Today, the U.S. House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a major step toward a bipartisan, five-year Farm Bill and renewed stability for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. At the heart of it: reauthorizing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through 2031, one of the most important tools we have for supporting working lands while conserving habitat for upland birds and wildlife across the country. Next stop: the Senate. Congress now has an opp

The grasslands were formed by disturbance. Grazing by large herbivores (bison), large scale fires, and extreme weather patterns (drought, low precipitation averages, high wind events) create the perfect environment for our prairie ecosystem. Generations of humans have been drawn to the great plains for hunting opportunities and agricultural uses. Current uses of the grasslands such as livestock production, tourism (which includes hunting, biking, hiking, horseback riding,

By Nick Simonson Following some heavy snows and a windy week in the seven days leading up to opening morning of the 2026 turkey season on Sat. Apr. 11, hunters are apt to find good hunting for North Dakota’s largest upland bird, according to RJ Gross, Upland Game Biologist with the North Dakota Game & Fish Dept. (NDG&F). “They’re strutting pretty good. The next couple of weeks is pretty much peak breeding in North Dakota and they’re going to have one thing on their mind, they

In an effort to connect high school students with an early eye toward a career in fisheries, game management, wildlife enforcement and other related employment, the North Dakota Game & Fish Department (NDG&F) has initiated the agency’s new Explorer Program designed to help those young people get a better understanding of wildlife and fisheries careers, and help the department identify potential employees down the road. The new program kicks off this summer, and will offer an

The NDWTFL planning committee invites you to join an upcoming informational webinar about North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade (NDWTFL). NDWTFL is a 5-day youth camp for ages 13-17, aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills to be advocates for conservation. In addition to hands-on outdoor education (wetland ecology, waterfowl nutrition and identification, shooting skills and safety, plant identification, hunting heritage, etc.), they’re building skills in leadership, t

Bismarck, ND — The North Dakota Wildlife Federation (NDWF) welcomes signals from the U.S. Department of the Interior indicating renewed attention to conservation management and public access across National Wildlife Refuges and other Interior lands. “North Dakota is home to 63 National Wildlife Refuges, more than any other state in the nation, and these lands are central to both our conservation heritage and our outdoor traditions,” said John Bradley, NDWF Executive Director

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, beginning with a Notice of...

August is National Shooting Sports Month – and here in North Dakota, that’s something to celebrate. From the trap range to the...