08-18-2007, 04:10 AM
Avian Influenza Surveillance Continues
- Early Canada Goose Season Opens Sept. 1
- Fur Harvester Class Scheduled in Jamestown, Bismarck
Avian Influenza Surveillance Continues
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ducks Unlimited are continuing a cooperative effort of testing wild birds for early detection of highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza.
Dr. Erika Butler, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian, said department biologists will conduct morbidity and mortality surveillance of any unusual bird die-offs or illnesses through October. Also, 300 samples from live birds will be taken in conjunction with duck banding efforts in August and September, and 450 samples from hunter-harvested ducks will be collected in September and October.
"Hunters can expect to be asked by a Game and Fish employee if their ducks can be sampled," Butler said. "Sampling only takes a few minutes and does not damage birds."
Hunter-harvested cranes and swans will not be sampled this year because of new developments in surveillance strategies, and geese aren't known carriers of the virus.
In 2006, nearly 1,000 wild birds were tested for the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype. All samples from North Dakota tested negative. To date, HP H5N1 has not been detected in North America.
Early Canada Goose Season Opens Sept. 1
North Dakota's early September Canada goose season has been set and regulations are the same as last year.
The season will run from Sept. 1-15. Hunters will have a daily bag limit of five Canada geese and a possession limit of 10. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily. Limits and shooting hours are different from the regular season, as the proposed regular season bag is three daily and six in possession.
All migratory bird hunters must register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Hunters who purchase a license through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website (gf.nd.gov) or instant licensing telephone number (800-406-6409) can easily get HIP certified. Otherwise, hunters can call 888-634-4798 and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose season in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year.
Normal licensing requirements for the regular season, including a federal duck stamp, apply to the September Canada goose season. Nonresidents who hunt in Sargent and Richland counties during the early season may do so without counting against their 14-day regular season license.
Waterfowl rest areas, closed to hunting during the regular season, will be open during the early September season. Most land in these rest areas is private, so hunters may need permission to hunt.
The purpose of the early season is to increase harvest of birds that nest and raise young in North Dakota and whose statewide population has grown considerably in recent years. The early to mid-September season promotes harvest of resident birds, as migrants do not usually begin filtering into the state until later in September.
Fur Harvester Class Scheduled in Jamestown, Bismarck
The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is sponsoring a fur harvester education class in Jamestown and Bismarck for anyone interested in learning about trapping and furbearer hunting.
The free 16-hour course is set for Jamestown on Sept. 4, 6 and 8. Preregistration is required by Aug. 23 by contacting Chris Flann at 701-320-1702.
The class in Bismarck will be held on Sept. 25, 27 and 29. Preregistration is required by Sept. 11 by contacting John Paulson at 701-258-8777.
- Early Canada Goose Season Opens Sept. 1
- Fur Harvester Class Scheduled in Jamestown, Bismarck
Avian Influenza Surveillance Continues
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ducks Unlimited are continuing a cooperative effort of testing wild birds for early detection of highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza.
Dr. Erika Butler, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian, said department biologists will conduct morbidity and mortality surveillance of any unusual bird die-offs or illnesses through October. Also, 300 samples from live birds will be taken in conjunction with duck banding efforts in August and September, and 450 samples from hunter-harvested ducks will be collected in September and October.
"Hunters can expect to be asked by a Game and Fish employee if their ducks can be sampled," Butler said. "Sampling only takes a few minutes and does not damage birds."
Hunter-harvested cranes and swans will not be sampled this year because of new developments in surveillance strategies, and geese aren't known carriers of the virus.
In 2006, nearly 1,000 wild birds were tested for the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype. All samples from North Dakota tested negative. To date, HP H5N1 has not been detected in North America.
Early Canada Goose Season Opens Sept. 1
North Dakota's early September Canada goose season has been set and regulations are the same as last year.
The season will run from Sept. 1-15. Hunters will have a daily bag limit of five Canada geese and a possession limit of 10. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily. Limits and shooting hours are different from the regular season, as the proposed regular season bag is three daily and six in possession.
All migratory bird hunters must register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Hunters who purchase a license through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's website (gf.nd.gov) or instant licensing telephone number (800-406-6409) can easily get HIP certified. Otherwise, hunters can call 888-634-4798 and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose season in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year.
Normal licensing requirements for the regular season, including a federal duck stamp, apply to the September Canada goose season. Nonresidents who hunt in Sargent and Richland counties during the early season may do so without counting against their 14-day regular season license.
Waterfowl rest areas, closed to hunting during the regular season, will be open during the early September season. Most land in these rest areas is private, so hunters may need permission to hunt.
The purpose of the early season is to increase harvest of birds that nest and raise young in North Dakota and whose statewide population has grown considerably in recent years. The early to mid-September season promotes harvest of resident birds, as migrants do not usually begin filtering into the state until later in September.
Fur Harvester Class Scheduled in Jamestown, Bismarck
The North Dakota Cooperative Fur Harvester Education Program is sponsoring a fur harvester education class in Jamestown and Bismarck for anyone interested in learning about trapping and furbearer hunting.
The free 16-hour course is set for Jamestown on Sept. 4, 6 and 8. Preregistration is required by Aug. 23 by contacting Chris Flann at 701-320-1702.
The class in Bismarck will be held on Sept. 25, 27 and 29. Preregistration is required by Sept. 11 by contacting John Paulson at 701-258-8777.