By Doug Leier North Dakota has a year-round fishing season, and every spring conversations pop up at gas stations, watering holes, cafe's and online. It often starts when anglers see photos of big, egg-laden walleyes or northern pike taken before spawning. That leads to questions: Should we have a closed season? Should...

Learn more at April 30 webinar; provide feedback by May 7 Anglers, hunters and trappers are invited to attend an informational webinar on Thursday, April 30 from noon-1 p.m., and share their thoughts with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about the state's annual hunting, trapping, and fishing regulations b...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages moms who live in Minnesota to join a free virtual fishing challenge during Take a Mom Fishing Weekend Saturday, May 9, through Sunday, May 10, when Minnesota moms can fish without purchasing a fishing license. "Fishing has always been one of my favorite trad...

District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-04-13 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) assisted with getting an injured sharp-shinned hawk to the Raptor Center, assisted recovering a sick moose, which was then transported to state wildlife veterinarians, and responded to a nuisance-bear report, assisting an elderly female with cle...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announces the 2026 winners of the Earth Day Patch Contest. Over 1,600 students from 61 schools entered this year's contest. Winners in four age categories are Ainsley Wolsky, Carrington (K-3); Carson Moon, Stanley (4-6); Jace Heinrich, Velva (7-9); and Eve Eaton, Hazelton (10-1...

North Dakota's paddlefish season opens May 1 and is scheduled to continue through May 21. However, depending on the overall harvest, an early in-season closure may occur with a 24-hour notice issued by the state Game and Fish Department. Paddlefish tags are available for purchase online at the Game and Fish website, gf...

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their April meeting in Pierre at the Matthews Training Center on April 9-10. Petitions The Commission accepted a petition to align dates for both cow elk and bull elk tags in Unit 4 of the Black Hills elk season. The petition requested to open c...

The ice is gone from most lakes in the southern part of Minnesota and ice on many northern lakes is melting quickly. It's already common to see anglers and paddlers on open water, but with water temperatures dangerously low, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds anyone who's around lakes, rivers and pon...

By Doug Leier The beginning of my career as a game warden provided many stories. Good. bad. Funny. And sometimes sad. Among the lessons learned was "never say never." And I'm guessing from his story for Behind the Badge, that Shawn Sperling, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden, can rela...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages boat owners to renew expired watercraft registrations before this year's boating season. The DNR urges boat owners to renew online (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) or in person rather than by mail. People can renew in person at a local deputy registrar's office (dps.mn.go...

Spring turkey hunting in Minnesota begins this month, with opportunities available from Wednesday, April 15, through Saturday, May 31. There are six seasons labeled A-F. Wild turkey hunting is popular in Minnesota and turkey hunting - including setting decoys, listening for gobbles and calling to birds - can make for a...

Prospective bear hunters have until Friday, May 1, to apply for a bear hunting license from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Hunters can submit applications for the 2026 season online, at any license agent or by phone at 888-665-4236. People can apply for preference only, which will accrue a preference po...

A total of 36,353 North Dakota deer hunters took approximately 20,877 deer during the 2025 deer gun hunting season, according to a post-season survey conducted by the state Game and Fish Department. Game and Fish made available 42,300 deer gun licenses last year. Overall hunter success was 57%, with each hunter spendin...

By Doug Leier If you haven't picked up your new fishing or combination license yet, consider this your friendly reminder. The old one expired at the end of March, and the new license year begins April 1. If you're like most, it's on your to-do list ... just not necessarily at the top. You meant to take care of it earli...

Whooping cranes are migrating and sightings will increase as they make their way through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state should report sightings so the birds can be tracked. The whooping cranes that do travel through North Dakota are part of ...

Weekly CO report District 1 - Baudette area Last updated: 2026-03-30 CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spoke at multiple firearms safety classes throughout the week, giving the laws and ethics talk. Time was spent patrolling for ATV activity throughout the area. CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area ang...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this spring at eight locations across the state. These public meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. The district 7 meeting in ...

Keen EagleCam viewers catch a glimpse of a chick in the nest Eagle chick (circled in red) in the nest on March 26. DNR staff were alerted to the chick's arrival and confirmed the sighting thanks to the many keen EagleCam viewers watching closely. Based on observations, staff believe the first chick hatched Thursday, Ma...

By Doug Leier North Dakota watercraft owners getting set for open water fishing should know that 2026 marked the beginning of a new three-year registration cycle. Whether you're getting ready for a summer on the lake or planning a quiet paddle down a local river, making sure your watercraft registration is current is a...

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