HB 1407

[KEN W]

This bill will allow NR to hunt 3 counties north OF Devils Lake during the early Canada season and not have it count against their 14 day license.

This bill is commercialism at it's finest.At the committee hearing,evidently farmers were there talking about all the depredation up there.

When the GNF was contacted....they said....

US Census figures show apx.1,883 farms total in Benson, Ramsey, and Towner counties. Of that # of farms 8 applied for and received goose kill permits. .0042 of 1%. And this needs a law change because of depredation???

So some farmers are complaining that they don't have time in the spring......But the law says they can pick ANY 5 people to kill as many as 30 geese.AND....they then can get more permits.

If there is such a problem.....then let Res. hunters in there to take care of it.....raise the limit to 10 or whatever.

This area has some of the most posted and leased in the state.ND GNF has a very successful program that tries to line up farmers with deer problems and those hunters with doe tags.Do the same up there.Those farmers will get lots of res hunters in there if they do that.And there would be no need for this bill.

ND res get after your REPS to vote no on this bill when it comes to the floor next week.

[KEN W]

Looks like this will be voted on in the House this week.

[KEN W]

It is on tomorrow's calandar.Contact your Rep and ask them to vote no.

[cbrooks]

With all due respect Ken. I'm on the otherside of this vote. I might be a Minnesotan in the future