The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging homeowners to remove birdfeeders now and check their property for food sources that could attract bears. Most of the female bears with cubs and yearlings are still near their denning areas, but some full-grown bears are starting to emerge from dens to find a ...

District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2025-03-24 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) helped instruct at the waterfowl enforcement school, which was held at Whitewater State Park and attended by graduated of the previous CO Academy. The training is held in the spring at this location to show the cadets thousands of migrating wate...

The Minnesota DNR completed its annual aerial elk population survey over the winter in northwest Minnesota, in Kittson, Marshall, Roseau and Beltrami counties where elk are found in three distinct herds, or groups. The DNR conducted the survey Jan. 5-7 when weather and snow conditions allowed managers the best opportun...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is prohibiting open burning on public property it manages south of Bismarck and Mandan, to reduce the potential for wildfires in a heavily wooded recreation area along the Missouri River. All open burning, including campfires, is banned until further notice on the Oahe Wildlife...

Who doesn't love the #monarch butterfly? We know they need some help! U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reopens Public Comment Period for Monarch Butterfly Endangered Species Act Listing Proposal The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as ...

By Doug Leier Like many growing up hunting, fishing and trapping, my memories of our North Dakota game wardens were my first exposure to natural resource law enforcement. In LaMoure, it was Harold Bellin. In Valley City, Delbert Tibke. Prior to becoming a game warden myself, I rode along with Ken Skuza who took me unde...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2025-03-17 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked tip-up northern pike anglers and walleye/sauger anglers on Lake of the Woods. Tip-up anglers are reminded that when using dead bait to only use VHS-certified bait. Angling success has been spotty, but some pike anglers a...

North Dakota anglers, trappers and hunters should note that new licenses are required beginning April 1. Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Once the license is processed, hunters and anglers will have the option to print a hard copy and/or download...

Anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will have the opportunity to harvest two walleye daily during the upcoming open water season, which begins on Saturday, May 10, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 30. Harvested walleye must be 17 inches or greater, and only one of them can be over 20 inches. Following years of restrictive reg...

Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website, gf.nd.gov. The application deadline is March 26. A total of 960 elk licenses are available to hunters this fall, an increase of 127 from last year. Unit E7 was created to increase elk hunting opportuni...

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow's Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters. The program supports projects and events that pro...

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow's Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters. The program supports projects and events that pro...

As open water fishing on the Missouri River picks up during the spring bite, anglers should note that the drain plug must always remain out of the boat during transport, whether going to or away from the river. In addition, to keep waters clean of aquatic nuisance species, all water users should clean, drain and dry al...

By Doug Leier Years ago in grade school we took a field trip to Valley City National Fish Hatchery. Even now I don't think I fully appreciated what was right in our own backyard. I know back then I certainly didn't. What I did know is that I loved to fish. I was fascinated by the hatchery setting along the Sheyenne Riv...

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) held their March Commission meeting at the Ramkota River Center March 6-7. The Commission had several proposals for upcoming seasons and one finalization. WILDLIFE PROPOSALS Public Lands and Waters The Commission continued discussions to align two rules with the United States...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is postponing the elk research project in northwest Minnesota due to scheduling delays and unfavorable conditions to safely and successfully capture and collar elk. Capture efforts were planned for January 2025, when temperature and snow conditions are typically optimal for...

Starting March 11, the daily and possession limit for yellow perch on Mille Lacs Lake will be reduced from 20 to five. This regulation will be in place through Nov. 30. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is implementing this adjustment to the daily and possession limit to help maintain a good perch populatio...

District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2025-03-10 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and patrolled Hayes Lake and area wildlife management areas. Enforcement contacts included an angler in possession of an illegal-length walleye and anglers in possession of fileted, frozen walleye fillets on ...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division in February formally recognized 18 people and one dog for their lifesaving actions during 2024 and so far in 2025. Those awarded for their efforts included: conservation officers Matthew Boyle, Levi Brown, Michael Cross, Andrew Dirks, Michael Fairbanks,...

The North Dakota Game Wardens Association is sponsoring scholarships for the fall semester for higher education students interested in majoring in wildlife law enforcement or a related field. Applications must be submitted by email to ndgamewardens@gmail.com no later than May 1.