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For the majority of hunters, the close of the regular deer gun season, followed by the calendar change from November to December, pretty much seals the fate of fall.

While the past couple of weeks I wrote about the many opportunities still available, the transition is inevitable. And it's not only hunters who are switching their focus. At the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, it’s time to start analyzing this year’s hunting seasons with an eye already toward next year.

One of the major efforts is the Game and Fish Advisory Board meetings. Each year in late November and early December (and also in spring), advisory board members hold public meetings in their districts. In addition to public input, Game and Fish administrators also bring forth agency proposals for consideration.

After the meetings are over, the eight advisors meet with Game and Fish staff to discuss input and feedback from the meetings, as well as share anecdotal reports from the fall.

The gathering of advisors precedes the Game and Fish Department December staff meeting, where employees share a wealth of information that can influence seasons next fall and beyond.

While each meeting and topic could easily generate a column, here’s a short rundown of important issues.

Aquatic Nuisance Species
The Department has finalized administrative rules designed to help protect North Dakota waters from the possible introduction or transfer of aquatic nuisance species. These regulations have undergone intense scrutiny and revision to give us the best chance to protect our waters.

Rules requiring removal of aquatic vegetation from boats and trailers so it is not transported from water to water, along with the draining of bilge pumps, will reduce the chances of unintended introduction or transfer of ANS.

A scary reminder of how easily this can happen was the recent discovery of zebra mussels attached to machinery that was destined for North Dakota.

Mountain Lions
North Dakota's mountain lions continue to draw interest from hunters and citizens alike. These animals are the subject of ongoing study and scientifically sound information provides wildlife managers with a growing understanding of this population. Analysis of specimens has more accurately defined an expanding range of mountain lion territory north into the Missouri River breaks.

Deer Harvest
No matter when or where advisory board meetings are held, deer, deer hunting and deer management will work their way into the conversation. Personally, this fall I received many comments about the amount of corn on the landscape, and what influence an apparently late corn harvest might have on deer season.

It's interesting to note that since the early 1980s North Dakota deer hunter success has only fluctuated from 69 percent to 80 percent. This include years with opening-day blizzards and years when hunters didn’t need a jacket. It includes years when corn and sunflowers were mostly all harvested, and years when harvest lagged behind.

Factor in the variable opening day, and it's a testament to the determination of North Dakota deer hunters, who will weather storms and just about anything else in an effort to fill deer tags.

These aren't the only topics, but a just a snapshot of issues floating around advisory board meetings and Game and Fish offices.

While the advisory board meetings are over for this fall, there's no wrong time to ask a question or pass along an observation to your North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Leier is a biologist. He can be reached by email: dleier@nd.gov

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