Recommendations Summary

The following recommendations resulted from the summit.

Access

Recommendation: Develop options within the electronic posting system to facilitate better communication between hunters and landowners.

Recommendation: Develop additional options within the electronic posting system for landowners when designating land to allow access during certain times of the year.

Recommendation: Expand options through the PLOTS program for landowner-controlled access.

Recommendation: Increase quality and quantity of acres in the PLOTS program.

Habitat

Recommendation: Expand the North Dakota Game and Fish Department food plot seed giveaway program to include grass seed.

Recommendation: Develop a broad coalition of partners to propose a habitat program that provides incentives and rental payments to landowners for developing grassland and wetland habitat. These partnerships should include agricultural and energy entities, as well as conservation.

Recommendation: Allocate funding for the new North Dakota Game and Fish Department habitat program which does not require hunting access. This is a state operated program similar to CRP. Ideas for funding sources included Outdoor Heritage Fund or Legacy Fund.

Recommendation: Develop new or expanded partnerships with nonprofit groups to provide additional incentives for habitat and access on top of PLOTS or other programs (i.e. Pheasants Forever PATH).

Recommendation: Focus habitat efforts on large blocks of remaining contiguous grassland tracts, addressing soil health on marginal cropland (salinity and pH issues) and providing incentives for wetland habitats.

Recommendation: Collaborate with the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands to improve habitat conditions.

Recommendation: Develop habitat teams to provide on-the-ground assistance for private landowners implementing habitat projects.

Recommendation: Develop or expand partnership positions with nonprofit groups to assist USDA with delivery of programs like CRP or Meadowlark Initiative.

Hunter–Landowner relationships

Recommendation: Develop or enhance existing hunter–landowner network to assist in matching hunters, including youth hunters, with landowners for certain species, dates, etc.

Recommendation: Develop or reinvigorate a hunter-landowner working group (i.e. ND Landowner-Sportsmen Council) to foster relationships and develop long-term, practical solutions.

Recommendation: Develop a broad and continuous campaign promoting hunter-landowner relationships, host landowner appreciation events and coordinate habitat and access efforts at a local level.

Funding and Policy

Recommendation: Increase hunting and fishing license fees to fund habitat improvement and access projects.

Recommendation: Develop new sources of funding for habitat and access such as Super Tags, Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy Fund, Pheasants Forever PATH, and other grant opportunities.

Recommendation: Develop a Habitat Trust Fund for conservation, agriculture, energy and corporations and businesses to provide voluntary funds for habitat and access.

Recommendation: Property tax relief for landowners who implement habitat development and hunting access.

Recommendation: Pursue large scale Outdoor Heritage Fund projects for conservation. The current budget is set at $15 million but may increase to the statutorily allowed amount of $40 million if the need is demonstrated.

Recommendation: At the federal level, support actions such as the North American Grassland Act, Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (RAWA) and other federal farm bill programs like CRP. Specifically, CRP State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), CRP Grasslands and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).