http://www.ndbowhunters.org/ North Dakota Bow Hunters Association - Blog RSS Feed 2.0 en-us Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:12:26 GMT Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:12:26 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/16327/NASP-Volunteers-Needed blog The archers competing are highly trained and have pre-qualified for the State Tournament. Your role? ✔ Assist with scoring when needed ✔ Keep an eye on safety ✔ Support these talented young archers If you can count to ten and run an eraser... you're qualified to volunteer! TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Thursday 1:00–5:00 PM — Range Layout Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM — Set Up 2:00–7:00 PM — Shooting Saturday 9:00 AM–3:30 PM — Shooting 3:30 PM — Shoot-Offs Awards to Follow Tear Down (Main Arena) Remaining areas begin tear down at 3:30 PM Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/16327/NASP-Volunteers-Needed http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14595/Pope-and-Young-agrees-to-allow-lighted-sights blog The Pope and Young Club, America's leading bowhunting organization, had a recent bylaws change to allow animals taken with a bow-attached sight equipped with a light to illuminate pin(s) (battery operated) to be eligible for entry into the records program. Previously, any trophy whereby an electronic (battery operated) sight light that was attached to the bow was not allowed. This change maintains the prohibition against the use of any forward projecting light intended to illuminate a target in any way. The policy change is retroactive allowing any animal, whether previously measured or not, and that was ineligible due to the previous policy, to now be eligible for entry into the records program.    As with all rules pertaining to Fair Chase, they are meant to serve as the bare minimum that a hunter must strive to achieve in order for their trophy animal to be accepted into the records program.  When a hunter elects to not utilize newer technology as part of their personal Fair Chase beliefs, this is equally commendable.  Maintaining a personal level of Fair Chase which is sometimes higher than minimum standards is an attribute the Club hopes all bowhunters would strive to achieve.  As technology changes, the Pope and Young's records committee continually evaluates these technological advancements and routinely guides and advises the Board of Directors on items/issues that they feel may exceed what is allowed under the rules of Fair Chase.   "When it comes to technology, Pope and Young has always been the ethical voice for bowhunting.  However, it's also very important that we show and educate bowhunters about these technologies and how they are not all inherently bad in every case." stated Justin Spring, Pope and Young Executive Director. "Hunting should be conducted under Fair Chase conditions and we should continue educating bowhunters with discussions involving technological advancements and their proper use."  Fri, 16 Aug 2024 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14595/Pope-and-Young-agrees-to-allow-lighted-sights http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14594/North-Dakota-Game-and-Fish-Advisory-Meetings blog Advisory Board (Last updated 03/2024) Created in the 1960s the North Dakota Game and Fish Advisory Board is made up of eight members, four landowners and four hunter/anglers. Board members serve as liaisons between the department and the North Dakota public. Bi-annual meetings are held in each of eight districts giving citizens an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife related issues. 2024 Spring Advisory Board Meetings The schedule for the 2024 spring Advisory Board meetings will be posted here as it becomes available. District  Board Member  Date/Time Host Location Contact Person  District 1 Beau Wisness Wednesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. CT Missouri Basin Bowmen Williston Fairgrounds, Williston TBD District 2 Travis Leier Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m. CT Souris River Basin Longbeards Verendrye Electric (1225 Hwy 2 Bypass E), Minot D.J. Randolph, 701-720-2134 District 3 Edward Dosch Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m. CT Lakeview Seed / AG365 Rock Lake Community Center Rock Lake Brock Mitchell, 701-550-9996 District 4 Karissa Daws Tuesday, April 16 TBD TBD TBD District 5 Doug Madsen Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. CT Rutland Sportsman Club Silver Lake Recreation Area Pavilion (9571 135th Ave SE), Forman Brian Ciesynski, 701-403-3085 District 6 Cody Sand Monday, April 22, 7 p.m. CT James River Sportsman Club American Legion (34 1st Ave NE) LaMoure TBD District 7 Jody Sommer Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. CT Hazen Sportsmen's Clu Hazen City Hall (146 Main St E), Hazen Sheldon Cieslak, 701-870-0053 District 8 Rob Brooks Thursday, April 25 TBD TBD TBD Tue, 02 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14594/North-Dakota-Game-and-Fish-Advisory-Meetings http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14593/2024-NASP-State-Tournament blog The North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament is scheduled for March 15-16 at the State Fair Center in Minot. The tournament will feature competition in bullseye, 3-D and varsity. The tournament consists of team and individual competition in elementary, middle and high school divisions, with $40,000 in prizes awarded including more than $30,000 in higher education scholarships. The state tournament and all other local and regional NASP tournaments are open to any student in grades 4-12 who attends a school that offers NASP lessons during the school day. A complete listing of tournaments in North Dakota is available on the official NASP tournament website at http://www.nasptournaments.org/. A certified NASP archery instructor must preregister participants for all NASP tournaments.   For more information, or to find out if your child's school participates in NASP, contact Jeff Long, North Dakota state coordinator, at jrlong@nd.gov, or call 701-328-6322.   Mon, 12 Feb 2024 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14593/2024-NASP-State-Tournament http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14592/2023-Chronic-Wasting-Disease-Proclamation blog Big game hunters should note the 2023 chronic wasting disease proclamation for baiting and transportation requirements for deer, elk and moose as a precaution against the spread of chronic wasting disease. Noteworthy items include: Whole carcasses of animals harvested in North Dakota can remain in the deer unit, or may now be transported anywhere in the state. However, carcass waste must be disposed of via landfill or waste management provider. This does not apply to heads dropped at CWD collection sites or lymph nodes submitted for CWD surveillance. Taxidermists and game processors can also accept intact carcasses of animals harvested within North Dakota but assume responsibility for disposal. A new management strategy that allows baiting restrictions to be removed in a unit if the number of adult deer equivalent to at least 10% of the gun licenses allocated in the unit are tested for CWD within a year, and all the results are negative. If the sampling goal is not met or CWD is confirmed in the unit, the baiting restriction will remain. No new units have been added to the baiting restriction list for 2023-24. Due to the timing of finalizing the proclamation, a one-year pause was placed on adding new units. Units 2K1 and 3B2 are scheduled to be added to the restriction list in 2024 due to a positive CWD detection during the 2022 hunting season within 25 miles in an adjacent unit. They will not be added if the 10% goal is reached this year and all CWD test results are negative. Hunters are prohibited from transporting into North Dakota the whole carcass or parts, except the lower-risk portions, of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family harvested outside of North Dakota. State Game and Fish Department officials will conduct surveillance of the state by region on a four-year rotation. This year, the CWD surveillance effort will consist of deer gun units in southeastern North Dakota. Outside of this area, hunters can still have their animal tested by taking it to a Game and Fish district office, any deer head collection site (primarily located in the surveillance area) or using a mail-in self-sampling kit. A unit outside the annual surveillance zone is still eligible to have a baiting restriction removed if the sampling goal is met, or can be added as a restricted unit if a positive is found. Sun, 04 Feb 2024 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14592/2023-Chronic-Wasting-Disease-Proclamation http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14591/ND-Game-and-Fish-Advisory-meetings-announced blog North Dakota Game and Fish Department Logo Advisory Board Meetings Announced Wed, 04/05/2023 The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this spring at seven locations across the state. Districts 3 and 4 will have a shared meeting. In addition, the district 7 meeting in Bismarck will be streamed live on the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.  Some information is to be determined. As information becomes finalized, it will be published on the department's website.  These public meetings, held each spring and fall, provide citizens with an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues and ask questions of their district advisors and agency personnel. For the statewide livestream, questions can be submitted via chat during the meeting. District 2 – Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward counties Date: April 17 – 7 p.m. Location: Velva Wildlife Club, 1901 U.S. Highway 52, Velva Host: Velva Wildlife Club Contact and advisory board member: Travis Leier, Velva, 701-240-3690  District 3 and 4 – Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette, Towner, Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh counties Date: April 17 – 7 p.m. Location: Lake Region State College, Heritage Hall, 1801 College Dr. N., Devils Lake Host: Lake Region Sportsman Club Contact and advisory board member: Edward Dosch, Devils Lake, 701-351-4202; Bruce Ellertson, Lakota District 8 – Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark counties Date: April 18 – 7 p.m. Location: Community Center, 153 E. Main St., Beach Host: Pheasants Forever Contact: Rob Curl, 701-260-6321 Advisory board member: Rob Brooks, Rhame  District 6 – Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, Logan, LaMoure, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells counties Date: April 24 – 7 p.m. Location: City Hall, 120 Eighth St. E., Harvey  Host: Harvey Wildlife Club Contact: Tom Marchand, 701-341-0273 Advisory board member: Cody Sand, Ashley, 701-535-1071 District 5 – Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties Date: April 24 – 7 p.m. Location: City Hall, 31 Fifth Ave. N., Kindred Host: Kindred Wildlife Club Contact: Darrell Kersting, 701-373-1483 Advisory board member: Doug Madsen, Harwood  District 1 – Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties Date: April 25 – 7 p.m. Location: Keene Dome, 51 St. and Highway 1804, Keene  Host: TBA Contact: TBA Advisory board member: Beau Wisness, Keene District 7 – Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux counties Date: April 25 – 7 p.m. Location: Game and Fish Main Office, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck  Host: TBA  Contact: TBA Advisory board member: Jody Sommer, Mandan  Wed, 05 Apr 2023 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14591/ND-Game-and-Fish-Advisory-meetings-announced http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14590/Pope-and-Young-Announces-Convention-Speakers blog We are excited to announce the first of their all-star lineup of guests and speakers for the 33rd Biennial Convention taking place in Reno, NV, April 12-15, 2023. The Pope and Young Convention has always been a place to come and meet with some of the best bowhunters on the planet, and this year is no exception. With a large selection of seminars, coming from some of the most accomplished bowhunters, there is something for bowhunters of all levels. This year's line up includes the team from Raised Hunting, Allen Bolen, Anders Gejer, CJ Winand, Dennis Dunn, Frank Noska, Bob Ameen, Brendan Burns, John Barklow and many more.  In addition, many of the long standing Pope and Young corporate partners, such as Sitka, Kuiu, FeraDyne, and Bakcou E-Bikes, will be in attendance to help educate and outfit new and experienced hunters alike.  Plan to join Pope and Young in April 12-15 in Reno and share hunting stories with fellow hunters including John Dudley, Chuck Adams, Tom Nelson, Tom Miranda, and many more. Thu, 08 Dec 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14590/Pope-and-Young-Announces-Convention-Speakers http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14589/Hunters-Encouraged-to-Have-Deer-Tested-for-CWD blog The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2022 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the western portion of the state, and unit 2B in the east.  Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 1, 2B, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3B2, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. CWD is a slow-moving brain disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause population-level impacts under high infection rates. Hunters are encouraged to drop off heads of adult or yearling deer at collection locations. Fawns and head-shot deer cannot be tested. Hunters wishing to keep the heads can bring them to a Game and Fish district office during business hours to have them sampled. Self-sampling kits are available for hunters who wish to have their deer tested but are unable to drop the head at a collection site. The do-it-yourself kit allows hunters to remove the lymph nodes and ship them to the Department's wildlife health lab for testing. Results can be expected within four weeks and will be sent to your Game and Fish My Account inbox. Hunters should note whole carcasses or heads of deer taken from units 3A1, 3A2, 3B1, 3C, 3D1, 3E2, 3F2, 4B and 4C may not be transported to a collection site outside of the unit. Exceptions: lymph nodes extracted from the head for the purpose of CWD testing contained in a sealed, plastic bag; and hunters can transport whole deer carcasses between adjoining CWD carcass restricted units. More information on CWD, including transportation restrictions, is available at the Game and Fish website. Wed, 26 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14589/Hunters-Encouraged-to-Have-Deer-Tested-for-CWD http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14588/Meetings-for-Chronic-Wasting-Disease blog North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials will host three public meetings this month to discuss chronic wasting disease in North Dakota. "Chronic wasting disease presents serious concerns for the long-term health of our big game populations," said Casey Anderson, wildlife division chief. "While the status of this disease has changed considerably in North Dakota over the past two decades, we've also learned a lot." Since last year, an intradepartmental CWD Task Force has been conducting a situational analysis of the issue, culminating in an updated plan for how it intends to manage the disease in North Dakota. The meetings will include a formal presentation on history, current status and the future of CWD in North Dakota, after which Department staff will be available to visit individually with people who have questions and/or comments. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. local time. Dates and locations are:   Aug. 22 – Fargo 3803 13th Ave. S. Holiday Inn   Aug. 24 – Dickinson 532 15th St. W. Grand Dakota Lodge   Aug. 29 – Minot 1505 N. Broadway Grand Hotel Mon, 08 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14588/Meetings-for-Chronic-Wasting-Disease http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14587/New-Pope---Young-world-record- blog On Saturday, May 14th, Pope and Young convened a Special Panel of Judges in Ogden, UT for a potential World's Record Typical Velvet Mule Deer. Bowdy Gardner's Typical Velvet Mule Deer scored an incredible 218 2/8" and is now the largest bow-harvested Typical Velvet Mule Deer in North America. This amazing deer was taken and entered into the records program nearly 10 years ago and is now recognized as the new world's record after the original score was upheld by a panel of measurers. "This is a tremendous mule deer that has been awaiting this moment since it was taken in Kane County, Utah in 2012. When Pope and Young changed their stance in 2021 and allowed velvet antlered animals to be eligible for world record status within their own respective categories, we were finally able to authenticate this buck", stated Roy Grace, Pope and Young Club's Records Chairman. "It also demonstrates how sportsmen's dollars, coupled with oversight from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, can properly manage these incredible animals and provide opportunity for sportsmen to pursue them." This World Record Typical Velvet Mule Deer was originally entered into the 28th recording period which represented entries accepted into Pope and Young's Records Program from January 1st, 2011, to December 31st, 2012. As previously stated, Pope and Young changed their policy in 2021, allowing velvet antlered species to be eligible for World's Record status within their own velvet categories. As such, nearly ten (10) years later, this incredible buck is now crowned as the new velvet World's Record.   Wed, 18 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14587/New-Pope---Young-world-record- http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14586/State-Fair-NDGF-Outdoor-Park-seeks-Volunteers- blog Its that time of year again to sign up for the fair.  If you have not previously volunteered, we operate a little outdoor themed park at the ND State Fair which includes archery, fishing, bb-guns and a trapping demonstration area.  We try staff the archery area with certified instructors and can always use more help in the archery booth!     In exchange for a 6 hour shift we provide meals, mileage and gate passes along with a hotel room for those traveling a distance greater than 60 miles and working at least 2 days.  If you work three days you get 2 nights at the hotel.     We are open every day of the fair: July 22nd-30th and the shift is 1:00pm-7:00pm.  See the Sign up sheet  ......HERE! Its that time of year again to sign up for the fair.  If you have not previously volunteered, we operate a little outdoor themed park at the ND State Fair which includes archery, fishing, bb-guns and a trapping demonstration area.  We try staff the archery area with certified instructors and can always use more help in the archery booth!     In exchange for a 6 hour shift we provide meals, mileage and gate passes along with a hotel room for those traveling a distance greater than 60 miles and working at least 2 days.  If you work three days you get 2 nights at the hotel.     We are open every day of the fair: July 22nd-30th and the shift is 1:00pm-7:00pm.   Its actually a lot of fun, in fact many people turn this into a mini family vacation, so if you plan to bring family along be sure to let us know so we can set you up in a room with 2 beds. They can also bring in a roll away upon request.    Jeffrey Long Outdoor Education Project Administrator    Thu, 05 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/blog/14586/State-Fair-NDGF-Outdoor-Park-seeks-Volunteers- http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/3071/NDBA-2026-State-3D-Tournament---Rendezvous events Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:00:46 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/3071/NDBA-2026-State-3D-Tournament---Rendezvous http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/3210/Roughrider-Archers-Indoor-3D events Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:06:53 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/3210/Roughrider-Archers-Indoor-3D http://www.ndbowhunters.org/userfiles/2640/images/NDBA%202025%20State%20Outdoor%2Ejpg http://www.ndbowhunters.org/ http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2844/2025-NDBA-State-Outdoor-3D-Championship events Saturday, August 9 7:30am Registration Begins 5:00pm 3-D Registration closes Sunday August 10 7:30am Registration Begins 3:00pm 3-D Registration closes Noncompetitive archers are welcome - Competitive archers must be a current NDBA member. Memberships are available the day of the tournament. Tue, 15 Jul 2025 02:41:42 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2844/2025-NDBA-State-Outdoor-3D-Championship http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2493/Missouri-Basin-Bowmen-Outdoor-Shoot events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:17:13 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2493/Missouri-Basin-Bowmen-Outdoor-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2843/Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Scheels-Shoot events Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:40:34 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2843/Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Scheels-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2845/10th-Annual-Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Traditional-Rendevous-Archery-Shoot events Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:46:35 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2845/10th-Annual-Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Traditional-Rendevous-Archery-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2492/Oliver-County-Archers-Outdoor-Shoot events Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:55:22 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2492/Oliver-County-Archers-Outdoor-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2750/Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Spring-Bear-Warmup--3d-Archery-Shoot events Sat, 10 May 2025 01:01:30 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2750/Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Spring-Bear-Warmup--3d-Archery-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2749/Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Spring-Bear-Warmup--3d-Archery-Shoot events Sat, 10 May 2025 01:00:58 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2749/Souris-Valley-Bowmen-Spring-Bear-Warmup--3d-Archery-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2491/NISHU-Last-Chance-3D-Shoot events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:02:11 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2491/NISHU-Last-Chance-3D-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2490/2025-NDBA-Rendezvous---State-Indoor-3D-Championship events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2490/2025-NDBA-Rendezvous---State-Indoor-3D-Championship http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2489/Missouri-Basin-Bowmen-Spring-Shoot events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:15:03 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2489/Missouri-Basin-Bowmen-Spring-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2497/RoughRider-Archers-3d-Archery-Shoot events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:14:45 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2497/RoughRider-Archers-3d-Archery-Shoot http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2495/NISHU-Mid-Winter-Classic-3D events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:05:17 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2495/NISHU-Mid-Winter-Classic-3D http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2496/Missouri-Basin-Bowmen-Superbowl-Shoot events Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:15:42 GMT http://www.ndbowhunters.org/events/2496/Missouri-Basin-Bowmen-Superbowl-Shoot