Every year the North Dakota Game and Fish Department provides a report on the number of citations issued by state game wardens the previous year.
The statistics for 2014, recently published in the February 2015 issue of North Dakota Outdoors magazine, carry some not-so-positive news: Game wardens cited a record number of anglers, hunters and others with violations in 2014.
The grand total of 2,712, was up nearly 300 from the number of violations in 2013.
The number one violation for the past few years has been fishing or hunting without a license, and closely related, fishing or hunting without having the license “on your person.”
The numbers also show that McKenzie County again led the state in the number of citations. Williams, Stark, Ramsey and Burleigh counties rounded out the top five.
By law, North Dakota game wardens enforce all state laws on property that the Department owns or manages like wildlife management areas, and also on state sovereign land. Game wardens are licensed peace officers and they are also often called upon to assist other law enforcement agencies as well.
Here’s a listing of the Game and Fish violations summary for 2014.
Big Game
Failure to accompany/transport other’s game 1
Failure to wear florescent orange 6
Tagging violations 23
Exceeding limit 4
Killing wrong species or sex 9
Other big game violations 7
Total 50
Small Game
Using gun able to hold more than 3 shells 79
Hunting in closed season 12
Illegal possession/taking 11
Exceeding limit 56
Failure to leave identification or sex of game 39
Killing wrong sex or species 14
Failure to accompany/transport other’s game 9
Nontoxic shot violation 6
Failure to carry federal waterfowl stamp 7
Hunting in unharvested fields 11
Other small game violations 42
Total 286
Boating
Use of unlicensed or unnumbered boat 123
Failure to display boat registration 34
Operating without lights at night 22
Inadequate number of PFDs 176
Water skiing violations 41
Reckless or negligent operation 2
Operating vessel under influence/intoxicated 10
Other boating violations 74
Total 482
Fishing
Fishing with excessive lines 59
Exceeding limit 114
Fishing in closed/restricted area 19
Failure to attend lines 16
No identification on fish house 21
Failure to remove fish house 2
ANS violation 34
Paddlefish violations 10
Other fishing violations 74
Total 349
Furbearer
Shining (using artificial light) 7
Illegal possession/taking 2
Harassing furbearers with motor vehicle 4
Hunting/trapping in closed season 3
Other furbearer violations 6
Total 22
General
Use of motor vehicle off established trail 4
Use of motor vehicle in restricted area 33
Harassing wildlife with motor vehicle 12
Hunting on posted land without permission 61
Hunting before/after legal hours 33
Wanton waste 7
Aid in concealment of unlawful game 8
Hunting in wrong unit/closed area 4
Loaded firearm in motor vehicle 48
Discharge of firearm within/on motor vehicle 2
440 yard violation 11
Littering 70
Other general violations 34
Total 327
Licensing
Failure to sign/affix stamp 16
Hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license 307
Failure to carry license on person 325
Misrepresentation on license or application 35
Other licensing violations 21
Total 704
Wildlife Management Areas/Refuge
Failure to obey posted regulations 83
Camping 11
Tree stand violations 6
Possession of glass beverage containers 77
Baiting on WMA 4
Possession/discharge of fireworks 7
Prohibited uses of motor vehicles 31
Unlawful use of firearms 22
Other WMA/refuge violations 3
Total 244
Miscellaneous
Possession of controlled substance 9
Possession of drug paraphernalia 14
Open container 9
Minor in possession 50
Criminal trespass 19
Other miscellaneous 28
Total 129