North Dakota Game and Fish Department sets small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s 2022 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, and most season structures are similar to last year, the Game and Fish Department announced Monday, Aug. 1.

Noteworthy items include:

• Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 24. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota on Oct. 1.
• The prairie chicken and sage grouse seasons remain closed because of low populations.
• Pre-charged pneumatic air guns are legal for taking weasel, mink, muskrat and mountain lion.
• Reporting harvest of bobcats, mountain lions, fishers and river otters can now be done online by clicking the My Account link on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
• Hunters and trappers can find the North Dakota 2022-23 Hunting and Trapping Guide, which includes upland game, migratory game bird and furbearer/trapping regulations and other information, on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. Printed guides will be available at vendor locations in mid-August.

In related hunting news, North Dakota's early Canada goose season opens Monday, Aug. 15, in all three zones, with bag limits and licensing requirements the same as last year.

Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River Zone, Sept. 15 in the Western Zone and Sept. 22 in the Eastern Zone.

Contributed/North Dakota Game and Fish Department

Early Canada goose limits are 15 daily and 45 in possession.

Limits and shooting hours are different from the regular season, while the zone boundaries remain the same. Shooting hours for early Canada goose are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.

Residents need a $5 early Canada goose license and a general game and habitat license. Also, residents 16 and older need a small game license. Nonresidents need only a $50 early Canada goose license, and the license is valid statewide without counting against the 14-day regular season license. Licenses can be purchased online by visiting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Harvest Information Program certification is required and beginning Sept. 1, a federal Duck Stamp for hunters 16 and older is needed. Those who HIP registered to hunt the spring light goose conservation order in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required in each state only once per year.

Waterfowl rest areas, closed to hunting during the regular season, are open during the early season. Most land in these rest areas is private, so hunters may need permission to access them.

Hunting of Canada geese in August and early September is intended to reduce local Canada goose numbers, which remain high. Game and Fish is attempting to provide additional hunting opportunities to increase pressure on locally breeding Canada geese.