North Dakota Game and Fish Board Finalizes Public Meeting Schedule

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is concluding its series of public meetings across the state, providing residents with opportunities to engage in discussions about local wildlife management. These meetings are scheduled to take place at various locations, with all remaining sessions starting at 19:00 local time.

November 17 marks the next meeting for District 1, which includes Divide, McKenzie, and Williams counties. This session will be held at the McKenzie County Sportsman’s Club, located at 2306 121x Ave NW, Watford City. The event will be hosted by the club, with Advisory Board member Nathan Hovde available for contact at (701) 580-0314.

Subsequent meetings include District 6 on November 19, covering Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman, and Wells counties. While the location is yet to be confirmed, Advisory Board member Jordan Svenningsen from Luverne will facilitate the meeting.

The final scheduled meeting is for District 8 on November 24. This session will address constituents in Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope, and Stark counties. Details regarding the location and host will be announced soon, with Advisory Board member Rob Brooks from Rhame overseeing the event.

In addition to the meetings, a public hearing will take place on November 19 at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department headquarters in Bismarck. This session, starting at 11:00, will discuss proposed administrative rule changes related to the transportation of water in bait buckets, examinations for guides and outfitters, and boating safety regulations. Comments on these proposed changes can be submitted until November 30, 2025, by contacting the department via mail, email, or phone.

Several upcoming events will also be of interest to outdoor enthusiasts. The St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show will be held from December 5 to December 7 at the St. Paul RiverCentre, featuring a range of activities and exhibits for winter sports fans.

Additionally, on December 14, the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Christmas Bird Count will take place. Participants are invited to count birds within a designated area, with contributions from yard and feeder reports also encouraged. Interested individuals can contact John Breker for further information.

Looking ahead, the North Dakota Wildlife Federation will host its annual wildlife social on January 9 at the Fargo Holiday Inn, followed by a speakers and banquet event on January 10. These gatherings aim to foster community engagement and awareness regarding wildlife conservation efforts in the region.

For those looking to enhance their outdoor skills, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced its fall schedule for the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. These live-captioned webinars are available at no cost, requiring pre-registration for participation. Upcoming topics include discussions on fall trout lake stocking, aimed at improving winter ice angling opportunities in Minnesota.

Further details regarding the Game and Fish Advisory Board meetings and events can be found on the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov.