North Dakota Legislative Session - Outdoor Legislation

Ten percent of the true and full valuation of land enrolled in the private land open to sportsmen program, which is owned by a resident of this state, would be eligible for property tax exemption. Failed house.

A nonresident youth who is less than 16 years of age may purchase a resident general game hunting license and may hunt small game and waterfowl, except swans and wild turkeys, during the entire regular small game and waterfowl seasons. The accompanying adult family member or legal guardian does not have to be licensed. Signed by governor.

An individual may use an artificial light to pursue on the individual's premises at any time throughout the year any predatory animal attempting to destroy property. Passed house and senate. Signed by governor.

The director shall provide that each application for a deer lottery license contain the option for an unsuccessful applicant to donate the license fee to the private land open to sportsmen program. Passed house. Passed senate. Signed by governor.

A nonresident who previously has purchased a resident hunting or fishing license with the department and has a resident family member in the state may purchase a resident family member small game license and hunt upland game as authorized by the department. The nonresident may hunt upland game for four days which may be consecutive or nonconsecutive from November 15 to the end of the upland game season. Failed house.

Increases the fees of some hunting and fishing licenses, and changes hunting guide and outfitter requirements. Passed house. Passed senate. Signed by governor.

Relates to fishing. Establishes an application fee of $75 for all tournaments, a conservation fee of an amount to be determined between the tournament sponsor and a representative of the fishing tournament (except for nonprofits), post contest reporting requirements, Game and Fish establishes a fishery conservation fund, and a surcharge of $5 on each nonresident fishing license. Effective April 1, 2024. Signed by governor.

An individual, while hunting big game or small game, other than waterfowl or cranes, may not use a motor-driven vehicle on any land other than an established road or trail without the written permission of the landowner, unless that individual has reduced a big game animal to possession. Passed house. Passed senate. Signed by governor.

Appropriates $83,277,498 to the Game and Fish Department for the biennium beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.

Included in the Information Technology Department's appropriation's bill, during the 2019-20 interim, a 14 member land access committee (with nine voting members) will study access to public and private lands for hunting, trapping, fishing and related issues, including trespass violations and penalties, and provide recommendations regarding a land access database with capabilities of electronic posting. The study committee may establish a trial electronic posting and hunter access information system in up to three counties prior to August 1, 2020, and report findings and recommendations to the 67th legislative assembly. 

Provides a guideline for the Director to allocate big game and turkey hunting licenses to eligible organizations. Includes emergency clause.

Returns the funding limit to the North Dakota Outdoor Heritage Fund to $20 million per fiscal year.

Appropriates $83,569,734 to the Game and Fish Department for the biennium beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019. Failed house.

Allows a resident of North Dakota who does not want to receive a hunting license issued by lottery to purchase a bonus point for a fee that is the same as the respective license. The fee is allocated to the PLOTS program.

This bill relates to criminal forfeitures, forfeiture of property, seizure procedures and forfeiture procedures. A portion of the bill originally replaced the term "property" with "animals, birds or fish" as items that must be turned over to the North Dakota wildlife federation to be sold for the highest price obtainable, but was removed during house proceedings. Passed house. Failed senate.

A law enforcement officer may not halt an operator of a vehicle solely to determine compliance, unless the officer has a reasonable suspicion to believe that there is a violation. This section does not apply to inspections and safety checkpoints for commercial motor vehicles. This would require Game and Fish to have reasonable suspicion for stops for violations of laws relating to wildlife. Amended to eliminate the Game and Fish portion of the bill that would require reasonable suspicion for stops relating to wildlife. Failed house.

Reduces the age from 16 to 12 to qualify for an apprentice hunter validation license; allows youth who turn age 11 before the end of the calendar year to receive a whitetail doe license valid for only the youth hunting season; repeals the eagle language in state law, however, eagles are still protected under federal regulations.

Allows Game and Fish to seize tangible property presumed abandoned on state game refuges, real property leased or managed by the game and fish department, and state game or fish management areas. After 90 days, the director may dispose of seized, unclaimed, tangible property presumed abandoned, or order it be turned over to the North Dakota wildlife federation to be sold for the highest price obtainable. The sale proceeds, after the expenses of the seizure and the sale are deducted, must be remitted to the North Dakota wildlife federation report all poachers fund. A report of the sale, supported by proper vouchers covering all deductions made for expenses, must be filed for the record with the director.

Allows the use of dogs in the recovery of big game animals.

Would allow taxidermists or meat processors to receive certification for handling, sterilization and processing of big game animals from areas with documented cases of chronic wasting disease. In addition, an individual may transport from within or into the state for taxidermy or meat processing purposes the carcass of big game animals from an area documented with CWD.

Defines the eligibility requirements relating to gratis licenses for hunting big game and to provide a legislative study.

Would allow an individual over age 65 to hunt deer with a muzzleloader with a telescopic sight of up to four-power magnification.

Would allow Game and Fish to issue lifetime fishing licenses, and adopt rules necessary to determine eligibility and fees for the licenses. Failed house.

The North Dakota legislative assembly encourages Congress to pass federal legislation to return lands and mineral rights underlying Lake Oahe in North Dakota to the state of North Dakota as reimbursement for the costs borne by the state to ensure public safety in relation to protests against the placement of an oil pipeline under the Missouri River. Withdrawn from consideration.

Amends the North Dakota century code relating to law enforcement agencies reporting seizures and forfeitures.

Sets guidelines for law enforcement officers entering and searching buildings or private land. Passed house. Senate amended to make it a legislative study, that during the 2019-20 interim, legislative management shall consider studying the fourth amendment of the Constitution of the United States, including the investigation, search and seizure of private land, livestock and buildings, and report findings and recommendations to the sixty-seventh legislative assembly.

Requires traps or snares for furbearers to be checked at least every 48 hours.

Defines a dangerous and concealed weapon.

Would allow anglers to purchase a lifetime fishing license.

Would waive the nonresident landowner deer hunting license fee for retired veterans. Failed house.