North Dakota Game and Fish Department

The 2025 North Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan serves as a 10-year blueprint designed to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats by preventing species from becoming endangered. Key components include identifying Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and Species of Greatest Information Need (SGIN), focusing on the location and condition of essential habitats like grasslands and wetlands, and addressing threats such as habitat conversion and invasive species. The plan details necessary conservation actions, provisions for monitoring their effectiveness, and outlines strategies for stakeholder coordination, public participation, and wildlife-associated recreation and education.

The discussion with Director Jeb Williams recapped highlights and challenges from 2025. Key topics included the Habitat and Access Summit held a year prior, which generated legislative action, specifically around securing additional funding for habitat and access through increased license fees. The department continues essential operations during the legislative session, such as certifying new Hunter Education students and hosting instructor appreciation banquets. Operations discussed included spring fisheries work like egg collection and stocking, and wildlife data collection. Fishing success was noted, particularly in prairie lakes. The department's presence at the North Dakota State Fair via the conservation outdoor skills park was highlighted as a vital public interaction opportunity. Turnover and the training of new game wardens were mentioned. Fall hunting seasons saw positive results for pheasants, grouse, and partridge, though sharptail numbers varied by region. Big game discussions focused on management strategies for deer populations to encourage growth while addressing disease and carrying capacity, alongside positive trends for moose, elk (including a new unit opening), and bighorn sheep (noting the successful harvest partnership with the MHA Nation). Finally, the update of the State Wildlife Action Plan to prevent species from being listed as threatened or endangered was reviewed, as was the recent creation of the Habitat and Access Stakeholder Group for continuous dialogue. The recap concluded with positive news regarding the Governor's Habitat Legacy Program, a partnership with the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts, focused on placing grass on non-productive cropland.

The meeting addressed modifications to hunter education in light of gathering limitations, focusing on an online course for prospective hunters turning age 12 in 2020, with a temporary certification and a later in-person follow-up test. It also covered changes to the online licensing system, including an automatic charge for the general game and habitat stamp during deer gun license applications, along with an option for a refund if unsuccessful in the lottery.

The meeting addressed modifications to hunter education due to the coronavirus, general game and habitat license requirements for lottery applications, big game updates, and fisheries updates. Hunter education modifications included online courses and temporary certifications. Changes to the online licensing system regarding the general game and habitat license were discussed to improve user experience and streamline the application process.

The meeting included discussions on various topics, such as the department's plan to address the reduction in federal resources, the membership fee for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and issues related to elk hunting, including landowners feeding elk during the season and potential programs to compensate landowners for elk taken on their property. Additionally, there were discussions about boat ramp conditions and potential improvements, including the Mlan bottom boat ramp and the possibility of closing the Merryweathers ramp.