Open Fields, legislation aimed at giving incentives to farmers and ranchers for opening their fields to hunters and anglers, is back for its third shot.

North Dakota Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and national wildlife conservation leaders announced the introduction of the initiative Thursday in Washington.

Conrad's legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support existing state-based programs that pay landowners who make their lands accessible for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities.

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., and Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., also attended the announcement and said they will introduce a companion bill to Open Fields in the House.

Conrad and Roberts first introduced Open Fields in the fall of 2003 and reintroduced it in 2005.

This third try is "our best shot because we are reauthorizing the Farm Bill," said Conrad spokesman Chris Thorne. "Kent will be involved in the Farm Bill debate."

Open Fields has been endorsed by sportsman's, conservation and farming groups, ranging from the National Rifle Association to the National Farmers Union.

"The leading reason that active sportsmen become former sportsmen is that they lose their places to hunt and fish," said James Range, chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, who was at the new conference. "Open Fields would bring back some of what sprawl has taken from us."

More than 80 million Americans participate in wildlife-related recreation annually, spending nearly $85 billion each year on their outdoor activities. Outdoor recreation is worth nearly $1 billion annually in North Dakota alone.

"Everyone wins with my bill," Conrad said. "Millions of new acres are opened to hunters and fishermen while farmers and ranchers get a little additional income. My bill gives rural America an economic shot in the arm and protects the land for future generations to enjoy the great outdoors."

(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@;bismarcktribune.com.)