Why It Matters: The North Dakota legislative session saw its fair share of legislation that would have had an impact on sportsmen and women, the state fish and wildlife agency, and wildlife. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) actively engaged on legislation that would have limited hunting access on public and private property, restricted the state fish and wildlife agency from creating baiting regulations, and prohibited the agency from using hunting license funds on anything related to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
Highlights:
- House Bill 1236 (HB 1236) (Defeated) would have prohibited the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) from using funds from hunting and fishing licenses on anything related to the research of Chronic Wasting Disease.
- Senate Bill 2137 (SB 2137) (Enacted) prohibits NDGFD from adopting and implementing any policies on baiting, or supplemental feeding, for the purpose of big game hunting on private property.
- Senate Bill 2168 (SB 2168) (Defeated) would have required hunters to have permission from neighboring landowners to hunt within 440 yards of a building, even if the structures were not located on the property they are hunting.
The North Dakota 2025 legislative session adjourned on May 3 and will not reconvene until 2027. While in session, legislators wasted no time introducing legislation that would have a direct impact on sportsmen and women, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation was actively engaged on both pro and anti bills as they made their way through the legislative process.
Two pieces of legislation were aimed at undermining the wildlife management authority of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. SB 2137, which was previously reported on, ultimately passed and now strips the management authority of NDGFD from adopting or implementing policies related to baiting, or supplemental feeding, for the purpose of big game hunting. HB 1236 would have prohibited GFD from using funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses on anything related to CWD. CSF engaged throughout the process and provided testimony to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee in opposition to the bill. HB 1236 ultimately failed to pass out of the House.
Also defeated during the session was SB 2168, upholding the current statute when hunting near occupied structures. If passed, hunters would be required to obtain permission from neighboring property owners to hunt their own land, or public land, if the neighboring landowner has a building within 440 yards of the property’s border, severely restricting access for hunting on both private and public lands. CSF submitted testimony in opposition to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, fortunately, SB 2168 failed, allowing access to hunting land without requiring permission to hunt within 440 yards of a structure.
Aside from legislation, Governor Kelly Armstrong joined the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) earlier this year. With Governor Armstrong joining, North Dakota’s long history of membership in the Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus continues.
