Neil Hoefs 's Entries

• 12 Jul 2012
  North Dakota Pheasant Crowing Counts Up

  Pheasant Crowing Counts Up North Dakota’s spring pheasant crowing count survey revealed a 10 percent increase statewide compared to last year. All four pheasant districts showed an increase compared to last year. The number of crows heard in the southeast increased by 12 percent, northwest by 8 percent, northeast by 6 percent and southwest by 4 percent. Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the State Game and Fish Department, said birds did not experience excessive mortality last winter. “Even with the nice winter last year, I anticipated fewer adult birds to be available this spring because poor production in spring of 2009-11 led to fewer young birds entering the fall population,” Kohn said. “However, I did expect to see higher crow count numbers in the southwest because good numbers of birds were observed last winter, but it didn’t pan out in the crow count numbers.” Even with a somewhat smaller breeding class of birds, Kohn said hens were in better shape this spring because of less winter stress. In addition, he said nesting habitat looked to be in pretty good condition in all areas of the state, and nesting and brooding weather this spring has been almost ideal. “I expect much better upland game production this summer,” Kohn added. “Pheasant hens are finding better quality nesting and brooding cover on the uplands this spring, and with the good weather, more hens were successful with first clutches, a positive sign of a good production year.” However, Kohn noted, the loss of CRP is going to decrease nesting and brooding cover in the future, and will negatively affect the pheasant population. Spring crowing count data is not always a good indicator of the fall population. It does not measure population density, but provides an index of the spring rooster population based on a trend of number of crows heard. Brood surveys, which begin in mid-July and are completed by September, are a better indicator of the summer’s pheasant production and provide insight into what to expect for a fall pheasant population. Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the number of pheasant roosters heard crowing over a two-minute period during the stop. The number of pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

  1817 Posted by Neil Hoefs
• By Neil Hoefs

  North Dakota Pheasant Crowing Counts Up

  Pheasant Crowing Counts Up North Dakota’s spring pheasant crowing count survey revealed a 10 percent increase statewide compared to last year. All four pheasant districts showed an increase compared to last year. The number of crows heard in the southeast increased by 12 percent, northwest by 8 percent, northeast by 6 percent and southwest by 4 percent. Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the State Game and Fish Department, said birds did not experience excessive mortality last winter. “Even with the nice winter last year, I anticipated fewer adult birds to be available this spring because poor production in spring of 2009-11 led to fewer young birds entering the fall population,” Kohn said. “However, I did expect to see higher crow count numbers in the southwest because good numbers of birds were observed last winter, but it didn’t pan out in the crow count numbers.” Even with a somewhat smaller breeding class of birds, Kohn said hens were in better shape this spring because of less winter stress. In addition, he said nesting habitat looked to be in pretty good condition in all areas of the state, and nesting and brooding weather this spring has been almost ideal. “I expect much better upland game production this summer,” Kohn added. “Pheasant hens are finding better quality nesting and brooding cover on the uplands this spring, and with the good weather, more hens were successful with first clutches, a positive sign of a good production year.” However, Kohn noted, the loss of CRP is going to decrease nesting and brooding cover in the future, and will negatively affect the pheasant population. Spring crowing count data is not always a good indicator of the fall population. It does not measure population density, but provides an index of the spring rooster population based on a trend of number of crows heard. Brood surveys, which begin in mid-July and are completed by September, are a better indicator of the summer’s pheasant production and provide insight into what to expect for a fall pheasant population. Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the number of pheasant roosters heard crowing over a two-minute period during the stop. The number of pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

  Jul 12, 2012 1817
• 28 Mar 2012
  Bighorn Sheep Auction License Sells for $42,000

    Bighorn Sheep Auction License Sells for $42,000 North Dakota’s 2012 bighorn sheep auction license sold for $42,000 at the March 17 Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation annual meeting in Bloomington, Minn. North Dakota’s auction license allows the winning bidder the rare privilege of pursuing a North Dakota bighorn on a self-guided hunt. One hundred percent of the auction license proceeds, plus an additional $10,000 donated by MCWSF, are used to enhance bighorn sheep management in North Dakota. In addition, a 5 percent conservation fee for all auction licenses generated an additional $2,100 from the sale of North Dakota’s license for wild sheep conservation.

  1157 Posted by Neil Hoefs
• By Neil Hoefs

  Bighorn Sheep Auction License Sells for $42,000

    Bighorn Sheep Auction License Sells for $42,000 North Dakota’s 2012 bighorn sheep auction license sold for $42,000 at the March 17 Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation annual meeting in Bloomington, Minn. North Dakota’s auction license allows the winning bidder the rare privilege of pursuing a North Dakota bighorn on a self-guided hunt. One hundred percent of the auction license proceeds, plus an additional $10,000 donated by MCWSF, are used to enhance bighorn sheep management in North Dakota. In addition, a 5 percent conservation fee for all auction licenses generated an additional $2,100 from the sale of North Dakota’s license for wild sheep conservation.

  Mar 28, 2012 1157
• 22 Aug 2011
  Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 2

  North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit. Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas. The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with. Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff's department. Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2. The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2012. Hunters should refer to the 2011 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.

  1200 Posted by Neil Hoefs
• By Neil Hoefs

  Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 2

  North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit. Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas. The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with. Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff's department. Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2. The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2012. Hunters should refer to the 2011 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.

  Aug 22, 2011 1200
• 28 Jun 2011
  Garmin® Acquires Tri-Tronics® Inc.

  Important News From Tri-Tronics!Tri-Tronics has signed an agreement to be purchased by Garmin Ltd. This is really a combining of market leaders, and we hope that you’re as excited about it as we are.As you probably know, Garmin is the pioneer in GPS dog tracking. What you may not realize is that their navigation systems are also found in airplanes, boats, cars, and many other devices, all over the world. They’ve been at it as long as just about anyone in the GPS business.Tri-Tronics, of course, is a pioneer and market leader in its own right. Taken together, the strengths of the two companies are highly complementary, and together we believe that we can better serve the broader sporting dog market with the best products, service, and customer support.The combination of our respective product lines will result in more choices, more innovation, and better value and service for our dealers, customers and supporters.So as a practical matter, what does this mean for our customers, users, and supporters?In a nutshell, it’s business as usual.Tri-Tronics will continue to be responsible for supporting its own products just as Garmin will be for its own products. Tri-Tronics will continue to offer high quality products and stand behind them. We will continue to honor our product warranties and service products in Tucson. Our office in Tucson will remain open and your Tri-Tronics contacts will remain the same as before; the same people, phone number and email address. The current Tri-Tronics management team will stay in place through the transition period at which time a decision will be made about how the overseeing process will be handled.We will continue to provide updates to you as developments warrant.

  1119 Posted by Neil Hoefs
• By Neil Hoefs

  Garmin® Acquires Tri-Tronics® Inc.

  Important News From Tri-Tronics!Tri-Tronics has signed an agreement to be purchased by Garmin Ltd. This is really a combining of market leaders, and we hope that you’re as excited about it as we are.As you probably know, Garmin is the pioneer in GPS dog tracking. What you may not realize is that their navigation systems are also found in airplanes, boats, cars, and many other devices, all over the world. They’ve been at it as long as just about anyone in the GPS business.Tri-Tronics, of course, is a pioneer and market leader in its own right. Taken together, the strengths of the two companies are highly complementary, and together we believe that we can better serve the broader sporting dog market with the best products, service, and customer support.The combination of our respective product lines will result in more choices, more innovation, and better value and service for our dealers, customers and supporters.So as a practical matter, what does this mean for our customers, users, and supporters?In a nutshell, it’s business as usual.Tri-Tronics will continue to be responsible for supporting its own products just as Garmin will be for its own products. Tri-Tronics will continue to offer high quality products and stand behind them. We will continue to honor our product warranties and service products in Tucson. Our office in Tucson will remain open and your Tri-Tronics contacts will remain the same as before; the same people, phone number and email address. The current Tri-Tronics management team will stay in place through the transition period at which time a decision will be made about how the overseeing process will be handled.We will continue to provide updates to you as developments warrant.

  Jun 28, 2011 1119