Non-Resident hunting in North Dakota

[Guest]

Does anybody know if they have ruled yet about limiting non-resident hunting in North Dakota?? I talked with a few people from ND couple weeks ago and it was still up in the air, jus wonderin' if anyone has heard anything??

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Get wet, get muddy, get birds!

[CANOPY SAM]

I haven't heard anything for certain,but it sounds an awful lot like it's gonna happen eventually. Thing I can't understand is - North Dakota's economy is in such trouble as it is, why are they even considering reducing the 100's of thousands (probably millions) of dollars that are brought into the state by non-resident hunters each year?
It's an amazing place to hunt - why limit it to only local hunters, or at least fewer non-resident hunters?

[Guest]

The reason for this is that residents are complaining about the non-res. hunters (I dunno why but they are really targeting us Minnesotans) crowding the hunting grounds and being slob hunters. Yes, there are slob hunters, and the number of slob hunters only increases as the number of hunters increase. Yes, hunting is a MAJOR influence on their economy, I mean what else is there to do in North Dakota?? I love it there, if I'm hunting. Just think how those little motels and greasy spoon resturants are going to suffer is they limit the number of non-res hunters.... kinda sad to think about the business owners.

I love to hunt in ND, I just hope they keep it as easy as it is to hunt there. It's a sportsman's paradise!

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Get wet, get muddy, get birds!

[FISHER ED]

From what I've been reading, they are looking at a number of different options for us non-res hunters. One is to put a cap on the number of licenses sold in each of the 3 zones, another is to expand the number of hunting zones and yet another is to work on a lottery system. What I would like to see is a system something like MN's anterless deer permits. What if you broke the entire state of ND into smaller zones? Each year they could look at past year license numbers and current year duck populations and determine a "safe" number of licenses available for each zone. By doing this you could spread the hunters throughout the state instead of having a large number crowded around Devils Lake and other popular areas. The licenses could either be sold on a lottery basis where the hunter would submit 3 - 5 areas to hunt or by a first come first serve basis. I think their license system is on computer like ours (MN's). If so, you would know instantly if the zone still has openings or not and buy your license accordingly. Unfortunately, one of the downfalls with this is that most hunters reserve their lodging before they buy their licenses. With a licensing system like this you would almost need the license first so you would know where you would be hunting and then get your reservations.

[Finlander]

It sure would be nice to know ASAP what the ND DNR is going to do with Non-Resident waterfowl (not pheasent) hinters.
They better make there decision and implement
the there Non-Resident waterfowl regulations
for the fall of 2003 so we could plan accordingly! Seems to me they are sitting on there hands and we will be the ones to suffer not knowing if we have to change plans! C'mon ND DNR, lets be reasonable!!

[Bryce]

Today's paper has an article that states only 30,000 licenses will be sold. Anyone heard any more details? Is it a lottery? Where do you apply for the lottery?
Does ND have a lifetime hunting license. From what I remember going to school there, ND has a very liberal residency requirement. If they have a lifetime, you can bet ND will have a sudden influx of citizens.

[Guest]

Here is the HSOforum that has the 'skinny' on ND waterfowl. Monday is the big day!

http://www.state.nd.us/gnf/hunting/waterfowl.html

[Guest]

As of July 3 they are only going to limit the licences 30,000 non residents. Aint to bad i guess.....

http://www.state.nd.us/gnf/news/current.html

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Get wet, get muddy, get birds!

[Bryce]

Got mine today online. I wouldn't wait too long. I'm sure all the lodges are contacting their clients. Not everyone who went last year will get a license and with the prediction of higher duck numbers, more hunters will make the trek.

[Guest]

Bull, we

Last year only 30,025 licenses were sold. We all have plenty of time to get a license, there are 30,000 available. The gov. of ND appreciates the $, if he listened to his advisors, the # of non-resident licenses would be around 10,000.....

[g'eye pilot]

It's noteworthy that a lot of hunters are panicking to get their non-resident ND license. I was trying to access the fish & game HSOforum earlier today, and it locked up. As mentioned above, you don't need to panic. I've heard different figures on the # of non-resident last year. But the bottom line is that this years 30K quota is quite close to last years #.

[Guest]

As a North Dakota resident waterfowl hunter I am appaled by my fellow resident hunters who demanded that the number of non-resident hunters be limited. Waterfowl season brings close to 33 % of a small towns business reciepts for the year. North Dakotans just hate to see someone be successful. Believe me, small town business people are not making too great a living.

It is extremely selfish on their part to limit visitors to our state. The tradition of hunting waterfowl is dying as we speak. The Governor politically speaking had no choice but to set a limit. He did do the right thing by not totally caving into the whinning resident hunters and the Game and Fish Department who bumble along trying to appease the majority and at least set a higher cap than either entity wanted.

The slob hunters by and large are from within the state. Non-residents are no were near the problem with trash, trespassing etc when compared to residents. Don't go to the Jamestown area to hunt. Let those businesses suffer. That is were the issue was first raised and pressed the hardest. You are more than welcome to come to the Minneweaukan area on the west shores of Devils Lake to hunt. We have plenty of places to stay. The communities in Benson County (Minnewaukan, Maddock, Knox, Esmond, Warwick and Leeds), welcomes all hunters.

As far as zones go, the birds will locate and disperse according to the habitat and weather conditions during migration. To zone hunters has "NOTHING to do with biology" (a sorry catch phrase of the Game and Fish) but in fact is a way to spread out the hunters in such a manner that the Jamestown sportsmen can be appeased of which they are not to happy about the "high" number of non-resident licenses available.

[CANOPY SAM]

Kevin,
I'm sorry to say, but I'd have to agree on this one. I've hunted central Nodak for 13 years both as a resident and non-resident, and the majority of out-of-staters I have met, watched or hunted with have been pretty consciencious people. However, I've had a lot of North Dakota residents trespass on my "posted" North Dakota land. Silly laws limit the states potential income. They'll change em' back in a year or two when they realize their mistake.

[Bryce]

Very glad to have license in hand. Anyone who thinks only 25 hunters will not get a license is thinking foolishly. No numbers to quote but I'm sure numbers of non-res. hunters has increased every year. Would expect it to grow even more this year with the lackluster seasons we've experienced in MN the past few and record numbers projected in ND. Look for me at the Ludden bar the weekend of Oct. 12 with a truckfull of greenheads and rooties.(not excessive, just a limit) Check out the Angry Beaver in Oakes. Great food and you won't beleive the prices.

[Guest]

Bryce,
I will be in NoDak that weekend too, Ill be in the 40 footer RV parked next to the marsh...BWHHAHAH! I'll will be bout 30 west of Devils Lake in the BOONIES!! If your in the area we should meet up! Ill be there for about a week.

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Get wet, get muddy, get birds!

Ted Williams 1918-2002
The Splinter #9

[Bryce]

Sorry Bemidji, we're way south of you on the SD border. 6000 acres of untouched paradise. Let the big dogs run. Have some friends that hunt your area. Sounds like lots of hunters up that way. There's a lodge in our area but they don't seem to get more than a couple miles from the bunkhouse.

[Guest]

Actually there aint too many people in my area at all, last year I saw one group in my area. We have acess to a square mile of posted land, the farmers say were the only ones with permission to hunt it. So ya, let the big dawgs run!!

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Get wet, get muddy, get birds!

[Guest]

Hey bemidji, you will be in my country this fall. You better behave yourself or else....

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Kevin Neve's Devils Lake Guide Service
fishingminnesota.com/kevin-neve-guiding/
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 701-473-5411 or 701-351-4989
Minnewaukan ND