Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Group asking hunters to sign petition

Group asking hunters to sign petition

Oct 06, 2004 - 23:25:09 CDT

By RICHARD HINTON, Bismarck Tribune

Just ahead of opening weekend of pheasant season, a statewide landowners group is asking hunters to sign a petition that favors farmer-friendly issues in return for being allowed to hunt.

Hunters who decline will be turned away, said Don Berge, the president of the Landowners Association of North Dakota.

Dean Hildebrand, the director of the state Game and Fish Department, called the action "disturbing."

"It's a situation where they are placing hunters in an unfair, untenable position," Hildebrand said Wednesday. "There is not anybody who respects landowners more than I do. To use that venue to carry their agenda makes it difficult for the public."

Hunters and hunting organizations always say they are sympathetic to landowners, Berge said in an interview Tuesday.

"Now's their opportunity to show in writing that they are," he added. "There's nothing like putting your signature on a piece of paper to say you are sympathetic."

The petition asks hunters to support the permission requirement for access to all private property, the appeal of swampbuster, rural economic development and property rights education by making a $10 donation to the Land Legacy Foundation.

"Making sportsmen in North Dakota suffer for something like that just doesn't make sense," said Stu Wacker, the realty field supervisor in Bismarck for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "but they have every right to do what they want, if they feel that's best way to get their point across."

The season for pheasants -- North Dakotans' most popular upland game bird -- opens a half hour before sunrise on Saturday.

After the hunting seasons wind down, the petitions will be sent to the state's congressional delegation, with copies to the White House and the governor's office, Berge said.

LAND numbers about 500 members, said Berge, a Litchville area landowner. In 2003, there were 30,300 farms and ranches in the state, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Swampbuster and other wetlands-related issues are primary concerns for LAND. Swampbuster, a provision of a 1985 farm bill, is designed to protect natural wetlands by denying farmers eligibility for federal programs if they convert wetlands to croplands. The loss of benefits covers all of a farmer's cropped land.

Berge said there are multiple ramifications with swampbuster.

"When it initially was brought forward, it was not intended for sloughs or potholes," Berge said. "It's become outright harassment of people. There's deep resentment here."

He said several court cases were pending related to landowners and wetlands but declined to go into specifics.

"North Dakota Game and Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are flexing their muscles against landowners," Berge said. "We've had enough. They have forgotten who they serve."

Wacker responded, "We don't take people to court if we don't feel there is a legitimate violation."

Hildebrand said he would be happy to meet with LAND anytime to try to foster a better understanding with the group.

"I think we in North Dakota appreciate farmers and landowners and appreciate what they do for the state," he said. "My philosophy is to support them any way we can. We do have a good working relation with the vast majority and will continue to provide our support and try to work with them any way we can."

In the past, other landowner groups have asked members to post their land in opposition to swampbuster, Wacker said.

"Swampbuster and the rest are national issues," he said. "It will take more than North Dakota to get any of that changed."

Feedback about the petition has been positive, Berge said.

"Landowners feel finally something is being done in a positive way," he said, adding that some hunters also have inquired.

"They didn't realize what's happening with swampbuster, and they want to have good relations with landowners."

Berge expects the petitions will be turned in by the time the organization's annual meeting rolls around in early December.

Every LAND member has copies of the petition, and some are sharing them with neighbors, Berge said.

"How far and wide it goes all depends on distribution," Berge explained. "We've had inquiries from nonmembers who wanted to know more about it. They are in favor of it."

(Reach reporter Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or outdoors@bismarcktribune.net.)

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Comments

sister wrote on Dec 12, 2007 11:03 PM:

" your missed dearly buddy. "

guess wrote on Feb 13, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Thanks for putting MY efforts into the paper. You rock. No Alyysa, this is my idea. "

Alyssa Roller wrote on Jan 1, 2007 10:27 PM:

" hey . thanks for putting that sweet article in the news paper i just love when people can read about me ! well thanks love : alyssa roller "

Question? wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:52 AM:

" How come is the school improvement director for DPI not a licensed teacher? Is this a patern the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has been doing for years? I've heard rumors to that effect. It would be nice if someone would check this out - and not only in the school improvment department. I think the State Superintendent should be held to the same standard as public schools are held to in North Dakota. Currently when schools hire teachers who do not have a current North Dakota Teacher's License, someone (the teacher) pays a fine ( I think it is about $ 100. per day.) I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. DPI should be held to the same standard as teachers and the schools. "

Correction wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:38 AM:

" The article states that "The plan provides further details to state assessments, which are currently given to fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders and will eventually be expanded to other grades." This is incorrect. For the past 2 years the state assessments were administered to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. Twelfth grade students haven't been assessed for 3 years. "

Let's do it!! wrote on Oct 19, 2006 5:34 PM:

" Lets give back the whole state to the Native Peoples of this land. It's there's anyway!! "

Buck wrote on Aug 30, 2006 9:59 AM:

" Or whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaat! "

Kristin wrote on Aug 24, 2006 2:09 AM:

" Well i was searching for my friend Kelly Winn the snow boarder i meant from the max air show at a Carnival in Carbondale IL... i use to work with Harris Exoitics and we were set up right behind him... Kelly and i kept in touch for a while after but i guess i know why the letters stopped now. you know it sucks to have had to find out this was. i still thought of him from time to time hoping one day we'd see eachother again i cant believe i had to find out this way years later what had a happen. RIP Kelly. Im just sorry it took me this long to find out.. "

ummyeah wrote on Aug 16, 2006 10:39 AM:

" These comments aren't even about the article. Wow. "

washingtongirl1 wrote on Aug 3, 2006 3:30 AM:

" Wow! These comments don't even seem to apply...? Far too confusing for those who read, to even try to care. Hmmm, who screens this anyway? "

L33tmaster wrote on Jul 28, 2006 7:51 AM:

" I hate the government. They have no right to tell me what I can or can't do. I'll gamble online whenever i damn please. "

hunkpapa wrote on May 24, 2006 9:32 AM:

" The Gaming Division of North Dakota need to furhter investigate this man. He has been given a license to steal just as he did at Standing Rock. Banks accounts and other financial information needs to be collected and examined on how he was able to obtain the funds to purchase the establishment in Fargo. One would believe it was from the money that was obtined from the Standing Rock Tribe. Be where of this individual. "

Shannon wrote on May 16, 2006 11:49 AM:

" Whay happpend to this women is unbelivable but the article was to discriptive of the scene. Yes, we are curois about the events that surrounded her murder but to what extent? Could you emagine if you read about your grandmother this way.... what would be your feelings then?! "

berber wrote on May 8, 2006 6:50 PM:

" what is another bird in the pelican family "

kathy toohey wrote on May 4, 2006 12:26 AM:

" I never fully understood the vital lifeline that Greyhound is, or was according to the article. It is somewhat confusing, you don't know if they are going or coming back. All of the stories are everyday stories and these are the ones that should be heard, and considered in such a decision, community, and communities that were all connected by this one bus line, and the jobs that were connected with this company, to rid these individuals of this one required mode of transportation is totally uncalled for and should be rectified immediately. We have to remember what we are dealing with here, humans who by helping them, they help one another, and it continues on,and all concerned will benefit and they will make their money, they have to remember maybe their pockets are to full and might need some individuals to be held accountable for the reasons that this is happening at all. "

Bob Armentrout wrote on Apr 17, 2006 9:21 AM:

" Just a quick note, my wife (who is from the La Crosse, WI area) and I saw about 200 white pelicans on the Mississippi River, just south of Stoddard WI. She told me she had never seen pelicans in this area before. We saw the flock first on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. Today, April 17, the flock has scattered some, mostly appearing to be in breeding pairs. If we see any nesting, we will post additional comments. "

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