NDGF News Update 03-23-09

- Bighorn Sheep Survey Shows Healthy Population
- Department Receives $65,000 for Bighorn Sheep Management
- Game and Fish Advisory Board Meetings Announced

Bighorn Sheep Survey Shows Healthy Population
Based on observations during the state Game and Fish Department’s annual bighorn sheep survey, biologists believe North Dakota’s tough winter didn’t significantly harm the state’s bighorn sheep population. In fact, statistics show the population likely increased from last year.

Brett Wiedmann, big game biologist, Dickinson, said lamb recruitment was at 35 percent, about average in North Dakota, but lamb survival was exceptional as 80 percent of lambs counted during summer survived the winter.

“Based upon the high number of recruited lambs observed in the population, we are optimistic that the adult segment of the state’s bighorn sheep population came through the winter in good shape as well,” Wiedmann said.

Each summer, typically in August, Game and Fish Department biologists count and classify all sheep. Biologists then recount lambs in March to determine lamb recruitment.

In all, biologists counted 313 bighorn sheep, 11 percent above 2007 and 35 percent higher than the five-year average. The northern badlands’ population was up 14 percent from last year, while the southern badlands’ population saw a 4 percent increase.

All total, 96 rams, 167 ewes and 50 lambs were counted – record highs for each.

A big impact on the health of the population can be attributed to the bighorn sheep that were transplanted from Montana in January 2006. “These robust sheep are doing amazingly well, in fact you can say they are thriving,” Wiedmann said. “All their lambs made it through this year’s tough winter unscathed.”

The only negative, according to Wiedmann, was the ram-to-ewe ratio was on the lower end, at about 57 rams per 100 ewes. “We would like to have that number between 60-70 rams per 100 ewes,” he said.

Wiedmann knows there was some winter mortality, especially in the northern badlands, but the extent won’t be known until the 2009 survey next summer. “The 2008 adult numbers do not reflect winter mortality,” Wiedmann added. “Consequently, just to be cautious, we reduced the number of hunting licenses available in 2009 from six to five.”

Department Receives $65,000 for Bighorn Sheep Management
Two checks totaling $65,000 were given to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at the March 14 Minnesota-Wisconsin Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep annual meeting in Bloomington, Minn.

North Dakota’s 2009 bighorn sheep auction license, which allows the winning bidder the rare privilege of pursuing a North Dakota bighorn on a self-guided hunt, sold for $40,000. In addition, the department received an annual grant of $25,000.

The grant and license auction are part of a 10-year agreement signed between the department and Minnesota-Wisconsin FNAWS.

Game and Fish Advisory Board Meetings Announced
Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to attend a North Dakota Game and Fish Department advisory board meeting in their area.

These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel.

The governor appoints eight Game and Fish Department advisors, each representing a multi-county section of the state, to serve as a liaison between the department and public.

Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service must notify the contact person at least five days prior to the scheduled meeting date.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 3 – Counties: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner
Date: April 6 – 7 p.m.

Location: Lake Region State College, Devils Lake

Host: Lake Region Anglers

Contact: Ralph Gardner, 662-5639

Advisory board member: Tracy Gardner, Devils Lake, 662-5639

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 6 – Counties: Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells
Date: April 7 – 7 p.m.

Location: VFW Club, Valley City

Host: Barnes County Wildlife Club

Contact: Perry Kapaun, 845-0564

Advisory board member: Rita Greer, Marion, 669-2315

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 8 – Counties: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark
Date: April 13 – 7 p.m. MT

Location: Eagles Club, Dickinson

Host: Southwest Anglers

Contact: Curt Decker, 225-6315

Advisory board member: Wayne Gerbig, Amidon, 879-6353

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 1 – Counties: Divide, McKenzie and Williams
Date: April 14 – 7 p.m.

Location: to be announced

Advisory board member: Merle Jost, Grassy Butte, 863-6727

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 2 – Counties: Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward
Date: April 15 – 7 p.m.

Location: Clubhouse – Hwy. 2 Bypass, Stanley

Host: Rolling Plains Sportsmen Club

Contact: Louie Kuster, 755-3440

Advisory board member: Richard Anderson, Willow City, 366-4625

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 5 – Counties: Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill
Date: April 20 – 7 p.m.

Location: Cayuga Hall, Cayuga

Host: Southeast Sportsmen’s Club

Contact: Louis Gaukler, 724-3743

Advisory board member: Loran Palmer, West Fargo, 282-8479

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 4 – Counties: Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh
Date: April 21 – 7 p.m.

Location: American Legion, Fordville

Host: Dakota Prairie Wildlife Club

Contact: Lynn Baier, 229-3665

Advisory board member: Ronald Houdek, Tolna, 262-4724

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

District 7 – Counties: Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux
Date: April 22 – 7 p.m.

Location: Fort Mandan Interpretive Center, Lodge Classroom, Washburn

Host: Fort Mandan Interpretive Center

Contact and advisory board member: Frank Kartch, Bismarck, 222-4544