2008 Small Game and Furbearer Regulations Set

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North Dakota’s 2008 small game and furbearer regulations have been set and most season structures and bag limits are similar to last year. The only significant changes involve early Canada goose, mountain lion and sage grouse seasons.

The early Canada goose hunting season will open Aug. 15. The early season will close statewide Sept. 15, except in a newly created zone along the Missouri River where the season will close Sept. 7. The eight days removed from the Missouri River zone will be added to the end of the regular season in this new zone.

The boundary of the Missouri River Canada goose zone includes an area where ND Highway 6 crosses the South Dakota border; north on ND Highway 6 to Interstate 94; west on Interstate 94 to ND Highway 49; north on ND Highway 49 to ND Highway 200; north on Mercer Co. 21 to the section line between sections 8 and 9 (T146N-R87W); north on that section line to the southern shoreline of Lake Sakakawea; east along the southern shoreline of Lake Sakakawea (including Mallard Island) to U.S. Highway 83; south on U.S. Highway 83 to ND Highway 200; east on ND Highway 200 to ND Highway 41; south on ND Highway 41 to U.S. Highway 83; south on U.S. Highway 83 to Interstate 94; east on Interstate 94 to U.S. Highway 83; south on U.S. Highway 83 to the South Dakota border; and west on the South Dakota border to ND Highway 6.

The mountain lion season opens Aug. 29 and continues through March 31, 2009. Zone 1 will have a season quota of eight lions, an increase of three from prior seasons.

Zone 1 has been modified and includes land south of ND Highway 1804 from the Montana border to the point where ND Highway 1804 lies directly across Lake Sakakawea from ND Highway 8, crossing Lake Sakakawea then south along ND Highway 8 to ND Highway 200, then west on ND Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 85, then south on U.S. Highway 85 to the South Dakota border. Zone 2, with no quota, is the remainder of the state.

The sage grouse season is closed in 2008. Spring population surveys indicated the population had been reduced below objective levels.

Other small game and waterfowl licensing details are similar to last year.

Only North Dakota residents are permitted to hunt waterfowl from Sept. 27 – Oct. 3. Nonresidents will be allowed to hunt waterfowl in North Dakota beginning Oct. 4. Other waterfowl season details will be finalized in mid-August in the waterfowl amendment to the small game and furbearer proclamation.

In accordance with state law, nonresidents are not allowed to hunt on Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas or conservation PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) areas from Oct. 11-17.

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