Hunting seasons in full gear

With a couple of hunting seasons already open, and several more opening this weekend, many are beginning to think about the pursuit of fall game.

“We’re looking at pretty good seasons across the board although waterfowl would be the thing to watch with the dry weather,” said Jason Smith, game management technician for North Dakota Game and Fish in Jamestown.

“Most of the coteau has been dry. We’re worried about how much huntable water there is for waterfowl.”

Already open for sportsman are the crow season, which started Aug. 9, and the early Canada goose season, which opened Aug. 15 and closes Sept. 15, with the exception of an area along the Missouri River where the season closes Sept. 7.

The state’s regular goose hunting season opens Sept. 27 for residents and Oct. 4 for all hunters. The closing dates have not been finalized.

“That is one of the changes this season,” Smith said. “The Canada goose season opened earlier with an extended hunting season along the river later in the year.”

Opening at noon today are the deer and pronghorn archery seasons. The pronghorn season runs through Oct. 5 and the deer season Jan. 4. Mountain lion season also begins today and runs through March 31.

“The (mountain lion) season opens this weekend,” Smith said. “But we haven’t heard any reports of any cats in the area for quite awhile.”

For those looking for a little more plentiful game a number of seasons open in September and October.

For waterfowl, there is a special youth season tentatively open Sept. 20 and 21. The resident opener for ducks and geese is scheduled for Sept. 27 with the regular season opener for ducks, geese and swans slated for Oct. 4.

Approximately 800 tundra swan licenses are still available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For upland game the mourning dove season opens on Sept. 1, grouse and squirrel seasons open Sept. 13, sandhill crane opens Sept. 20, a youth pheasant season opens Oct. 4 followed by the regular pheasant season on Oct. 11 and the fall turkey season also opens on Oct. 11.

Prospective turkey hunters can still get a license for some of the western North Dakota zones on a first- come, first-served basis. Only zone 15, located in Emmons County, still has turkey licenses available east of the Missouri River.

And there are still licenses available for the upcoming deer gun season.

“We still have licenses available around Jamestown in 2-J2, 2-F2, 2-G and 2-I,” Smith said. “The best way to get these licenses is on the Internet. It’s pretty quick, usually a two-day turn around.”

The gun season for deer runs from noon on Nov. 7 to sunset Nov. 23.

More information about licenses and seasons is available on the Web at www.gf.nd.gov.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com

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