News Releases for March 2002
March 20, 2002
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Announces Traditional Pheasant Season Opener, Accelerated Access Plan
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today announced that he will accept the recommendation of the Game and Fish Advisory Board to set the opening of pheasant season for the second week of October. That recommendation was made after public-input meetings around the state were commissioned by the Governor.
“Some Advisory Board members expressed personal interest in going to a modified early opening date for resident hunters only, but their clear recommendation based on the input that they received was to stay with the traditional opener,” Hoeven said.
The public meetings also clearly demonstrated the need to build access to non-fee hunting land for resident hunters. To begin to address that need, Governor Hoeven today announced a new initiative. He has directed Game and Fish to work to dramatically increase their Private Land Initiative programs, which include programs like the Private Land Open to Sportsmen (PLOTS) and Coverlocks. These programs benefit landowners as well by funding improvements to their property and providing additional income.
“I have asked Game and fish to double the amount of non-fee hunting land open to sportsmen from 165,000 acres to more than 300,000 acres within three years, and triple the land available to over 500,000 acres in five to seven years,” Hoeven said.
Game and Fish is working on proposals to meet these goals, according to Hoeven. They will work to further refine and develop this initiative in tandem with the Advisory Board, the Legislature and the public.
According to the Governor, both landowners and hunters will benefit, because the programs pay landowners to open their land to hunters. The effort will require about $4 million, but the funds are available from the Game and Fish Reserve Fund, he said.
“Today, we are moving forward to work on issues that have gone for too long without being addressed,” Hoeven said. “We must work together to develop solutions and build consensus to implement them. We are committed to building the hunting experience for all North Dakotans.”
E-mail comments to the Governor
