North Dakota Cancels Pronghorn Season

[noharleyyet]

Sorry if already posted..

July 26, 2012.

From North Dakota Game and Fish:

North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists recently completed the 2012 pronghorn population survey, which revealed the statewide population is 20 percent lower than last year. Therefore, the Game and Fish Department is recommending the pronghorn hunting season remain closed in 2012.

Bruce Stillings, big game supervisor in Dickinson, said the statewide population estimate has dropped to approximately 3,600 pronghorn. “Pronghorn in all four management regions decreased in numbers from last year and are well below population objectives,” he said.

According to Stillings, three severe winters from 2008-10, and virtually no fawn recruitment during 2009-11, left an aging population with few prime-aged breeding females. “The result was another poor fawn crop, but there were signs of recruitment with more yearlings being observed this year,” he added.

The recent scenario is similar to the large-scale pronghorn decline in the late 1970s. Three consecutive harsh winters beginning in 1977 prompted Game and Fish to close the season for four years, finally reopening in 1982.

The aerial survey is flown in late June/early July after young-of-the-year are born and visible. Five airplanes covered more than 11,000 square miles of aerial transects within pronghorn habitat.

Biologists will continue to monitor pronghorn numbers in the future, and will reopen the season when the population returns to a level capable of withstanding a harvest.

The 2012 pronghorn season will be closed to both gun and archery hunters. Applicants who have accumulated preference points will maintain their curren

t point

 

[Powerman777]

Well hopefully the numbers will come back soon. My brother has 6 points and was to draw three years ago. At least everybody can keep there points again.

 

[huntRme]

Hats off to the guys in N. Dak. who have guts enough to do this.

 

[cowboy]

Hats off to the guys in N. Dak. who have guts enough to do this.

AMEN: Couldn't agree more - wish the Mt. G&F had the cahoonaas to do the same.

 

[hardscrabble]

Year number three of no season. I fell fortunate to of had a tag in 09'. I will be praying for mild winters to bring the population back.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I didn't realize it was three now. For some reason I thought last year was the first no go. I have a friend that lives in Mandan and he has a 1000 acre ranch to the west of there and he said numbers were really down, but the pheasant population seems to be doing well.

 

[dustinf]

Hats off to the guys in N. Dak. who have guts enough to do this.

Yep.

Get actual fact based numbers, and act on the information accordingly.

 

[Flatrock]

I didn't realize it was three now. For some reason I thought last year was the first no go. I have a friend that lives in Mandan and he has a 1000 acre ranch to the west of there and he said numbers were really down, but the pheasant population seems to be doing well.

Yea I think it's only been 2 years in a row too. Not 100% sure but that's what I seem to remember too.

My dad has been seeing lots of hatched out birds so it should be a pretty good year for all upland birds, not just pheasants.

 

[mjoe79]

2010 was the first year they canceled the season. I remember i was working out in the badlands that summer they canceled it. I sure hope that region gets run of easy winters.