2016 Standing Rock Game and Fish Department Summer and...

1 | P a g e Standing Rock Game & Fish Department- “Dedicated to our tribal natural resources”

2016 Standing Rock Game and Fish Department

Summer and Fall Newsletter Volume No. 2

Jeffrey C. Kelly, Director

701-854-7236 701-226-5048

Larry Brown, Jr. Dr. Michael P. Gutzmer Chris Shank, B.S Kurt Tooley, B.S. 701-471-8654 402-910-3533 402-910-0851 402-276-3559

Reasons for biologist and surveys

New Century Environmental uses the best and most up to date survey techniques to determine

the status of game species population on the Reservation. Over time, our biologist will compare

each year using trending data. State information is also gathered and analyzed by our biologist

to gain the best understanding on what is happening to the game species population on and

around the Reservation. The whole goal of the biologist is to sustain the population of game

species for future generations, so they too can enjoy the Reservation’s natural resource. Our

biologist has plans on creating habitat improvement areas which will increase the trophy size of

our animals. Standing Rock’s Reservation is located in an area that harnesses big trophy sized

deer, our biologist wants to ensure these trophy bucks keep thriving around the Reservation

from year to year.

Tribal Biologist and staff met with the Wildlife Commission on July 13th, 2016 to approve the

recommendations for the fall hunting season for 2016 which includes: pheasant, grouse, fall

turkey, partridge, mourning dove, early goose, small mammal and furbearer. All of the fall

hunting seasons were discussed and approved by the tribal wildlife commission.

Numerous recommendations have been compiled regarding habitat improvements across the

reservation. It appears the wildlife commission has much interest in developing a Habitat


Improvement Plan. Game & Fish Department biologists are currently preparing a proposal to

address all the tasks and scope to develop a customized feasibility habitat plan for

implementation on the reservation.

Overall Summary and Regulations from the Wildlife Commission Meeting

The population of pheasant on the Reservation appears to be stable according to our recent

surveys. Crow counts showed a slight decrease in numbers, but overall numbers of the survey

still shows very promising results. We have decided to go back to following the State’s restriction

of 3 daily and 15 in possession. What makes Standing Rock so desirable is that a tag is good for

the whole season, not just for two 5-day hunts. Grouse appear to be doing well with increasing

numbers, according to our ground count and aerial surveys. We are seeing a great increase in

partridge numbers in conducting our surveys. The grouse restriction will remain the same from

last year’s. Partridge numbers have seen a tremendous increase from previous years, we have

recommended a daily limit of 4 and bag limit of 15. Turkey populations also appear to be stable

and slightly increasing in numbers. Although we never sell out of permits, we will keep the

regulations the same from last year.

Our pheasant numbers are close to all- time highs with this year’s brood numbers.


Our whitetail and mule deer herds are showing good reproduction and the

population is poised for another good hunting season in fall 2016.

Biological Data from 2016

Crow Counts

Route Miles

Total

Crows/Observations Total/Mile

Porcupine

2015 20 50 2.5

2016 DID NOT SAMPLE

Shields

2015 20 56 2.8

2016 DID NOT SAMPLE


McLaughlin

2015 20 232 11.6

2016 10 55 5.5

Wakpala

2015 20 162 8.1

2016 20 107 5.35

Kenel

2015 DID NOT SAMPLE

2016 8 27 3.38

Other biological documentations:

Species

#

observed

Partridge 2

Ducks 22

Mourning

doves 51

Cottontail 2

Coyote 1

WT Deer 3

Turkey 15

Red tail hawk 3

Grouse 2

2016 Ground Counts

2016

Ground

W

T

de

M

ule

de

Ante

lope

Pheas

ants

Gro

use

Partr

idge

Tur

key

Coy

otes C.

Gees

Mour

ning

Roug

hleg B.

Ea

G.

Ea

Har

rier

tot

al

mil

Tot

al

hou


Counts er er e doves gle gle es rs

January 91 72 1 690

126

3 87 89 6 0 0 21 4 8 8 397 14.5

Februar

y 12 0 0 62 16 0 38 1 316 0 3 1 0 0 142 5.5

March No Surveys Conducted

April No Surveys Conducted

May 14 13 13 82 4 0 10 1 15 55 0 0 0 0 166

4.4

5

June No Surveys Conducted

#/Mile

0.1

7

0.1

2 0.02 1.18 1.82 0.12

0.1

9 0.01 0.47 0.08 0.03

0.0

1

0.0

1 0.01 705

#/Hour

4.7

9

3.4

8 0.57 34.11 52.5 3.56 5.6 0.33

13.5

4 2.25 0.98 0.2

0.3

3 0.33

24.

45

Brood Routes

A total of five brood routes which included 114 miles and 7.65 hours of surveying was conducted

on Standing Rock during the month of July. The routes surveyed were Wakapala, Mclaughlin,

Porcupine, Shields and Cannonball North. Of the five brood routes, only one (Cannonball)

would be considered a primary survey. The results can be seen in the chart below.

Species #/observed #/mile #/hour

Pheasant 56 0.49 7.32

Pheasant

chicks 59 0.52 7.71

Grouse 12 0.1 1.57

Grous chicks 30 0.26 3.92

Partridge 6 0.1 0.78

Partridge 28 0.25 3.66


chicks

Turkey 1 0.01 0.13

Turkey chicks 2 0.02 0.26

Whitetail 17 0.15 2.22

Mule deer 11 0.1 1.44

Mourning dove 115 1 15.03

Dusk Surveys

In the effort to get the most accurate hunt-able game population counts on the reservation, a

new technique was added by the Tribal Biologist. These new surveys will be conducted at dusk;

during the dusk hours, deer and other wildlife such as coyotes, raccoons, porcupine, etc. are

more likely to be seen. Or dusk surveys reveal a more accurate count on wildlife, deer in

particular. This technique provides a more cost effective way of surveying wildlife. During the

month of July, a dusk survey of 28 miles lasting 2 hours was conducted along the marina road

and back to highway, then cutting west of 1806. The results can be seen below.

Species

#

observed #/mile #/hour

WT deer 11 0.39 5.5

Mule deer 4 0.14 2

Pheasant 3 0.11 1.5

Grouse 3 0.11 1.5

Grouse

chicks 20 0.71 10

Turkey 3 0.11 1.5

Turkey

chicks 7 0.25 3.5

Cottontail 2 0.07 1

Redtail 4 0.14 2

Harrier 7 0.25 3.5


Habitat Management plan Improvements

Develop a habitat improvement plan for the entire Reservation to enhance the Tribe’s

natural resources that thrive within the land.

Installing food plots and mineral blocks wherever agriculture is scarce to provide

additional nutrition to deer and other wildlife which would increase carry capacity and

size/quality of deer. Locations will be selected upon approval of recommendation.

Sampling the biomass in areas of high concentration of deer to figure available nutrition

the deer have to forage on. Obtaining trending data on biomass production on a year to

year basis will give a good indication on amount of nutrition available to the deer

population. Designated locations will be chosen upon approval of this project.

Implement prescribe burns on designated areas to promote healthy growth of native

grasses and forbs the deer use to feed and cover from native elements such as predation

and exposure. Members of NCE staff are certified and will oversee the prescribe burns at

the designated locations chosen upon approval of this action.

Close a section of the Reservation for a minimum of 1 year, preferably 2 years to

implement a trophy sized deer management area. Location will be formulated based on

approval, possible revenue booster to raffle off permits within the area.

Hungarian partridge are increasing on the reservation.

Awarded grants for Standing Rock


Our biologist has successfully written various grants from the Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) Program

as well as BIA that have been awarded. These grants include an in depth look for all of Standing

Rock’s small mammal population in particular surveys for the federally endangered black footed

ferret (Mustela nigripes) which have been documented by our biologist back in October of 2012.

Another grant is for documentation of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) on Standing Rock. There have

been some suspected sightings by various accounts including a game and fish ranger, Jeff Tuntland.

Other studies include an elk habitat & wetland study in the location the elk thrive on the

Reservation. All grant work will resume upon payment to our biologist in early August. There is

also a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to look at prairie dog town locations and

ascertain current status of their range and how we can improve overall range and habitat

conditions for all animal species found on the reservation.

A palustrine –riverine wetland complex being inventoried in July 2016 on Unit 41 by our tribal biologist.

2016 Standing Rock Game and Fish Department Summer and...

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