North Dakota Game and Fish Update- Game and Fish violations tallied for 2018

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s enforcement division has tallied the number of hunting, angling and boating citations for 2018, and failure to carry a license was the number one violation.

Game wardens issued more than 2,400 citations last year, compared to 2,500 in 2017 and 2,300 citations in 2016.

Counties with the most violations were Ramsey (343), Williams (227), McKenzie (202), Burleigh (107) and Stutsman (94).

The most common violations and number issued in 2018 were:

• Licensing (622): failure to carry license (347); and hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license (219).

• Fishing (487): exceeding limit (187); aquatic nuisance species violations (86); and excessive lines (78).

• Boating (445): inadequate number of personal flotation devices (214); failure to display boat registration (58); and use of unlicensed/unnumbered boat (52).

• General (263): loaded firearm in vehicle (60); hunting on posted land without permission (54); and littering (42).

• Small game (242): using shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (60); failure to leave identification of sex on game (56); and exceeding limit (17).

• Miscellaneous (180): minor in possession (48); criminal trespass (27); possession of a controlled substance (25); and open container (21).

• Wildlife management areas/refuge (88): failure to obey posted regulations (50); and possession of glass beverage containers (21).

• Big game (57): tagging violations (21); failure to wear orange (10); and chronic wasting disease violations (10).

• Furbearer (34): shining/using artificial light (8); and illegal possession/taking (6).

A synopsis of 2018 violations is printed in the February issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

Youth grant program applications due in April

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations are urged to submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist recruitment of the next generation of hunters and shooters.

The maximum grant allowed is $3,000. The program currently helps fund approximately 40 club and organizational events and projects each year, with an average grant of $1,550.

Grant funds help cover event expenses, including promotional printing; event memorabilia such as shirts, caps or vests; ammunition and targets, and eye and ear protection.

Past funding has enabled groups to conduct youth pheasant and waterfowl hunts, or sponsor trap and other shooting events, including archery and rifle shooting. Game and Fish has a separate grant program that supports new high school trapshooting teams.

Any club or organization interested in conducting a youth hunting or shooting event can get more information, including a grant application, from the Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by contacting outreach biologist Pat Lothspeich at (701) 328-6332.

The deadline to apply for a 2019 grant is April 10.