On the morning of Thursday, Feb. 9, Bismarck recorded a low temperature of 15 below zero, the third day in a row of sub-zero readings. At that time, I don't think anyone could have predicted North Dakota would have snow geese within its borders just over a week later when the spring light goose...

For a biologist, getting out in the field and collecting data is an important and usually enjoyable part of the job. While I don't spend as much time in the field as a specific wildlife or fisheries biologist, I do have a variety of assignments that come up unexpectedly, like checking for zebra...

Let's cut to the chase this week and get to the important details of the 2016 waterfowl hunting seasons. Technically, they already started with early goose in mid-August, and now continue on with youth weekend, the resident opener and regular opener on three consecutive weekend. Biologists...

For hunters my age, the acronym HIP associated with the outdoors isn't anything new. While anywhere beyond two decades ago, HIP might have meant "aware" or "fashionable," to those of us familiar with the migratory bird hunting world today, it also refers to the Harvest Information Program...

In case you missed, it North Dakota's spring light goose season opened Saturday Feb. 20 and no it's not too early of a season. South Dakota's opened February 15 and Minnesota's March 1. The first I heard of reports of Canada geese were the weekend of February 20th and even prior to that some...

One of the final pieces of North Dakota's fall hunting picture is the setting of waterfowl season. While the moose and elk season was set way back in March, followed by deer, pronghorn, small game and fall turkey, waterfowl must wait until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service establishes the...

by Doug Leier Signs of spring honestly began weeks ago. For me, the first bald eagle pairs setting up their nests in February is proof that winter is losing its grip, and this year the turn of March brought unseasonably mild and record-breaking temperatures. The annual college basketball...

By Doug Leier I've learned through watching, listening and observing my kids how routine questions can often perplex adults. It's easy to just brush it off with a quick reply of "I don't know" or some other redirection response. Banding data is useful in measuring hunting pressure and...

By Doug Leier The first official hunting season of 2014 has been open since Aug. 9 when the fall crow season began. The 2013 early season Canada goose harvest was about 48,000 birds While I'd venture to guess that very few people gathered the evening before to strategize for the crow...

by Doug Leier In case you missed it at the time, when temperatures were sub-zero and the countryside was white, North Dakota's spring light goose season opened Feb. 15 and continues through May 18. At the same time, while most people probably wouldn't have anticipated the first sightings of...

Doug Leier If you catch a conversation between hunters and hear a reference to HIP, chances are they are discussing the Harvest Information Program and not what their kids or teenage neighbors are into. HIP is a survey method developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a means to...

Doug Leier North Dakota's early Canada goose season has been around for more than a decade and has gone through many evolution's since it started in 1999. The big change this year is that hunters of all ages, both resident and nonresident, will for the first time need a special license. It's a...

By Daniel D. Narum On an early morning in September, I awoke just before my alarm sounded and spared my wife the noise. It was 4:45 a.m., and a balmy 63 degrees outside. My gear was already loaded and I had a cup of fresh hot coffee to enjoy on my way to the field. A good number of local...

By PJ Maguire Every year waterfowl hunters are bombarded with new equipment and ideas. As waterfowlers there is a lot of stuff we need in order to pursue ducks and geese. A wise goose hunter once told me that in order to be successful, you have to lead the pack and not follow. Since then I...

By PJ Maguire Every year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service and agencies ran by the states, place leg bands on a variety of birds across the country. Migratory birds, like ducks, geese, and most recently doves are some of the most commonly banded birds. Harvesting a bird sporting a leg band...

By Doug Leier About 15 years ago I attended my first Game and Fish Department advisory board meeting. I was a fisheries and wildlife management student at North Dakota State University, and had a goal of one day working in the natural resource field. I decided it might be a positive learning...

By Perry Thorvig The 2002 hunting season was a big disappointment. I guess it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and the goose gods saying, "Gotcha!" The first disappointment was that I never got out this spring to chase the snows because of the need to move my elderly...

By Perry Thorvig (Part 2 of a 3 Part Series) There have been many changes in waterfowl hunting in North Dakota in 27 years. This is the second of a three part series and describes the changes in waterfowl equipment. Equipment Waterfowl hunting equipment has changed substantially in the last...

By Perry Thorvig There has been a lot written about the tactics needed to shoot snow geese. There are decoyers, sneakers, pushers and pass-shooters. We will see all kinds this spring as we look for opportunities to thin the population of snow geese. They may all have their place. I am one of...

By Perry Thorvig There have been many changes in waterfowl hunting in North Dakota in the last 27 years. This third part of a three part series covers tactics, communication, and access to information that will enhance the hunting experience. Tactics Despite all the changes in snow goose...