N.D. Game & Fish notebook: Mountain lion No. 10 closes Zone 1 early season
Mountain lion hunting during the early season in zone 1 is closed. The 10th cat was taken Nov. 12, filling the zone's early-season quota.
The late season in Zone 1, with a quota of four, opens Nov. 21.
Zone 1 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.
The mountain lion season in Zone 2, which is the remainder of the state outside Zone 1, has no quota and is open through March 31.
The mountain lion season is open only to North Dakota residents. A furbearer or combination license is required.
Some refuges open to late-season upland game
Hunters are reminded that several national wildlife refuges open to late-season upland game bird hunting the day after the deer gun season closes.
Arrowwood, Audubon, Des Lacs, J. Clark Salyer, Lake Alice, Lake Zahl, Long Lake, Lostwood, Tewaukon (pheasants only), and Upper Souris NWRs open Nov. 21.
However, portions of each refuge are closed to hunting. Hunters should contact refuge headquarters for map leaflets designating closed areas and other restrictions: Arrowwood (701) 285-3341; Audubon (701) 442-5474; Des Lacs (701) 385-4046; J. Clark Salyer (701) 768-2548; Lake Alice (701) 662-8611; Lake Zahl (701) 965-6488; Long Lake (701) 387-4397; Lostwood (701) 848-2722; Tewaukon (701) 724-3598; and Upper Souris (701) 468-5467.
National wildlife refuges are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hunters are reminded that use of nontoxic shot is required on all USFWS lands. State regulations found in the North Dakota 2011-12 Small Game Guide apply. Seasons for pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge and ruffed grouse close statewide on Jan. 8, 2012.
Muzzleloader season opens Nov. 25
North Dakota's muzzleloader deer season opens at noon Friday, Nov. 25 and continues through Dec. 11. Hunters with a lottery muzzleloader license can hunt white-tailed deer statewide.
In addition, unfilled second, third or other concurrent season any-antlerless, antlerless whitetail or antlerless mule deer licenses are still valid, but only in the unit to which the license is assigned. Hunters with these licenses must use a muzzleloader and hunt only the species printed on the license.
