hey any of you fellas ever hunted n.dakota? thinking of booking some lodging there tonight. i am planning on hunting unguided and was wondering if yall had any experiance there? most likely will be around kidder county. let me know the good the bad the ugly. thanks in advance any input would be greatly appreciated.
al
hunting north dakota
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your-pal-al
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I haven't hunted ND. But I would say your probability for success (much like it is, anywhere) depends on how long you'll be able to stay, i.e. how familiar you become with a given area. You can learn a lot in 10 days, but it might not render the outcome you'd hoped for....... but you won't know how to better prepare for the next trip, if you don't get your feet wet.
Here's a couple of things to consider......if the weather isn't cooperative during the time period you plan to hunt, then you may struggle to find birds that somebody else hasn't already arranged to hunt. I'm not advocating using a guide, but if you have a limited time to hunt, a local guide is worth the money (provided he has decent references). Then, if the weather is uncooperative, at least he'll have the benefit of experience in his area, to anticipate what the waterfowl in that are tend to do, under those conditions.
We were in Canada for 12 days (10 days of hunting because of no hunting on Sunday)........'went primarily to hunt honkers. After 3 days of scouting in the first area, we found very few honkers. On the 3rd day there, we booked a room, 4 hours farther into Canada to try another area better-known for honkers......(I mean, once you've driven 32 hours, what's 4 more?) We hunted the morning hunt before re-locating farther North, found some honkers (about 400 birds) in a field that belonged to a farmer that was suspect for NOT allowing folks to hunt 'their' geese (locally raised).....but we had already booked a room for that night, 4 hours away, so there was no point in contacting the landowner to find-out, one way or the other........and no time to set-up a hunt on the birds, already in the field. (I do intend to find-out if that lady would allow hunting on her land, before I go up there, this year......just in case those birds hit that field again.
When we got to area #2, there were more honkers, but we had to pattern the birds, line-up fields and most importantly, get permission.
The second day there, we set-up on about 600 honkers in a barley field and took 2 limits.
SO........We'd been in Canada for 5 days and finally found a huntable group of birds.......and got lucky on the 6th day. That takes a lot of patience........especially when you consider our investment in the trip. Fortunately, our persistence paid-off.
Over the next 5 days and it became more difficult (impossible, given our experience with drastic fluctuations in weather) to pattern the honkers......so it was hit-or-miss. But to us, it was worth the frustration of the first week, just to be able to actually witness the migration, taking place.
Bottom line.........I wouldn't do a thing different (except stay longer)......because we did everything on our own......and killed a few birds in the process, which is more than I expected. But what I'm telling you is that if you aren't able to hang around for an extended period of time, then don't be too disappointed if things don't happen like you had hoped. The most valuable thing we gained most from our first freelance trip though, was experience.
I'd venture to 'guess', that ND isn't going to be easy to get permission OR compete with the hordes of other NR hunters and local hunters. I'd go with a guide the first year......and take notes........make some contacts. But be respectful of those that take you hunting.........don't ask the guide any questions that you wouldn't appreciate someone asking you (if you were in their shoes), particularly if there's a possibility they might be competing with you, next time out.
The other thing I'd suggest.......don't go where hunting is highly publicized (like Devil's Lake)........cause that's wher everybody else (that's in your shoes), is likely to be going, too. Try remote areas that are less populated.......you'll find folks that aren't so worn-out with joyseekers wanting to become their best friend, just so they can take home an ice-chest fulla proof that they are the 'real deal'.
Good luck.
Here's a couple of things to consider......if the weather isn't cooperative during the time period you plan to hunt, then you may struggle to find birds that somebody else hasn't already arranged to hunt. I'm not advocating using a guide, but if you have a limited time to hunt, a local guide is worth the money (provided he has decent references). Then, if the weather is uncooperative, at least he'll have the benefit of experience in his area, to anticipate what the waterfowl in that are tend to do, under those conditions.
We were in Canada for 12 days (10 days of hunting because of no hunting on Sunday)........'went primarily to hunt honkers. After 3 days of scouting in the first area, we found very few honkers. On the 3rd day there, we booked a room, 4 hours farther into Canada to try another area better-known for honkers......(I mean, once you've driven 32 hours, what's 4 more?) We hunted the morning hunt before re-locating farther North, found some honkers (about 400 birds) in a field that belonged to a farmer that was suspect for NOT allowing folks to hunt 'their' geese (locally raised).....but we had already booked a room for that night, 4 hours away, so there was no point in contacting the landowner to find-out, one way or the other........and no time to set-up a hunt on the birds, already in the field. (I do intend to find-out if that lady would allow hunting on her land, before I go up there, this year......just in case those birds hit that field again.
When we got to area #2, there were more honkers, but we had to pattern the birds, line-up fields and most importantly, get permission.
The second day there, we set-up on about 600 honkers in a barley field and took 2 limits.
SO........We'd been in Canada for 5 days and finally found a huntable group of birds.......and got lucky on the 6th day. That takes a lot of patience........especially when you consider our investment in the trip. Fortunately, our persistence paid-off.
Over the next 5 days and it became more difficult (impossible, given our experience with drastic fluctuations in weather) to pattern the honkers......so it was hit-or-miss. But to us, it was worth the frustration of the first week, just to be able to actually witness the migration, taking place.
Bottom line.........I wouldn't do a thing different (except stay longer)......because we did everything on our own......and killed a few birds in the process, which is more than I expected. But what I'm telling you is that if you aren't able to hang around for an extended period of time, then don't be too disappointed if things don't happen like you had hoped. The most valuable thing we gained most from our first freelance trip though, was experience.
I'd venture to 'guess', that ND isn't going to be easy to get permission OR compete with the hordes of other NR hunters and local hunters. I'd go with a guide the first year......and take notes........make some contacts. But be respectful of those that take you hunting.........don't ask the guide any questions that you wouldn't appreciate someone asking you (if you were in their shoes), particularly if there's a possibility they might be competing with you, next time out.
The other thing I'd suggest.......don't go where hunting is highly publicized (like Devil's Lake)........cause that's wher everybody else (that's in your shoes), is likely to be going, too. Try remote areas that are less populated.......you'll find folks that aren't so worn-out with joyseekers wanting to become their best friend, just so they can take home an ice-chest fulla proof that they are the 'real deal'.
Good luck.
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Bustin' Ducks
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i've got a friend from magee ark who has hunted northwest of jamestown. they have had good luck on all their trips . this fall will mark his 4th year to hunt N.D. and i promise he swears by it..
whats intresting is that the first time he hunted up there he was on business.. he only had 2 days to work with...
the story goes like this: he pulled into a wal-mart in jamestown around 7:00 p.m. bought a hunting lic. and talked with the clerk about where to start looking the following a.m.
the clerk basically informed him to take whatever highway north of town and then turn east on county rd ?. proceed east on county rd ?. and wherever you see ducks ganged up on a pothole,, and theres no posted sign and of course no one else hunting; then their all yours have at'em..
thats exactly what he did the next a.m. he finally found a group of birds around 7:15 - 7:30. got set up and limited out roughly 1 1/2 hours later.
bag consisted of 2 blue wings 2 greenwings 2 gadwalls.
not bad at all for a blind hunt.
the second day of the hunt was totally different because he had to be in montana on the third day.. so after his good hunt in the jamestown area he moved on and tried his luck in the southwestern part of N.D.
what he found on his arrival was not good.. the southwest part of N.D. was dry and the ducks were few and far between...
keep in mind that was four years ago and some of the regs have changed. you need to go ahead and get your lic asap..
petticoat N.D. thats the little comminuty they hunt. even got some ol woman who rents them out a trailer for something like $20 per night/ man
he says its the perfect loca... i think petticoat is something liek 45 min from jamestown.
good luck i hope this helps...
later bigw
whats intresting is that the first time he hunted up there he was on business.. he only had 2 days to work with...
the story goes like this: he pulled into a wal-mart in jamestown around 7:00 p.m. bought a hunting lic. and talked with the clerk about where to start looking the following a.m.
the clerk basically informed him to take whatever highway north of town and then turn east on county rd ?. proceed east on county rd ?. and wherever you see ducks ganged up on a pothole,, and theres no posted sign and of course no one else hunting; then their all yours have at'em..
thats exactly what he did the next a.m. he finally found a group of birds around 7:15 - 7:30. got set up and limited out roughly 1 1/2 hours later.
bag consisted of 2 blue wings 2 greenwings 2 gadwalls.
not bad at all for a blind hunt.
the second day of the hunt was totally different because he had to be in montana on the third day.. so after his good hunt in the jamestown area he moved on and tried his luck in the southwestern part of N.D.
what he found on his arrival was not good.. the southwest part of N.D. was dry and the ducks were few and far between...
keep in mind that was four years ago and some of the regs have changed. you need to go ahead and get your lic asap..
petticoat N.D. thats the little comminuty they hunt. even got some ol woman who rents them out a trailer for something like $20 per night/ man
he says its the perfect loca... i think petticoat is something liek 45 min from jamestown.
good luck i hope this helps...
later bigw
Last edited by bigwater on Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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your-pal-al
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NORTH DAKOTA
I WENT UP THERE THREE YEARS IN A ROW WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE. ABSOLUTLEY AWESOME. YOU DO NOT NEED A GUIDE. ABOUT 90% OF THE POTHOLES ARE PUBLIC ACCESS AND IF IT IS POSTED ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FIND THE LAND OWNER AND THEY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY LET YOU HUNT.WE FLEW INTO GRAND FORKS AND RENTED A SUV AND DROVE TO LOKATA ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS AWAY.
YOU ONLY NEED ABOUT 2 DOZEN DEKES, BUT BE IN SHAPE AS THOSE POTHOLES MAKE FOR SOME TUFF WALKING. IF YOU CAN TAKE A DOG DO IT.ALSO THERE IS A CABELAS OUTLET IN GRAND FORKS REALLY COOL PLACE. WE KILLED CANVAS BACKS, MALLARDS, BOTH SPECIES OF TEAL AND I ACTUALLY BAGGED A TUNDRA SWAN THAT HAD ABOUT AN 8 FOOT WING SPAN. I WILL RETURN
YOU ONLY NEED ABOUT 2 DOZEN DEKES, BUT BE IN SHAPE AS THOSE POTHOLES MAKE FOR SOME TUFF WALKING. IF YOU CAN TAKE A DOG DO IT.ALSO THERE IS A CABELAS OUTLET IN GRAND FORKS REALLY COOL PLACE. WE KILLED CANVAS BACKS, MALLARDS, BOTH SPECIES OF TEAL AND I ACTUALLY BAGGED A TUNDRA SWAN THAT HAD ABOUT AN 8 FOOT WING SPAN. I WILL RETURN
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your-pal-al
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your-pal-al
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bigwater wrote:keep in mind that was four years ago and some of the regs have changed. you need to go ahead and get your lic asap..
i just found out you can't get a waterfowl liscence until late july.i need to book now with the house to rent. do you think there is a possibility that you can't get a waterfow liscence?
al
Howdy...just joined up...some basic knowledge about hunting here...
I think the town bigwater is talking about is Pettibone...don't know of a Petticoat.
That area and south is pretty dry...but that can change overnight depending on prairie thunderstorms.
The free access on unposted land law is in our court system right now....farmer is saying he should not have to post to keep people off...don't know if it will be settled by the time the seasons open or not...if the judge rules in his favor...hunting will be changed here forever....you will need permission no matter where you go.
As of now there is no cap on the number of licenses...But there are zones and you cannot hunt in zone 1 or 2 more than 7 days.
The proclamation won't come out until August after the Dept of Interior makes it's rulings based on water conditions and brood counts.
The season for non-res. will open most likely on Oct.2.Res. might open 1 week earlier.
Right now the best water conditions are in the northern half of the state...say above hwy. 200.Kidder county was very dry last fall and is pretty dry now...could get better or worse depending on the summer rains.
There is PLOTS lands available to hunt on that are run by the GNF....they cannot be hunted on from Oct. 9 till Oct. 16 for non-res.This is to allow res first crack at the pheasants.
Go to the GNF website at...www.state.nd.us/gnf
then click on hunting and obtain maps,then PLOTS...The entire state is divided into sections that show all public land open for hunting,including federal WPA's
I think the town bigwater is talking about is Pettibone...don't know of a Petticoat.
That area and south is pretty dry...but that can change overnight depending on prairie thunderstorms.
The free access on unposted land law is in our court system right now....farmer is saying he should not have to post to keep people off...don't know if it will be settled by the time the seasons open or not...if the judge rules in his favor...hunting will be changed here forever....you will need permission no matter where you go.
As of now there is no cap on the number of licenses...But there are zones and you cannot hunt in zone 1 or 2 more than 7 days.
The proclamation won't come out until August after the Dept of Interior makes it's rulings based on water conditions and brood counts.
The season for non-res. will open most likely on Oct.2.Res. might open 1 week earlier.
Right now the best water conditions are in the northern half of the state...say above hwy. 200.Kidder county was very dry last fall and is pretty dry now...could get better or worse depending on the summer rains.
There is PLOTS lands available to hunt on that are run by the GNF....they cannot be hunted on from Oct. 9 till Oct. 16 for non-res.This is to allow res first crack at the pheasants.
Go to the GNF website at...www.state.nd.us/gnf
then click on hunting and obtain maps,then PLOTS...The entire state is divided into sections that show all public land open for hunting,including federal WPA's
Last edited by KEN W on Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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your-pal-al
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your-pal-al
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your-pal-al
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