Public Use Regulations for State Wildlife Management Areas

1. Public access and use

All state wildlife management areas are open for public hunting, fishing, and trapping, except as provided under this chapter, governor's proclamation, other valid rules and regulations or laws, or as posted at public road entry points.

2. Motor vehicles

Mallard Island on Wolf Creek WMA and Matthews Island on Detrobriand WMA are closed to the use of all motorized vehicles and aircraft. On all other state wildlife management areas, the use of all motorized vehicles is restricted to those constructed roads, well-worn trails, and parking areas normally used by passenger cars. Established roads and trails do not include temporary trails across cultivated land used for agricultural purposes. Motor vehicles may be used on the ice of lakes for access for fishing unless otherwise prohibited by posting or by proclamation. Persons operating any motor vehicle on the ice of any lake or other water area on a state wildlife management area do so at their own risk. Motor vehicles may not be used off established roads and trails for retrieval of big game or for waterfowl hunting on wildlife management areas, except where allowed by governor's proclamation or as posted at public road entry points. All motorized vehicles which produce a noise level of eighty-five decibels, or greater, measured on scale A, at a distance of fifty feet [15.2 meters] are prohibited.

3. Watercraft

No person may leave watercraft unattended on a wildlife management area unless the watercraft is being used on a daily basis. The department may have horsepower or other watercraft restrictions on some wildlife management area lakes, as posted at entry points.

4. Firearms

Use of firearms on wildlife management areas is allowed, except in a reckless and indiscriminate manner, and as otherwise posted at public road entry points. A person discharging a firearm on a department-designated target range shall not be considered to be engaging in indiscriminate shooting.

5. Littering and abandonment of property

The disposal of refuse, rubbish, bottles, cans, or other waste materials is prohibited except in garbage containers where provided. Abandonment of vehicles or other personal property is prohibited. Holding tanks of campers may not be dumped within a state wildlife management area.

6. Removal and destruction of property

Archaeological artifacts or cultural resources as defined in North Dakota Century Code section 55-03-00.1, trees, shrubs, vines, plants, gravel, fill, sod, water, crops, firewood, posts, poles, or other property may not be mowed, clipped, cut, or removed from a wildlife management area without a permit issued by the director or the director's designee, except that firewood may be removed under certain stated conditions from department designated firewood cutting plots. Commercial cutting of firewood is prohibited on designated firewood cutting plots. Gathering of downed wood for campfires is permitted. Removal of property from a wildlife management area by permit shall be only in a manner, limit, and conditions specified by the permit. Berries and fruit may be picked, for noncommercial use unless prohibited by posted signs at public road entry points. Property may not be destroyed or defaced.

7. Private property and structures

No person shall construct or maintain any building, cabin, dock, fence, beehive, billboard, sign, or other structure on any wildlife management area except by permit issued by the director or the director's designee. Fishhouses may be used during the ice fishing season in accordance with the governor's proclamation. Duck, goose, crane, and other type decoys may not be left unattended on any state wildlife management area.

8. Cropping, haying, and commercial enterprises

No person may conduct any cropping, haying, or other commercial enterprise on any wildlife management area, except by lease or permit issued by the director or the director's designee.

9. Animal prohibited - Exceptions

The director has determined that animals, other than free-ranging wildlife that may be found on wildlife management areas, are detrimental to the protection and propagation of wildlife and other natural resources. Except as otherwise provided in this section and section 30-04-02-14.2, no individual may possess or cause the entry of any animal on any wildlife management area.

1. Livestock. Livestock shall not be permitted to graze or roam on any wildlife management area except as provided for by a grazing permit or lease issued by the director or the director's designee. As used in this section, "livestock" means domestic animals and nontraditional livestock as defined by North Dakota Century Code section 36-01-00.1.
2. Pets. Pets may not be permitted to run unattended on wildlife management areas.
3. Horseback riding. A person may engage in casual horseback riding or trail riding on wildlife management areas. Groups of twenty-five or more individual riders or twenty-five or more horses or other equine animals must first obtain a permit from the director or the director's designee. No person may engage in, conduct, or organize any competitive or noncompetitive activity involving the use of horses or other equines to conduct racing, barrel racing, roping, jumping, or other activities that cause unnecessary disturbance to the wildlife and wildlife habitat.

10. Camping

Camping for longer than ten consecutive days on any wildlife management area is prohibited. Trailers, campers, motor homes, or tents may not be left on any wildlife management area unless used for daily lodging. Camping is prohibited on those wildlife management areas where posted at public road entry points. Mowing of vegetation for campsites is prohibited on wildlife management areas.

11. Group activities

Group activities attended by more than twenty-five persons are prohibited without a permit issued by the director or the director's designee.

12. Noise

Excessive noise which unreasonably disturbs other individuals, is prohibited on wildlife management areas.

13. Tree stands

No person may construct or use a permanent tree stand or permanent steps to a tree stand on any wildlife management area. Portable tree stands and portable steps, screw-in steps, and natural tree stands may be used. Portable tree stands and portable steps are defined as those which are held to the tree with ropes, straps, cables, chains, or bars. Screw-in steps are those that are screwed into the tree by hand without the aid of any tools. Ladder type stands which lean against the tree are portable stands. A notched board placed in a tree crotch is a portable stand. Natural stands are those crotches, trunks, down trees, etc., where no platform is used. Tree stands do not preempt hunting rights in the vicinity of the tree stand. Tree stands and steps may not be put up before August twentieth of the year, and they shall be taken down by January tenth of the following year. Stands and steps not removed by the tenth of January are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the director or the director's designee.

14. Dogs

No person may conduct, permit, or carry out field trials for dogs on any wildlife management area without first obtaining a permit from the director or the director's designee. Training of bird and gun dogs is prohibited April first through August fifteenth on all wildlife management areas. Training of dogs on any wildlife management areas by a professional trainer is prohibited at all times.

15. Department work

This chapter shall not apply to the director, the director's agents and employees, and other persons designated by the director when necessary for law enforcement or for development, management, or maintenance of any wildlife management area.

16. Glass beverage containers or kegs prohibited

No person may use or possess glass beverage containers or kegs on any wildlife management area.

17. Baiting

Except as otherwise provided herein, no person may place or use bait for attracting, luring, feeding, or habituating wildlife to the bait location for any purpose on a wildlife management area. Bait includes grains, minerals, salt, fruits, vegetables, hay, or any other natural or manufactured feeds. Bait does not include the use of lures, scents, or liquid attractants for hunting, or management activities of the Department. A person may use bait to lure and take furbearers when engaged in lawful trapping activities.

18. Fireworks, model rocket engines, or combustible or explosive materials prohibited

1. No person may possess, discharge, or set off within any wildlife management area any form of fireworks, model rocket engine, or combustible or explosive material unless authorized by the director or the director's designee.
2. The term "fireworks" means any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances or article prepared to produce a visible or audible effect by combustions, explosion, deflagration, or detonation. The term includes any blank cartridge, toy pistol, toy cannon, toy cane, or toy gun in wh9ich an explosive other than a toy paper cap is used; balloon that requires fire underneath to propel the balloon/ firecracker, torpedo, skyrocket, Roman candle, daygo bomb, sparkler, or other item of like construction; item containing any explosive or flammable compound; or any tablet or other device containing any explosive substance. This section does not apply to any toy paper cap containing not more than twenty-five hundredths of a grain [16.20 milligrams]
3. "Model rocket engine" means a commercially manufactured, nonreusable rocket propulsion device constructed of a nonmetallic casing and solid propellant wherein all of the ingredients are self-contained so as not to require mixing or handling by the user. The propellant charge may not exceed two and two-tenths ounces [62.37 grams] per engine.
4. "Combustible or explosive material" does not include rifle, shotgun, or handgun ammunition; petroleum-base or synthetic fuels and lubricants when contained within a motor or recreational vehicle engine or drive train; or matches, butane, kerosene, propane, or similar fuels and devices used in the ordinary course of camping.

Check with the district wildlife resource management biologist for additional rules and regulations.