2021 Bighorn Sheep, Moose, and Elk Harvests
Harvest statistics released by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department show overall hunter success during the 2021 season for bighorn sheep was 80 percent, 90 percent for moose, and 65 percent for elk.
The department issued four bighorn sheep licenses and auctioned one. Four of the five hunters harvested a bighorn ram.
The department issued 470 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 448 hunters harvested 405 animals – 163 bulls and 242 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows:
Unit Hunters Bulls Cow/Calf Success Rate
M5 5 5 0 100
M6 10 10 0 100
M8 15 14 0 93
M9 114 33 67 88
M10 179 56 108 92
M11 125 45 67 90
The department issued 532 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 462 hunters harvested 301 elk – 158 bulls and 143 cows/calves. Harvest for each unit follows:
Unit Hunters Bulls Cow/Calf Success Rate
E1E 74 24 32 64
E1W 54 20 25 83
E2 123 39 40 64
E3 177 57 52 62
E4 22 15 0 68
E6 12 3 3 50
Deadline to Remove Fish Houses
Anglers are reminded unoccupied fish houses must be removed from all waters beginning March 15 until ice-out.
Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily.
Anglers are advised to use caution while accessing area lakes. Ice conditions can vary from region to region, between lakes in the same region, and even on the same lake.
Earth Day Patch Contest Deadline
The deadline to submit entries for North Dakota’s Earth Day Patch contest is March 15.
The Earth Day Patch Contest is step one in bringing awareness and develop consciousness about the environmental conditions of our planet and North Dakota. Students who participate will develop a patch design using five colors to incorporate some aspect of Earth Day including environmental awareness, respect for Earth, water quality, wildlife or habitat conservation in North Dakota.
The contest is open to students in grades K-12. Winners are chosen from three grade categories (K-4, 5-8 and 9-12). Each winner will receive an outdoor kit, which includes a pair of binoculars and field guides. The grand prize patch design winner is chosen from one of the three winning age categories. In addition, the grand prize winner will have their design displayed on the year's recognition patch, be featured in North Dakota OUTDOORS and on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website.
Details about the contest can be found at https://gf.nd.gov/education/earth-day-patch. For additional information about the contest, contact Sherry Niesar, contest coordinator, at 701-527-3714 or email sniesar@nd.gov.
