Bismarck Tribune

(This is t(This is the third in a series of stories previewing issues in the upcoming Legislature.)(This is the third in a series of stories previewing issues in the upcoming Legislature.)

By RICHARD HINTON

Restrictions on baiting for big game, a reduction of gratis big game licenses and a requirement for nonresident waterfowl hunters to use leg tags are among high-profile outdoors issues to be debated when the 60th Legislative Assembly convenes next month.

Those likely bills will be in addition to a bill to ban new big game farms in North Dakota.

The leg tag requirement is one of "a fistful of bills" from Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan, the new chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.

He's also behind a proposal that would encourage youth hunting in North Dakota.

Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone, put in the proposal on restricting baiting for big game, which involves regularly putting out feed to attract deer or other big game animals. Such a restriction was discussed in committee during the last session.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department would write the rules, DeKrey said.

"It would be better if we talked it over and gave Game and Fish a sense of where we wanted to go," he said.

There were two or three individuals opposed to baiting restrictions during the committee hearings, DeKrey said.

"But I think in some instances, it's really not hunting. Let's keep hunting hunting and not just shooting," he added.

"The danger to public wildlife is that baiting concentrates them, dramatically increasing the opportunity for many disease transfers by physical, waste and fluid contacts," said Dick Monson, a Barnes County sportsman who often visits the Legislature.

The leg tag measure is intended to make sure "our possession limits are being complied with," Porter said. "In past years, there have been a number of (over-limit) cases tried and prosecuted. There have been some real egregious acts in possession limits."

The requirement would be similar to what Canada is doing now, and "at one time, North Dakota did have a banding requirement," Porter added.

Kyle Blanchfield, president of the Professional Guides and Outfitters Association, declined to comment until "I've read it. We oppose any more unnecessary restrictions on nonresidents."

Under the concept, nonresident hunters still would buy a license online and then pick up their tags at sporting good stores when they arrive in the state, Porter said.

"If a person brings all their shells and everything else, it's a way to get them back in local retail," Porter explained.

The measure is not intended "in any way, shape or form to take away (nonresidents') ability to hunt, but to stay within the guidelines, which are federal regulations," Porter added.

Landowners would need a minimum of 640 acres to obtain a gratis big game license, under another proposal. The current minimum is 160.

"Originally, approximately 1,000 landowners applied for that free license, and deer were abundant,"said Monson. "Now the number of applications for gratis has swelled to over 14,000 licenses, and deer numbers are falling, dramatically reducing the opportunity for a buck license in the general drawing."

The bill to ban big-game farms in North Dakota would affect only new operations. It also would bar someone from passing on a license to own an elk or deer farm.

The proposal, from Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, also would bar landowners from bringing in hunters to shoot elk or deer inside a fenced area.

Opponents say the legislation infringes on property rights.

"The public-at-large accepts fair chase hunting traditions but does not condone killing so-called trophies in a cage or escape-proof enclosure," said Monson. "Ethical fair chase is the fundamental concept behind sport hunting and is the basis for current hunting laws."

If other controversial bills on outdoors issues, such as a limit on nonresident waterfowl hunters or legalizing telescopic sights for muzzleloader season, are coming this session, they so far are flying under the radar.

"The last couple of sessions, there has been a no-trespass bill, but I haven't heard specifically of one coming forward," said Shawn McKenna, executive director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation.

"I don't know of any other big ones," said Porter.

Neither has Sen. Stan Lyson, R-Williston, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. "I haven't heard a lot of anything on outdoors stuff," he said.

Neither has Blanchfield.

"I'm sure there might be some interesting legislation on the horizon, but there's nothing on paper yet to make my heart skip a beat," he said.

Legislators Blanchfield has talked to say they will have their hands full on issues other than outdoors this session. "It will be a busy session. We will try not to bother them with any unnecessary pieces of legislation," he added.

Porter's young hunters initiatives would create a new position of youth coordinator for NDGFD. The measure also would include local grants to communities for shooting ranges and promotion of youth shooting.

An additional Private Lands Open to Sportsmen program also is in the mix.

Some PLOTS acreage within 30 miles of urban areas would be set aside for youths to hunt.

"A youth has to be present, and both a youth and an adult can hunt it," Porter explained.

The object of the youth initiative is to stop the outflow of young hunters.

"I want to make it easy for hunting, not a big hassle to get out and hunt. I want to encourage young people to stay and encourage youth to get involved in hunting," Porter said.

Porter also is pitching a lower legal age to hunt big game. Current law says young hunters must be 14 to hunt big game. As drafted, the bill would lower the age to 12 and eliminate the fee for youth deer licenses.

The session also will see some housekeeping bills, changes to language in bills and possible increases in fees, said Paul Schadewald, NDGFD chief of administrative services.

What could come out of those include revising procedures to handling suspensions for game and fish violations; changing the North Dakota bighorn auction tag to a raffle tag, higher fees for buck tags than doe tags, and an antelope raffle as part of a youth hunter recruitment effort.

"Before the session, about two thirds (of the outdoors-related bills) come in. Others pop up that you never hear about," said Schadewald.

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