WEST FARGO – North Dakota’s hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation heritage is well known, and even those who don’t hunt or fish enjoy the outdoors of our great state. It’s part of why we live here. The great outdoors is ever changing from the impacts of weather and loss of habitat, to the cyclical nature of populations that ebb and flow as a function of nature.

While we spend time this winter pondering the long-term influence of North Dakota’s lean months on deer and pheasants, we’ll also keep our eyes and ears open for happenings at the biennial North Dakota legislative session.

Once again, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department will track hunting and fishing issues during the 2025 legislative session. This is helpful to those interested because keeping track of the changes to just one bill, for example, can be challenging.

Interested outdoor enthusiasts can follow proposed outdoors-related bills by going to the

Game and Fish Department website

at gf.nd.gov. A brief description of each bill will be included. To view each bill in its entirety, click on the hot-linked bill number.

If you were born after 1961 or are age 12 or older, you must take an in-person or home study certified hunter education course before you can get a firearm or bowhunting license in North Dakota.

Understanding this, especially if you have your sights set on hunting this fall, now is not the time to drag your feet. Most in-person courses are held from January through May.

Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2025 must click the education link on the

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

website, gf.nd.gov. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required. Classes are listed by city and can also be sorted by start date. Classes will be added throughout the year as they become finalized.

To receive a notice by email or SMS text message when each hunter education class is added, click on the “subscribe to news and alerts” link below the news section on the Game and Fish home page. Check the box labeled “hunter education” under the education program updates.

Children must turn 12 during the calendar year to take the home study course, and age 11 during the calendar year to take the traditional in-person class.

Tree stands, blinds, steps and other personal items such as cameras, must be removed from all wildlife management areas by Jan. 31.

Items not removed by then are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

North Dakota hunters receiving a survey this winter are encouraged to help with wildlife management by completing the survey online or returning it to the Game and Fish Department.

Big game, small game, waterfowl, swan, turkey and furbearer questionnaires are being sent to randomly selected hunters.

It is important hunters complete and return the survey, even if they did not hunt. The harvest survey allows Game and Fish to evaluate the hunting season, determine the number of hunters, amount of hunting activity and size of the harvest.

A follow-up survey will be mailed to those not responding to the first survey.

Doug Leier is an outreach biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Reach him at dleier@nd.gov.

CASSELTON, N.D. — Freezing temperatures and frigid winds have become familiar challenges for Casselton firefighters this winter as they respond to emergencies in some of the harshest conditions.

“We have to monitor ourselves and look for any signs of frostbite,” Casselton Fire Chief John Hejl said.

Despite the weather, firefighters wear the same uniforms year round, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

“So, in the summertime, we’re quite warm, and in the winter, it helps keep you warm to a point, but it’s pretty important for us to be wearing layers underneath just like everybody else,” Hejl said.

The priority during winter calls is ensuring everyone’s safety — those impacted by the fires and the firefighters.

“If we have people who live in a home and now they’re displaced, or people that were in a vehicle and now they’re outside of it or it’s no longer running so it’s cooled off, we need to keep those folks warm, so we carry a lot of extra blankets,” Hejl said.

Another critical factor is maintaining a steady water flow to put out fires, as stagnant water can freeze in the hoses.

“We have to keep water flowing, otherwise our hoses will freeze, so finding a ditch or somebody’s front yard or some place to put that water so we’re not icing up a roadway is important so we can keep those lines open and flowing,” Hejl said.

Hejl also noted an uptick in fire calls during colder weather, emphasizing the importance of fire prevention measures.

“Keep your furnace tuned up and working properly, keep your vents open,” he said.

He also urged people to unplug rechargeable batteries once they are fully charged, especially if they’re stored in a garage.

The combination of cold weather and fire hazards requires constant vigilance, but Hejl remains confident in his team’s ability to adapt and protect the community.

Isak Dinesen joined WDAY-TV as a reporter in September 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin for three years. He graduated from NDSU in 2020, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sports Communication at MSUM.

Stay tuned for all live updates and analysis as North Dakota State takes on Montana State in the FCS National Championship game.

As always, there will be live game notes, analysis, and breakdown of the game as it happens. Keep the refresh button going as updates will be coming in quickly and consistently.

– Teams are warming up as we get ready to go for kickoff. Kickoff is at 6pm CT.

– It appears to be a sellout here at Toyota Stadium as we near kickoff. It looks to be a slight advantage for Bobcat fans with both fanbases represented well. Great atmosphere here in Frisco.

– NDSU will receive and we will get started here in Frisco. Cam Miller’s chance first.

– Kickoff goes out of the back of the endzone. NDSU will start on their own 25.

– Cam Miller is on target early and moves the chains with an 8-yard completion

– Bryce Lance gets his first catch with a 14-yard reception and NDSU is in Bobcat territory

– 22 yard catch by Raja Nelson along the sideline and NDSU is in the redzone. Bison are winning at the LOS early

– Touchdown Bison! MSU defense gets a couple stops inside the 5 but can’t keep Cam Miller out on third and goal. The NDSU quarterback dives and gets in the endzone. 7-0 NDSU.

– Cam Miller showing out early. He went 3-3 for 44 yards and added 16 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground as well. Now its Tommy Mellott’s turn to answer.

– Scottre Humphrey held to short gains on first and second down. Huge third down play upcoming

– And there goes Tommy Mellott. Mellott gains 19 yards and a first down on a scramble

– Tommy Mellott goes to TE Rohan Jones on 3rd and five and the big TE drops it. NDSU thought they might have a fumble but after a quick conference it was called incomplete. The Bobcats punt and NDSU will take over on their own 8 yard line. Big stop for NDSU after Montana State had encroached on Bison territory.

– On a big third down play Cam Miller goes deep to Bryce Lance. The pass was broken up, but NDSU was bailed out with a pass interference call. 1st and 10 Bison on their own 30 yard line.

– Touchdown NDSU!!! On a huge 3rd and 4 the Bison go empty and Montana State completely left the middle of the field open. Cam Miller saunters 65 yards down the middle of the field and the Bison now lead 14-0.

– Montana State hasn’t faced this kind of adversity since week 1 against FBS New Mexico. The Bobcats did come back and win that game but they likely need a response on this drive to keep themselves in it.

– Cam Miller already has 136 total yards. Statement from the Walter Payton runner-up.

– On the final play of the first quarter, Montana State hands the ball to Adam Jones and barely converts on 3rd and 2. The Bobcats will have the ball 1st and 10 on their own 35-yard line when the 2nd quarter starts. NDSU 14 MSU 0

– Explosive plays are the name of the game right now. NDSU has two plays over 20 yards, while MSU has none. Bobcats need to find a way to open up the offense in the 2nd quarter

– After 2 runs we have another massive 3rd and 2 coming. The Bobcats still haven’t completed a pass.

– Mellott stretches and just gets the first down on a power play. Montana State on the move and in NDSU territory

– Montana State is being held to 4 yards per play. The Bobcats average nearly 7 on the season.

– Third straight third and short conversion as Tommy Mellott evades Bison defenders and gets a first down.

– Montana State is started to find some running lanes after 2 6-yard runs by Adam Jones. 1st and 10 from the 22 yard line

– This time the Bison defense bows up and stops the Bobcats on third and short. An arduous 17-play 11 minute drive only ends in 3 points for Montana State. NDSU 14 MSU 3

– NDSU will take over on their own 24. Massive drive for this game