BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – North Dakota hunters with whitetail doe tags in four units will have their tags refunded as the state Game and Fish Department monitors an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrahagic Disease in the southwestern and southcentral part of the state.
Units 3E1, 3E2, 3F2 and 3C will have doe harvesting closed for the upcoming season. Game and Fish is also offering hunters in 13 other units full tag and point refunds. Hunters with other tags, like Antlered-Whitetail deer, are not impacted by the closure.
“Any time we remove licenses, restrict opportunity, that’s not something we take lightly, but I think the message is really clear today that we’re wanting to take actions that will actually do the opposite. No pain, no gain. There’s gonna be a little pain this year with these actions. We’re hoping that’s gonna benefit opportunity in future years and grow that hunting culture the people love so much in North Dakota.” Game and Fish Director Jeb Williams said.
Williams says about 350 tags are impacted by the closures.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong says hunters in the units offering refunds should have some conversations before the season begins.
“Talk to your landowner, talk to where you hunt, talk to where you’re at, and if you’re not all-in on wherever you’re at, return it. We’ll refund you, we’ll give you your bonus points back and we’ll help try and protect our herd from what is actually a tremendously devastating disease for whitetails,” Armstrong said.
Game and Fish says EHD outbreaks typically coincide with wet springs, hot summers, drought, and a late first frost date. Most animals that die from EHD are infected before the first hard frost, the Game and Fish website says.
The Game and Fish page with information on EHD can be found here.
“This is my recreation, not just as Governor but just as somebody who really, really care about this stuff. It’s our duty to do everything we can and preserve the herd,” Armstrong said.
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