My 2 Cents

While it’s easy to think about all of our wonderful terrestrial pursuits as fall slips too quickly away and folks transition to North Dakota’s deer gun season, we can’t fail to mention that the fall fishing opportunities have been nothing to sneeze about, either.

Combining numerous, picture-perfect fall days, along with what has seemed to a be a nonstop bite in many parts of the state for some time, this is what many people are talking about when the quality-of-life component is discussed both inside and outside of North Dakota’s borders.

Quality of life, at least for those who hunt and fish, is taking advantage of a crisp fall morning chasing roosters, decoying waterfowl, sitting comfortably 12 feet up in your favorite tree, or wetting a line later in the day when the temperature hits that perfectly comfortable 60 degrees. Or perhaps a combination of some of these activities all in one day.

Even for those who aren’t active participants in North Dakota’s outdoor culture still benefit from the over $2 billion annual input to the state’s economy. These direct and in-direct expenditures from hunters and anglers generate approximately $50 million in state-level tax collection.

So, it is easy to see why outdoorsmen and women are proud of their contributions to our state at no cost to North Dakota’s general fund since the Game and Fish Department is solely funded by those who purchase hunting and fishing licenses.

As I write this, our deer gun season opens in one week. This quickly approaching and long celebrated activity has always been a social and economic bonus for many parts of our state. Local café’s, dinner clubs, gas stations and many other local businesses have at some point felt the rush of deer season. While some communities today still feel that impact, others would like it to return, both for the deer hunting culture and the social gatherings it creates.

With continued focus on additional habitat programs and new partnerships with agriculture and conservation partners, we can continue to move that needle in providing additional deer hunting opportunities for the many who want to participate. For those of you who drew a deer license this year, good luck, be safe and Hunt for Tomorrow.