Unbelievable North Dakota law!!!

[InTheNorthwoods]

I am absolutely dumb-founded at what I leaned today about a North Dakota law tha apparently has been on the books a while. Here's what I understand: if you own a nice old farm with a good waterfowl/pheasant slough on it and I want to buy it just to set it aside for the birds.....and MAYBE hunt it myself-or let friends hunt it, the State of North Dakota will NOT let us make the deal. The STATE will TELL you that you CANNOT sell me the land if that is what I might use it for!! And more incredible.....the GOVERNOR has to approve the sale. Can you believe this!!! What the &(%(^ has sneaked by us in North Dakota. This should be headed for the courts as fast as possible. I am just stunned by this and don't know how it got by me.

Land owners and conservation minded folks in N.Dakota should be out in the streets over this. Unreal!!

Just to clarify in this thread, this law does not apply to an individual (such as yourself) who would purchase land and choose to use it as a wildlife sanctuary (and even enroll it in a conservation program). This law is directed at stopping non-profit organizations from coming in and taking workable agricultural lands and placing it into conservation easements for the rest of time. If individuals want to buy land and pay taxes on them while taking them out of production you are free to do so.

[Feathers Rainin]

The biologists I've talked to say those 50yd wide strips become highways of death.Every predator around would be hunting them.They say large blocks of cover....CRP.....are the way to go.

I've heard this as well but ya gotta think 50 yards is better than 0. Getting them to enroll in CRP if they haven't already done so would be pretty tough. I was just trying to make a point that you don't need to buy land from ND residents to use it or to have it be turned into decent habitat.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to buy land that doesn't have a home on it anyhow. Has anyone had trouble finding spots to hunt in ND? Most land isn't posted and spots that are you can usually find the farmer and get permition.

[BigTen]

I think all you boys that are so flippin' concerned about something you have absolutely NOTHING to say about should just watch your own bobber and enjoy the summer.

You guys crack me up. I always love how the 'sotas of the world have all the answers. So basically if you're complaining about this law then I take it you're upset because you might have to pay taxes on your little piece of heaven? LOL.

[BoxMN]

As a "city hunter" from MN, we got great farmer friends in NoDak, and 99.9% of the folks we meet there are way nicer than "MN-Nice". We go usually one or two weekends a year to duck hunt, and maybe once in summer early fall to catch up with friends. They come to cities for a Vikes and wild game and maybe some MN/WI bar hopping

Last fall we even helped bring some cattle in, and do some parts delivering to the combines in fall while hunting, or helping bring in hay, etc. It was a blast for us, as we don't get to do that stuff too much, and they like it cause it gets boring for them to do routine stuff. They treat us great and tell us where birds are, and we whoop it up a night or two and trade dinner nights.

For the guy who is going to show this to his ND buddy, please include my post, as I THANK ALL YOU ND folks who take the time to get to know some of us MN and WI Plate drivers, as we like getting to know you too! We are not all bad Often an request for permission turns into a hour long conversation and another friendly face. I love ND farmers!

[BigTen]

As a "city hunter" from MN, we got great farmer friends in NoDak, and 99.9% of the folks we meet there are way nicer than "MN-Nice". We go usually one or two weekends a year to duck hunt, and maybe once in summer early fall to catch up with friends. They come to cities for a Vikes and wild game and maybe some MN/WI bar hopping

Last fall we even helped bring some cattle in, and do some parts delivering to the combines in fall while hunting, or helping bring in hay, etc. It was a blast for us, as we don't get to do that stuff too much, and they like it cause it gets boring for them to do routine stuff. They treat us great and tell us where birds are, and we whoop it up a night or two and trade dinner nights.

For the guy who is going to show this to his ND buddy, please include my post, as I THANK ALL YOU ND folks who take the time to get to know some of us MN and WI Plate drivers, as we like getting to know you too! We are not all bad Often an request for permission turns into a hour long conversation and another friendly face. I love ND farmers!

Well what do you know.....somebody gets it! Why aren't you upset about something that has nothing to do with you? Good post BoxMN.

[Ufatz]

By golly fellas I am PROUD of ya! Just returned for a short trip and checked to see if my little post had generated any interest and you guys had threshed it around pretty good and made a couple of good points-especially those clarifying provisions of the ND law.

I am troubled though, as always, by the tendency of the group to slip into the "us v. them" trap. Guys who love to follow their dogs into the swamps and fields are the same in ND as they are in MN. Or the same in IA as they are in MT. We all love the sport and if we get to fightin' with one another over borders and boundaries we will open the door to the anti hunters.

I understand that ND's primary industry is agriculture; it should be the prevailing use of most suitable land. I do NOT like the government stepping in to dictate business dealings between a willing buyer and a willing seller. There is the makings there of a very interesting court fight which might go clear to the US Supremes. I can see numerous facets of this diamond from both sides so it could be very interesting. I find it odd this has not been done and can only conclude that someone has researched a suit and decided against bringing one forth.

I like ND folks.....and MN folks too. But man....I am not much impressed by the policies of either State government. Although I will say ND seems to have a far better handle on resource issues than poor old stodgy MN does.

Carry on gang. Good work!!

[KEN W]

But you mentioned paying the farmers for the 50 yd strips.What I am saying is that it would be better to pay for larger tracts than 50 yd wide strips.There would be more benefits from a smaller number of them over a larger number of 50 yd strips.

By the way.....this idea is being given consideration in the Congress over CRP.The eastern states are saying they want part of that money and that 50 yd strips along waterways would do more benefit than miles and miles of CRP.

As far as sueing for the right to sell land....it was tried and the state won.

[Ufatz]

Well Ken, thanks for the information on a court case being brought with the State prevailing. I can see it both ways so I understand but it still leaves a bad taste.

And it still reeks of the heavy oppressive hand of "big agriculture" driving land use in the state. Understandable but is it, in final analysis, best for the property owners and common good in NoDak?

Most rural folks are pretty independent and strong willed; must be hard to accept somebody in Bismark telling you when how and to whom you can sell a piece of land.

Oh well...nothing to be done I guess. But I sure hope folks can keep the resident/non-resident stuff down to a manageable level. Look......we all get annoyed when the "other guys" beat us to a good pothole or slough. Nothing wrong with growling about that. But it doesn't matter which license plate is on your truck. Are you any LESS annoyed when its a resident sneaking into your favorite slough? Ha!!

[KEN W]

Ufatz.....the people telling them no are their neighbors.....the County Commissioners.The govenor goes along with them.So the decision is made locally not in Bismarck.So they have to accept what farmer Joe down the road says.And until THEY are the ones doing the selling.....they are all in favor of this law.

I totally agree about the Res/NR issues.As long as we can keep the hunting at a quality level and not be overrun.