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Duck count is up!
We
are enjoying some of the best waterfowl conditions in years.
The brood index from the Game and Fish Department's annual mid-July
2012 survey was up 110 percent from 2011 and exceeded the long-term
average by 155 percent. Results from the May breeding duck survey
indicated the duck index was up 16 percent from 2011 and exceeded
the long-term average by 112 percent. Numbers of resident Canada
geese, Western prairie Canada geese and Canada geese and snow
and geese all remain high, with good hunting opportunities for
all these birds.
Here's what to expect on our stretch of the Central Flyway:
 Hunting over our
many potholes, jump shooting or, later in the season, field shoots.
 No need to bring decoys; we'll
supply them.
A need for chest waders, which
will allow you to retrieve your harvest from our potholes without
a boat.
If you have a dog, we have a warm
place to keep him. But if you don't, fear not. Your chest waders
will do.
A day of hunting that begins the
evening before, when your guides will be scouting over 20,000
acres of private land. You'll be sitting down to one of Oren's
famous breakfasts before the sun comes up. Oren and his guides
will set you up for a successful morning hunt. |
Spending
afternoons hunting for upland game--that is if you limited on
waterfowl this morning. Our sharptail and Hungarian partridge
hunting will surprise you--we have good populations of each here.
Once again, we'll get you out in the field for the afternoon.
You'll likely delight in the countryside. It's beautiful here
in autumn!
Back at the camp, you'll get to
show off your cooking skills in our fully-equipped kitchen. You'll
share your day grouped around our big old wood-burning stove.
Or, if you'd prefer, we'll "guide you" to some colorful
local establishments for home-cooked noon meals and great evening
steaks.
When applying for a nonresident
waterfowl license from the ND Game and Fish choose ZONE 1 CONCURRENT WITH
ZONE 3. (See
more information about licensing below).
Email justask@thebisonranch.com for rates. Discounts
for children to age 18 when accompanied by an adult hunter. |
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WATERFOWL HUNTING AT THE BISON RANCH
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DUCKS |
GEESE |
The Bison Ranch
sits in the midst of the part of the famous Prairie Potholes
with the highest density of potholes in the country! The duck
breeding index has been record-setting the past few years---and
our potholes nurture every kind of duck you can think of: gadwalls,
pintail-sprig, red heads, widgeon, teals mallards and canvasbacks.
We don't use boats here; decoy and pass shooting are what you
may look forward to, and Nos. 2 and 4 shot are what you'll need.
Nonresident Season Opener: Sept. 29
Limits: 5 daily 10 in possession
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The ranch is witnessing
a banner year for Canada geese. With all the water, we are likely
to see a fabulous fall season.
Youth Season Opener: Sept. 15
Regular Opener: Sept. 22
Nonresident Season Opener: Sept. 29
Limits: 3 daily 6 in possession
There probably isn't anything more spectacular than watching
the snow geese swoop in each spring and fall. We have a short
window to get in on the hunt, but if you are flexible enough
to seize the opportunity to hunt them when they're here, we will
certainly work with you.
We offer special pricing on spring snow geese season--call or
email us!
Spring Season: Mid-February to mid-May (exact dates set by ND
Game and Fish each winter). |
Nonresident Waterfowl Licenses
(For goose, duck, merganser, coot, swan)
A nonresident
waterfowl license costs $85 for a zone-restricted license, or
$125 for a license that allows hunting in more than one of North
Dakota's three waterfowl zones. A nonresident waterfowl license
is good for a 7-day period in Zone 1, which is the waterfowl
hunting zone where The Bison Ranch is located. Since the ranch
also has land located in Zone 3, it is best, when applying for
licensing, to choose ZONE 1 CONCURRENT WITH ZONE 3 when you fill out your license application.
Waterfowl hunters must also purchase a
- $ 2 Nonresident Hunting, Fishing, and Furbearer Certificate
- $13 General Game and Habitat License
- $15 federal migratory bird stamp (duck stamp--not required
for those under age 16).
Snow Geese season: A nonresident must possess the following
licenses:
- Nonresident Statewide Spring Light Goose License - $50. This
is a separate, special license for the spring season.
Spring season days do not count against the fall nonresident
time restriction.
Nonresident waterfowl hunting licenses are issued only through
the department's Bismarck office, over the Internet and by telephone at
1-800-406-6409. Click here for our PDF on licensing.
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At The Bison Ranch, you'll find
every kind of duck you can think of, with the exception of a
wood duck. Heck Oren even has seen an oldsquaw here!
Identifying them all is half the fun--You'll want to brush up on your waterfowl
dentification skills here. |
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