North Dakota pronghorn population dips, likely due to drought; 1,720 licenses available bismarcktribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bismarcktribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
An annual survey shows that western North Dakota s mule deer population remains robust, but state wildlife officials are worried about the impacts of extreme drought.
Mule deer numbers strong, but concerns about drought persist
May 17, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
An annual spring survey shows that the mule deer population is thriving in western North Dakota, but state wildlife officials are concerned about how the animals will do with prolonged drought conditions.
Game and Fish Department biologists counted 2,671 mule deer in about 306 square miles during this year’s survey. Overall mule deer density in the Badlands is about the same as last year, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
Hunting of mule deer females was banned in North Dakota for four consecutive seasons beginning in 2012 after a string of tough winters led to a record low number of fawns. Restrictions have been lifted in phases since 2016.
More deer hunt licenses available in North Dakota this year Follow Us
Question of the Day
By - Associated Press - Wednesday, May 5, 2021
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota will issue more deer hunting licenses this year than it has in the past 10 years.
The Game and Fish Department will make 72,000 licenses available to hunters, the sixth consecutive year the number has increased and up 3,150 from last year.
The department has been moving toward a goal of issuing at least 75,000 licenses annually, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The number issued this year might have been higher, but drought conditions persist across the state. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map shows extreme drought covering 83% of North Dakota.