North Dakota Game and Fish Advisory Board Announces Final Meetings

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is concluding its series of public meetings across the state. These meetings provide an opportunity for local residents to engage with the Advisory Board and discuss important issues related to wildlife management. The remaining sessions will be held at 7 p.m. local time in various locations, allowing community members to participate in the decision-making process.

November 17 marks the next meeting for District 1, which encompasses Divide, McKenzie, and Williams counties. This session will take place at the McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club in Watford City. Local Advisory Board member Nathan Hovde will be the host, and those interested can contact him at (701) 580-0314 for more details.

On November 19, the Advisory Board will meet for District 6, covering Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman, and Wells counties. The specific location and contact information for this meeting will be announced soon. Advisory Board member Jordan Svenningsen from Luverne will lead the discussion.

The final meeting in this round will occur on November 24 for District 8, which includes Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope, and Stark counties. Details regarding the location and host will be provided closer to the meeting date. Rob Brooks, an Advisory Board member from Rhame, will facilitate this session.

In addition to the Advisory Board meetings, a public hearing will be held on November 19 at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department headquarters in Bismarck. The hearing will focus on proposed administrative rule changes concerning the transportation of water in bait buckets, guide and outfitter examinations, and boating safety regulations. Those interested can review the proposed rules at the headquarters or on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. Written or oral comments regarding these changes can be submitted until November 30, 2025.

As winter approaches, various events are scheduled that cater to outdoor enthusiasts. The St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show will take place from December 5 to December 7 at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Show hours are from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on December 5, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on December 6, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 7. More information can be found on the event’s website.

Furthermore, on December 14, the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Christmas Bird Count will occur. Participants are invited to count birds within a designated 15-mile diameter circle, centered on U.S. Highway 2 near the airport. Details will be shared as the event approaches, and interested individuals can reach out to John Breker, the Grand Forks count compiler, via email.

Looking ahead to next year, the North Dakota Wildlife Federation will host a Wildlife Social on January 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. This will be followed by the Federation’s Speakers and Banquet on January 10, featuring a dinner and presentations from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

In another initiative, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced its fall schedule for the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars. These free sessions will begin at noon every other Wednesday and are live-captioned for accessibility. The webinars will cover various topics, including the upcoming session on November 19, focusing on fall trout lake stocking in Minnesota.

For more information regarding the North Dakota Game and Fish Advisory Board meetings or other events, contact Brad Dokken via phone at (701) 780-1148 or (800) 477-6572 ext. 1148, or by email at [email protected].