." He caught the fish on an annual lake stur...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asks that people avoid disturbing or touching deer fawns, which are born around this time of year. Most fawns are born from mid-May to mid-June, and do not attempt to evade predators during their first few weeks of life. Instead, they remain still to avoid being seen. Durin...

Featured Update CO Ben Karon (Pine City) continued active patrol in area state forests and other public lands for reoccurring violations. Most commonly, people are continuing to shoot dangerously and illegally all while managing to make the area look worse than when they arrived. It is not uncommon for people to shoot ...

May 3-9 is Aquatic Nuisance Species Awareness Week. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Water Resources, encourage all recreationists to take an active role in preventing the spread of ANS to the state's waters through awareness and responsible recreation. ANS a...

Minnesota cougar kittens documented on camera by Voyageurs Wolf Project For the first time in more than 100 years, evidence of cougars reproducing in Minnesota was documented in video captured by the University of Minnesota's Voyageurs Wolf Project (youtu.be/7EL1FRB11DU). The videos, shared with the Minnesota Departmen...

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 purchase preference only, which will increase preference lev...

By Doug Leier By the time you're a high school senior, you've probably heard it all if you've mentioned an interest in wildlife, fisheries, or the outdoors as a career. "That'd be a fun job ... but you better have a backup plan." I've worked in the natural resource field long enough to know there's truth mixe...

District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-04-27 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked area turkey hunting and trapping activity. He also investigated a trespass. A felon was arrested for possessing a firearm. CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports checking turkey hunters and monitoring trapping activity throughout the week...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resource invites anyone interested in fisheries management of Mille Lacs Lake to an informational meeting on the Thursday evening before fishing opener. The in-person meeting is scheduled to discuss the status of the fishery, background on the creel survey program and 2026 results, s...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is sponsoring professional development for educator workshops this summer in Bismarck and Dickinson. Using the Visual Arts to Teach Life Science - June 9-10, Game and Fish office, Bismarck. This fun and fast-paced workshop will emphasize North Dakota resources, environment and...

By Doug Leier By design, electronic posting continues to evolve. This program was the first ever in the nation and the Game and Fish Department continues to work with all stakeholders to adjust, improve, adapt and methodically roll out changes. New this year, landowners have the option to electronically post their land...

Anglers looking for local fishing information before the Saturday, May 9 fishing opener can check the regional fishing outlooks from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The outlooks provide details about fishing opportunities and conditions in different parts of the state, including for specific lakes, river...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-04-20 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked turkey hunters and monitored trapping throughout the week. Cold temps kept most of the turkey hunters indoors, but some ventured out and harvested birds. CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking Turkey hunte...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has finalized its multi-year effort to update the state's long-range plan for muskellunge. The plan is available on the DNR muskie webpage (mndnr.gov/muskie) and will be used to guide muskie management in Minnesota through 2040. The plan uses information from recently compl...

To protect spawning fish, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has begun to close certain portions of some Minnesota waters. The closings are routine and based on local conditions. Closings happen each year as ice melts and waters begin to warm. The DNR closes spawning locations to fishing only where habitat i...

Volunteer instructors for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department were recently recognized at the annual banquet in Bismarck. Bruce Baer, Belfield, was recognized as Hunter Education Instructor of the Year, while the Hunter Education Team of the Year honor went to Johnathan Bahm, Michael Bahm, Kevin Lech and Leah Van...