North Dakota's river otter trapping season is closed. The statewide season's predetermined harvest limit of 30 has been reached. Only North Dakota residents were eligible to participate, with a season limit of one otter per trapper.

By Doug Leier What makes darkhouse spearfishing stand out from other types of fishing - especially in the winter? Is it more challenging? Absolutely. Does it bring a unique kind of success and satisfaction? No doubt about it. Fishing in winter already comes with its own set of challenges. Unlike summer, where your bigg...

Nonprofit organizations eligible to receive big game hunting licenses in 2026 must have the application submitted to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department no later than Jan. 1. North Dakota state law provides direction for the Game and Fish director to allocate big game hunting licenses to eligible organizations. U...

HuntLink is a new, voluntary program designed to help North Dakota landowners easily connect with hunters and trappers. The program offers a simple way to allow managed access for antlerless deer, coyotes, turkeys, and other species. For landowners experiencing wildlife depredation or looking for additional management ...

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working pheasant- and waterfowl-hunting activity. Waterfowl numbers had not increased in the area, causing a slow and uneventful end to the duck season. Some goose hunters found success. Questions were fielded regarding trespassing issues. A local private property owner who has histori...

By Doug Leier When most hunters think about prime time for pheasants, grouse or whitetails in North Dakota, early November usually comes to mind. Those crisp mornings, full stands of cover, and fields humming with activity. But there's a quiet opening near the season's back end - late November into early December - tha...

As snowmobile riders prepare for the upcoming riding season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds riders of important information about safety, registration and trail conditions. The snowmobile riding season can start as early as Dec. 1, but several conditions must be met before trails are opened, groo...

District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2025-11-24 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) and COC Jayden Frank spent the week checking deer hunters, assisting local agencies, and picking up an injured owl that will be transported to the Raptor Center. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms. CO Tony Hams (Warroa...

Hunting pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels or rabbits offers opportunities to enjoy the Minnesota outdoors as winter begins. "Winter is a fun time to get out in the crisp air and hunt small game," said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "...

The walleye limit for ice fishing season on Mille Lacs Lake will remain at three fish longer than 17 inches, only one of which can be longer than 20 inches. "Mille Lacs' walleye population is trending in a good direction for both adult and juvenile fish," said Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the M...

The 2025 river otter season harvest limit of 30 otters was reached on Friday, November 21 at 9:15 central time, and the season is now closed. River otters captured in existing traps in the next 24 hours are legal catches. Harvesting river otters by hunting is illegal now that the harvest limit has been reached. Furbear...

Cold weather is in the forecast, which has South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) biologists continuing to prepare for the transition from open water fishing to ice fishing season. "Throughout the late fall our staff are closely monitoring the weather forecast as we want to provide as much boat access as possible...

BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is monitoring sick and dead birds across the state in response to increasing reports from the public. Dr. Logan Weyand, Department wildlife veterinarian, said Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is likely the cause and has been confirmed through testing this fall...

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is reviewing and revising the 2025 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Action Plan. The CWD Action Plan assesses the risk of the disease for cervid populations in South Dakota, determines ways to address the disease, and implements future management steps when popula...

Minnesotans are encouraged to explore outdoors with friends and family over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle fees to all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Friday, Nov. 28. The DNR offers four "Free Park Days" each year to encourage Minnesot...

By Doug Leier When someone tells me they shot a limit of pheasants, reeled in a 15-pound northern pike or missed the biggest buck they ever saw, I can't help but picture my own moments - past hunts, good and not so good. It's only natural. A reference point forms from my own outdoor success and failure. But when that s...

Hook configuration and length rule also clarified The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has changed the rule surrounding ice anglers' use of automatic hook-setting devices and has clarified rules about multiple hook configurations and length. These fishing rule changes will be in effect for the upcoming ice fis...

New plan will guide state park's future recreation opportunities, resource management and interpretation he Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments on a draft management plan for Buffalo River State Park in Glyndon. The comment period is open through Dec. 17. The new management plan will se...

Featured Update CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) and Conservation Officer Candidate Jake Peterson worked on wrapping up various big-game violation investigations over the week. The COs interviewed a person who was found to have illegally taken a doe. It was found that the hunter shot out of the ATV window and across the ro...

Hunters can check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website (mndnr.gov/cwdcheck) for chronic wasting disease test results on the deer they've harvested. The site also shows statewide CWD test results, summary statistics and mapped locations of deer that have tested positive statewide. All test results from ...