North Dakota Game and Fish Report: Feb. 24, 2020

Spring Light Goose Conservation Order

North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens Feb. 22 and continues through May 10.

Residents must have a valid current season 2019-20 (valid through March 31) or 2020-21 (required April 1) combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Resident youth under age 16 only need the general game and habitat license. The 2020-21 license is available for purchase beginning March 15.

Nonresidents need a 2020 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and is valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in the spring remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring license does not count against the 14-day fall waterfowl hunting season regulation.

In addition, nonresident youth under age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee if their state has youth reciprocity licensing with North Dakota.

A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents.

Resident and nonresident licenses are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov, or by calling 800-406-6409.

Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number can be obtained online, or by calling 888-634-4798. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota’s spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota’s fall hunting season.

The spring conservation order is only open to light geese – snows, blues, and Ross’s. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The conservation order is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

For more information on regulations refer to the 2020 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations and the North Dakota 2019-20 Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Game and Fish Violations Tallied for 2019

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s enforcement division has tallied the number of hunting, angling and boating citations for 2019, and failure to carry a license was the number one violation.

Game wardens issued more than 2,300 citations last year. Counties with the most violations were Ramsey (227), Williams (215) and McKenzie (188).

The most common violations and number issued were:

• Licensing (496): failure to carry license (240); and hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license (213).

• Fishing (475): exceeding limit (158); aquatic nuisance species violations (153); and fishing with excessive lines (48).

• Boating (422): inadequate number of personal flotation devices (206); failure to display boat registration (49); and use of unlicensed/unnumbered boat (49).

• General (289): hunting on posted land without permission (67); loaded firearm in vehicle (54); littering (37); and use of motor vehicle in restricted area (37).

• Small game (280): using shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (74); failure to leave identification of sex on game (33); and hunting in unharvested field (28).

• Miscellaneous (160): minor in possession (40); criminal trespass (35); and possession of a controlled substance (28).

• Big game (91): tagging violations (27); chronic wasting disease violations (19); and failure to wear fluorescent orange (17).

• Wildlife management areas/refuge (76): failure to obey posted regulations (31); tree stand violations (17); and possession of glass beverage containers (14).

• Furbearer (25): harassing with motor vehicle (5); hunting/trapping in a closed season (5); and untagged snares (4).

A synopsis of 2019 violations is printed in the February issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS, the Game and Fish Department's official magazine.

Virus the cause of Eurasian Collared Dove mortalities

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has received numerous reports of dead and dying Eurasian collared doves in the Bismarck-Mandan area since December. Pigeon paramyxovirus-1 has been confirmed as the cause of death.

PPMV-1 primarily affects Eurasian collared doves and pigeons and is believed to spread by direct contact between birds. Mourning doves are also susceptible, although no deaths have been reported. There is no treatment or vaccine for PPMV-1, but impacts of the disease can be reduced through limiting congregations of birds by removing bird feeders and baths, and by disposing of carcasses.

Game and Fish is working to document the extent of the disease outbreak. Anyone who has observed three or more dead birds in North Dakota over the last two months is asked to email the Game and Fish wildlife health lab at [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, address and number of birds observed.