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June 25, 2018
- Wildlife Management Area Regulations Prohibit Fireworks
- Spring Pheasant Count Down from Last Year
- Put Garbage Where it Belongs
 Wildlife Management Area
Regulations Prohibit Fireworks
The North Dakota Game and
Fish Department reminds citizens that possession or use of fireworks on state
wildlife management areas is prohibited.
The primary objective of a
wildlife management area is to enhance wildlife production, provide hunting and
fishing opportunities, and offer other outdoor recreational and educational
uses that are compatible with these objectives. Only activities that would not
disrupt the intentions of how these areas are managed are encouraged, and a
fireworks display is not compatible.
In addition, the Game and
Fish Department will lift the Tuesday-Wednesday
no-camping restriction for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday on only those WMAs that have this two-day restriction in place. This waiver
will allow overnight camping July 3-4.
Other WMA regulations
include:
·
An equipment registration number, or
the individual’s name, address and telephone number, must be displayed on all
equipment requiring identification, such as ground blinds, tree stands, cameras
and traps.
·
Use of drones, or any unmanned
radio-controlled aircraft, is prohibited unless authorized by the Game and Fish
director.
·
Construction or use of a permanent tree
stand or permanent ground blind is prohibited. Portable tree stands are allowed.
·
Placing of bait for any purpose is
prohibited.
·
Unless otherwise designated, motorized
vehicles are restricted to established trails or parking areas.
·
Paintballing and geocaching are
prohibited.
·
Disposal of waste materials is
prohibited except in garbage containers.
·
Camping for longer than 10 consecutive
days is prohibited. However, some WMAs are closed to camping, while others have
further restrictions.
·
Group activities involving more than 25
people require a permit.
A complete list of the WMA regulations is
available on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.
Spring Pheasant Count Down from Last
Year
North Dakota’s spring
pheasant population index is down 30 percent from the same time last year,
according to the state Game and Fish Department’s 2018 spring crowing count
survey.
R.J. Gross, upland
game management biologist, said the number of roosters heard crowing this
spring was down statewide, with decreases ranging from 15 to 38 percent in the
primary regions holding pheasants.
“We entered spring
with a lower than average number of adult birds,” Gross said. “Last year’s
production was far below average due to the statewide drought conditions.”
However, Gross said
the past winter was good for bird survival, so hens should be in good physical
shape for the nesting season.
“In addition, this
spring’s weather has been good so far, as most of the state has received
adequate rainfall,” he added. “If the trend continues, a good hatch should be
expected, but it will take a few years of good reproduction to get the
population back to where it was before the drought.”
While the spring
number is an indicator, Gross said it does not predict what the fall population
will look like. Brood surveys, which begin in late July and are completed by
September, provide a much better estimate of summer pheasant production and
what hunters might expect for a fall pheasant population.
Pheasant crowing
counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive
specified 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the
number of pheasant roosters heard crowing over a two-minute period during the
stop.
The number of
pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend
summary.
Put Garbage Where it
Belongs
The North Dakota Game and
Fish Department reminds outdoor recreationists to keep it clean this summer by
packing out all trash.
All garbage, including used
fireworks, should be placed in a proper trash receptacle. If trash cans aren’t
available, or are full, take the trash and dispose of it at home.
It is not uncommon to see
garbage piling up around full trash containers. Styrofoam containers are not
biodegradable, but yet are often found wedged in cattails, drifting or washed
up on shore.
Tires, mattresses and
kitchen appliances have found their way to public use areas. This illegal
dumping is costly to clean up and takes a significant toll on the environment.
Not only does it spoil the beauty of the land, it destroys habitat, has the
potential to pollute North Dakota waters and can injure wildlife.
Littering violations should
be reported by calling the Report All Poachers hotline at 701-328-9921.
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