Game and Fish Spiritwood Lake Property for Sale
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is selling property within the City of Spiritwood Lake at public auction March 25, 2004 at 11 a.m. at the front door of the Stutsman County Courthouse in Jamestown, according to Paul Schadewald, department chief of administrative services.

The property to be sold consists of 16.10 acres of land, and includes all buildings on the property. This property was once the location for the department regional office, shop and game bird hatchery. The facilities are no longer needed for game and fish department operations.

The department’s lake shore property on Spiritwood Lake is not being sold. It is being kept to provide public fishing access for the lake.

A minimum bid of $44,304 is determined by an appraised value of $37,000, and cost of preparing the land for sale: survey and platting of $4,954, appraisal of $1,750, and abstract preparation of $600.

Written bids may be made by submission in a sealed envelope and accompanied by earnest money, payable to North Dakota Game and Fish Department, consisting of 10 percent of the total amount bid. The department must receive all written bids by March 24. Written bids should be sent to North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Attn: Paul Schadewald, 100 North Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095.

Written bids will be opened at 11 a.m. on March 25 at the start of the auction. It is not necessary to submit a written bid to be able to bid at the auction. The successful bidder must pay 10 percent earnest money at the time of the auction, and will have 60 days after the date of the sale to make payment in full. The successful bidder will also have to sign a purchase agreement immediately after the auction. A copy of this agreement is available from the department.

Possession of the property will be given upon payment in full. Closing to be arranged and must be within 60 days after the date of the sale. Game and fish will convey to the successful bidder by quitclaim deed upon receipt of full consideration.

The department reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Questions concerning this sale, or to obtain a copy of the purchase agreement, should be addressed to Schadewald at 701-328-6328.

Interested parties may inspect the property prior to the sale date by calling the department’s Jamestown office at 701-253-6480 to set up an appointment.

Anglers Should Consider Removing Permanent Fish Houses
Due to access problems caused by substantial snowcover, and the likelihood of more to come, anglers with permanent fish houses on North Dakota lakes should begin making arrangements to have them removed now instead of waiting until mid March, according to Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator of the State Game and Fish Department.

State law requires permanent fish houses to be removed from North Dakota waters by midnight March 15. However, access on some lakes could be restricted because of the snow. “People need to be aware of conditions and plan accordingly,” Boldt said, “because trying to get a vehicle on the ice to remove fish houses could be difficult.”

Also, warm weather and high winds this late in the winter can rapidly deteriorate ice conditions, Boldt mentioned, causing shorelines to weaken. “Ice thickness not only varies statewide, but can even fluctuate on the same body of water,” she said.

The fine for failure to have permanent fish houses off the ice by midnight, March 15 is $325. Portable fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily, Boldt mentioned.

Hotline to Provide Spring Snow Goose Updates
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will again provide hunters with migration updates for the spring light goose season. Hunters can call 701-328-3697 to hear recorded information 24 hours a day until the season ends or geese have left the state, according to Mike Johnson, department waterfowl biologist.

The hotline will be updated periodically during the week. “Hunters are able to get generalized locations of bird sightings once light geese enter the state,” Johnson said. “It is not intended to give pinpoint information of exact locations, but to provide bird arrival and migration routes.”

Weather conditions and availability of open water and food will dictate when snow geese arrive and how long they stay, Johnson said. Present conditions aren’t right for snow geese to move into North Dakota, he added, but the migration is on its way north, and as of Feb. 23 had reached the Platte River in Nebraska.

Last year, snow geese were in the state primarily the last week in March and first two weeks in April.

The spring migration tends to be farther east than in the fall. Snow geese generally arrive in the southeastern corner of the state with flocks spreading north and northwest through the Valley City, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Rugby and Kenmare areas. However, scattered flocks may be found anywhere in the state during spring.

Species identification is extremely important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The season is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

Hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Those purchasing a license from the department’s office or website (discovernd.com/gnf), as well as the 1-800-406-6409 licensing number, can easily get a HIP number at that time. Others may do so by calling toll free, 1‑888‑634‑4798. The HIP number is good for the fall season as well, so spring hunters should save it to record on their fall license.

The spring light goose season opened Feb. 21 and continues through May 11. Regulations are available at county auditors, game and fish offices and license vendors. A waterfowl identification booklet can be obtained by contacting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 or call 328-6300.

Minnesota-Wisconsin Chapter to Auction North Dakota Bighorn Sheep License
The Minnesota-Wisconsin Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep will sell a North Dakota bighorn sheep license at its annual fund-raiser and banquet March 20 at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

North Dakota has auctioned a bighorn sheep license each year since 1986 to fund sheep projects in the state, raising $547,000. Last year’s license, which sold for $35,000, was the fifth time it was auctioned at the Minnesota-Wisconsin chapter meeting. Prior to that, the license was sold at the national FNAWS convention.

In 1999 the North Dakota Game and Fish Department entered into a five-year agreement with the Minnesota-Wisconsin conservation group. In 2003, due to the success of the partnership, the agreement was extended an additional five years. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the license, along with an additional annual grant of $25,000, will be used to enhance management of North Dakota’s bighorn sheep.

Written bids should be sent to: MN-WI Chapter FNAWS, Hunt Auction Permit, PO Box 892, Hudson, WI 54016. For more information contact John Coulter, auction chairman, 507-629-4755.

NDFG