May 25–N.D. deer tag deadline is June 4
June 4 is the deadline for North Dakota deer hunters to apply for a 2014 gun season license. Hunters are encouraged to apply online at the State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
The deadline applies to muzzleloader, regular gun, gratis and nonresident landowner, and youth antlered mule deer applications (specifically for antlered mule deer in units 3B1, 3B2 and 4A through 4F).
Gratis applications received on or before the June 4 deadline will be issued an any-legal-deer license. As required by state law, applications received after the deadline will be issued based on licenses remaining after the lottery; generally, only antlerless licenses remain.
A new state law requires residents age 18 or older to prove residency on the application by submitting a valid North Dakota driver’s license number or a North Dakota nondriver photo identification number. Applications will not be processed without this information.
The deadline for regular statewide youth deer licenses is Sept. 1.
— N.D. Game and Fish Department
DNR proposes expanded sturgeon fishing
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing a statewide catch-and-release season for sturgeon in a package of several rule changes. Now, there are only a few waters in the state, including Lake of the Woods and Rainy River, where anglers can legally fish for sturgeon.
The rules package also includes a proposal to open designated trout lakes in Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing and Hubbard counties to winter trout fishing.
The DNR is accepting comments on the proposed rules at mndnr.gov/input/rules/fisheries/statewide.html.
— Minnesota DNR
Some N.D. lakes suffer winterkill
Despite colder-than-average winter temperatures, only a few North Dakota lakes experienced fish kills, the Game and Fish Department said.
According to Scott Gangl, fisheries management section leader, biologists have investigated winterkills at 11 lakes so far this spring, with only a few considered significant enough to affect the quality of fishing.
Lakes that appear to have suffered a significant kill include Leland Dam (McKenzie County), Island Lake (Rolette County) and the State Fair Pond (Ward County).
Fisheries personnel already have restocked these lakes with hatchery raised fish, or fish transported from another lake. The minor kills in some of the lakes were too insignificant to affect fishing.
— N.D. Game and Fish Department
Did you know?
— North Dakota anglers can fish for free June 7-8. All other fishing regulations apply.
— Minnesota’s Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is June 6-8, and residents 16 or older do not need a fishing license while taking an angler age 15 or younger, the DNR said. Info: mndnr.gov/fishmn.
— Compiled by Brad Dokken