An Example of Over-Legislation
I am a hunter. I enjoy being in the outdoors. Hunting is a part of my family's history. Since moving to North Dakota from Alaska I have found that enjoying hunting is much more difficult.
Recently that fact became more apparent when my uncle, from Alaska, came to visit.
Figuring to take him out to shoot some ducks, I began to review North Dakota's game regulations. What I found was a tangled mess of zones, hunting times, hair-splitting and regulations.
For example, in order for a North Dakota resident to hunt waterfowl this fall, he or she must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate, small game license, general game license and habitat license. In addition to this, your hunting license must also bear a federal duck stamp which you cannot purchase over the internet. Rather, you must track down a store or gas station that has the stamps and obtain one there.
After getting your license you must figure out when you can hunt. There is a youth season, a disabled American Veterans season and a falconry season as well as certain times of all seasons when non-residents may not hunt. These season overlap and intersect each other until it becomes necessary to create a calendar detailing the specific dates available to you.
Finding out where you can hunt is the next step. North Dakota Fish and Game classifies hunting land into eleven different categories: Private Lands Open to Sportsmen Program lands, North Dakota Game and Fish Wildlife Management lands, North Dakota Department of Agriculture lands, U.S. Forest Service lands, North Dakota State Land Department lands, North Dakota State Forest Service lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Protection lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge Lands, Bureau of Reclamation lands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands and Bureau of Land Management lands. Each type of lands has its own set of rules and regulations restricting access. A map along with descriptions of the boundaries of these lands is extremely important.
Once you get into the field and are ready to hunt you realize that the animals you are allowed to shoot have been broken down into smaller groups. Its reminiscent of walking into a record store to see rock music divided
up into acid rock, industrial rock, etc. You are supposed to only shoot a certain number of each group despite the fact that many of these species closely resemble each other. Further, you are shooting a shotgun at groups of birds, often hitting more than one bird. To say that the daily limits are hard to stay within is an understatement.
These regulations are simply the ones that apply to North Dakota residents. The regulations applying to non-residents can be much more complicated. I will quote, as example, from the North Dakota Game and Fish website concerning the zones and duration a non-resident hunter is expected to respect:
Nonresident waterfowl hunters may choose among three licensing options:
Nonresidents can change their 7-day or 14-day periods for waterfowl by calling the 1-800-406-6409 licensing number prior to the start of the period. It costs $4 per license to do so.
Confused yet?
These regulations are very thoroughly enforced as well, and a single infraction can result in the loss of your weapon, hunting privileges, vehicle and equipment in addition to a heavy fine and possible jail time. Its not getting any simpler either. Every year more laws are passed further muddying the waters for hunters that just want to go out and have a good time.
There has to be a better way to effectively manage the wildlife population while not confusing the average hunter.
Game and Fish Department, North Dakota | Licenses and Regulations
Recently that fact became more apparent when my uncle, from Alaska, came to visit.
Figuring to take him out to shoot some ducks, I began to review North Dakota's game regulations. What I found was a tangled mess of zones, hunting times, hair-splitting and regulations.For example, in order for a North Dakota resident to hunt waterfowl this fall, he or she must have a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate, small game license, general game license and habitat license. In addition to this, your hunting license must also bear a federal duck stamp which you cannot purchase over the internet. Rather, you must track down a store or gas station that has the stamps and obtain one there.
After getting your license you must figure out when you can hunt. There is a youth season, a disabled American Veterans season and a falconry season as well as certain times of all seasons when non-residents may not hunt. These season overlap and intersect each other until it becomes necessary to create a calendar detailing the specific dates available to you.
Finding out where you can hunt is the next step. North Dakota Fish and Game classifies hunting land into eleven different categories: Private Lands Open to Sportsmen Program lands, North Dakota Game and Fish Wildlife Management lands, North Dakota Department of Agriculture lands, U.S. Forest Service lands, North Dakota State Land Department lands, North Dakota State Forest Service lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Protection lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge Lands, Bureau of Reclamation lands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands and Bureau of Land Management lands. Each type of lands has its own set of rules and regulations restricting access. A map along with descriptions of the boundaries of these lands is extremely important.
Once you get into the field and are ready to hunt you realize that the animals you are allowed to shoot have been broken down into smaller groups. Its reminiscent of walking into a record store to see rock music divided
up into acid rock, industrial rock, etc. You are supposed to only shoot a certain number of each group despite the fact that many of these species closely resemble each other. Further, you are shooting a shotgun at groups of birds, often hitting more than one bird. To say that the daily limits are hard to stay within is an understatement.These regulations are simply the ones that apply to North Dakota residents. The regulations applying to non-residents can be much more complicated. I will quote, as example, from the North Dakota Game and Fish website concerning the zones and duration a non-resident hunter is expected to respect:
Nonresident waterfowl hunters may choose among three licensing options:
- Either zone 1 or zone 2 for one seven-day period and zone 3 for the other seven-day period; or
- Zone 3 for the full 14 days or two seven-day periods; or
- Zones 1 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period or zones 2 and 3 concurrently for the same 7-day period. This option effectively reduces the license to seven days only, as the two 7-day periods are run at the same time.
Nonresidents can change their 7-day or 14-day periods for waterfowl by calling the 1-800-406-6409 licensing number prior to the start of the period. It costs $4 per license to do so.
Confused yet?
These regulations are very thoroughly enforced as well, and a single infraction can result in the loss of your weapon, hunting privileges, vehicle and equipment in addition to a heavy fine and possible jail time. Its not getting any simpler either. Every year more laws are passed further muddying the waters for hunters that just want to go out and have a good time.
There has to be a better way to effectively manage the wildlife population while not confusing the average hunter.
Game and Fish Department, North Dakota | Licenses and Regulations
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