Alliance Survey Results

From the ND Sportsmen's Alliance web site:

10. What the NDSA suggests be done:

a. Put a reasonable cap on the number of nonresident hunters.

b. Divide the state into six or more zones for nonresident hunters and allocate a specific number of licenses for each zone.

c. Allow persons who were born in the state who now live elsewhere a preference for hunting license.

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Of course I like 10.C.

Again, for me it is not necessarily about killing a bunch of ducks it is about hunting with friends and family that I grew up with in ND. Although we are very successful at what we pursue.

Now we are hunting with their children. Really do not want to lose that chance and if not licensed in ND as a NR, I may still return this fall to help "guide" these kids and call ducks. On many hunts I do not even raise the barrel until the kids are done shooting or other times I am shooting just to anchor a wounded duck.

As I have stated before - I am a ghost NR. I hunt 95% of the time from a pick-up with ND plates (relative or friend - not a guides). Often hunt on land owned by friends or relatives too.

Maybe my ND birth certificate may be good for something other than proving I am not a Canadian.

Bobby, nothing wrong with anonymous posters, that is what the internet is about. I am pretty sure there are few people on this site that post both with their name and an anonymous handle.

Bioman, I too believe that something needs to be done to insure that ND maintains quality access. Hunting success is a function of effort, luck, experience, and many other variables, but if you do not have places to go then you cannot succeed from the start.

With that said, in the late 1970s, there were well over 50,000 resident waterfowl hunters and may be 10,000 nonresidents. That totals over 60,000 hunters. This number is relatively close to the 60,000 to 70,000 waterfowl hunters in ND last fall. Many people hunt ND when the water levels are high, publicity ultra-high (ND tourism articles in magazines, TV shows, and ND game & fish press releases I might add). The difference now is the level of leasing, etc. Nonresidents at the time were limited to 10 days not 14. Just like now, hunting pressure and competition was often intense on weekends in the late 70s and early 80s but weekdays were open.

The area north and east of Woodworth (around the US F&W research station) was posted heavy in the 1970s and early & 80s. Not posted in '94 or '96, this area is now posted heavy again. Same posters bright green, orange or red signs. Who is leasing this land residents or NR ?

I remain highly skepticle that anything done by the ND government will change or impact what is occurring in ND. Mother nature maybe, government we will see. I have been blasted on this site for stating some of my comments earlier in March, but stand by my original beliefs that the outfitters will get what they need to survive and grow from the state of ND. Only severe drought will set them back.

Look at my recent post regarding NR deer hunting. NR landowners get first picks (this law does not distinguish between the retired farmer now living in AZ or the rich banker in California that owns pheasant land in SW ND). The guides get the next share of licenses. If the legislature follows this precendent, Cancarver will get a license, he owns land in ND. Anyone hunting with a guide will get a license next. The guy growing up in ND wanting to return to hunt with friends and family (often on family land not in his name) will fight for what is left.

Eric,

Lake Mille Lacs with its 14" - 16" slot limit is essentially catch and release. I recommend you get a couple of guys together and spend a few days on this lake.

Boating 20, 50, or more 17" to 24" walleyes is not uncommon and fact it is almost expected by anyone with some basic walleye fishing ability.

Sand, rocks, mud flats, shallow, suspended, deep they are there

Leaches, crawlers, jigs, bobbers, cranks, you can perfect your presentation there.

Smallies, muskie, northerns are there too for those who try.

All within two hours of about 2 or 3 million people.

If you want to keep them then Devils Lake ND may be closer.

I thought we already had the discussion on waterfowl then vs now back about 2 or three months ago.

I can link my previous post but to sum it up. Yep

The average ND resident is pursuing hunt ducks and Canada geese more because the snows do not show up until late and they don't stay long. They hunt ducks more often and more effectively. Read Michael Furtman's book "On the Wings of a North Wind". His chapter on ND was pretty true back then and goes along with Ken. Jump shooting mallards was what it was about.
Long ago most nonresidents traveled to ND for snow geese. Especially true in the 70s and 80s. Now they come here for ducks. These duck hunters probably would not matter to the average ND hunter if the snows still hit the ND prairie like they used too. They are not coming back.

OK Fetch I am a broken record, a broken record, a broken record, but,

Everyone take a look at my post on nonresident ND deer licenses. Guides and NR landowners (not just your retired ND farmer) get priority.

When you guys push for zones, caps, etc.... in 2003.

Do not allow guides to get licenses allocated to them. Hunters with guides should have no advantage in obtaining licenses.

ND landowners should not get an advantage either unless you can figure out how retired farmers can get a license and not wealthy new owners or groups buying land just to hunt on.

If either or both occur much of the access issues will not be resolved and could actually become worse in hot waterfowl hunting regions of ND.