Articles

Leier: Legislature weighs in

The 2013 North Dakota Legislature dealt with a number of bills related to outdoor recreation and conservation.

• North Dakota Legislature

Most big fish come from big lakes in ND

I spend the bulk of my fishing hours each year at the same mom-and-pop pond. The family and I enjoy fishing, in our own way. Just like you do.

• Fishing

Missouri River is becoming more popular

Even if May just finally feels like spring for many of us, in most years by the time May rolls around, many anglers have already enjoyed a few outings wetting a line.

• Fishing

Hunters waiting for start of deer season

The minute the regular deer gun season closed last fall, hunters were already assessing their season and looking forward to 2013.

• Deer

Survey reveals 300 bighorn sheep

It’s a pretty consistent fact of life that the more we have, the less we appreciate it, and conversely, what we’re lacking we may tend to hold in a little higher regard.

• Bighorn sheep

Fees are helping to maintain quality of outdoor life in ND

Few in the Midwest will question the role of hunting, fishing and trapping when it comes to quality of life.

• Boating

Seasons continue to change

For most corners of North Dakota, the 2013 winter has extended well beyond the calendar declaration of spring.

• Fishing

Interest rises in purple martins

Many people who don’t hunt or fish are still familiar with national conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pheasants Forever.

• Purple martins

Opening dates cause vacationing headaches

While it feels like spring should soon begin taking hold across North Dakota, the fact of the matter is you’d be really depressed if you counted how many day’s it is until fourth of July or even the start of school in August and we’re not even into April yet. It’s a testament to how slowly time arrives and how quickly it fades into the rear view mirror. The point is it’s never to think ahead whether it’s summer fishing or fall hunting.

• Deer

Remembering waves of geese

In the spring of 1999, I was working as a game warden when the first ever spring light goose conservation season arrived. The purpose then and still to this day is to reduce light goose (snow goose) populations during the spring as the birds migrate toward their nesting grounds in Canada.

• Snow geese

Columns

Spring is all around

Signs of spring are all over these days. Spring turkey season is days and not weeks away. The turning of the calendar means you’ll need a new 2009 fishing license, and snow geese continue to roll through the state.

Explaining the early Canada goose hunt

Non hunters and hunters who don’t target Canada geese may be taken off guard a bit when learning those hunters they’ve seen and heard are out taking part in the early Canada goose season in North Dakota—for good reason.

Thoughts already are turning to the fall

Here it is barely summer and a lot of us are already looking ahead to what the fall hunting season might provide. While some prospects are risky to try to pin down just yet, spring weather conditions can give us some ideas about how various species have fared so far.

A little planning, organization can make boat launches uneventful

As we wade a little deeper into summer, I often preview the Fourth of July holiday and summer vacations with a safety reminder for anyone spending time in, on and around our lakes, rivers and reservoirs. So I’ll reiterate the only guarantee for a memorable outdoor excursion is for all participants to return home safe.