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<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nBismarck\u00a0 (CSi) The State Game and Fish Department announces, that\u00a0 North Dakota’s pronghorn hunting season is set, with 410 licenses available in five open units.<\/p>\n
Applications\u00a0 will be available starting July 20, 2017.<\/p>\n
Bruce Stillings, big game management supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department, said the recently completed aerial survey indicated the pronghorn population is down 14 percent from last year. \u201cNumbers were a bit disappointing, but not unexpected due to a combination of a tough winter and extreme drought conditions,\u201d Stillings said.<\/p>\n
A total of 30 licenses are available in 2B, 25 in 3A, 80 in 3B, 225 in 4A and 50 in 4C. All licenses are valid for any pronghorn. Units 1A and 2A, which were open to pronghorn hunting in 2016, are closed this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just don\u2019t have the numbers to support a season in those two units this year,\u201d Stillings said.<\/p>\n
On the bright side, Stillings said the fawn-to-doe ratio of .74 to 1 was the highest since 2002. The buck-to-doe ratio of 38 bucks per 100 does remained stable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s high fawn production is encouraging for future population growth,\u201d Stillings said.\u00a0\u201cA moderate winter, with average fawn production next summer, may provide conditions needed for pronghorn population growth to support additional hunting opportunities in 2018.\u201d<\/p>\n
Similar to last year, each unit will have a season that is split into an early bow-only portion, and a later gun\/bow season.<\/p>\n
The bow-only portion of the season is from Sept. 1 (noon) \u2013 Sept. 24. Anyone who draws a license can hunt pronghorn with a bow in the unit printed on the license.<\/p>\n
From Oct. 6 (noon) \u2013 Oct. 22, hunters who still have a valid license can use legal firearms or bow equipment, and again must stay in the assigned unit.<\/p>\n
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply for a 2017 pronghorn license. Hunters who have accumulated bonus points<\/a> and choose not to apply this year will not lose their points.<\/p>\n In addition, state law allows youth who turn age 12 on or before Dec. 31, 2017 to apply for a license.<\/p>\n