North Dakota lawmakers have introduced a bill that could change the landscape of pheasant hunting in the state.

"HB 1237 is a bill for an act to create and enact a new section to chapter 20.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to nonresident upland and small game licenses, and amend and reenact section 20.1-03-7 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to nonresident hunting licenses,", according to the North Dakota Legislative Branch.

This bill will make it possible for all nonresident pheasant hunters to have the capability of buying ONE upland and small game license that would be good for the ENTIRE season. Much like resident hunters. This isn't sitting too well with North Dakota sportsmen.

Currently, nonresident hunters can buy an unlimited number of two-week upland and small game licenses at 100 dollars each.

This bill was heard last Friday, January 24th by one of the legislatures who introduced the bill, Bill Tveit, and numerous people in opposition of the bill, including concerned North Dakota sportsmen, and North Dakota Game and Fish Wildlife Division Chief Casey R. Anderson.

North Dakota sportsmen are concerned this bill will make North Dakota even more crowded in the field than it already is. North Dakota already has no restriction on the number of nonresident waterfowl hunters, which already causes a lot of pressure and access problems in the state.

Unlike, South Dakota which currently imposes a very strict limit on nonresident waterfowl licenses sold each year.

The opposition also claims this bill will create even more guides and outfitters, and more land leased up. This will commercialize hunting even further in the state of North Dakota. Lack of access is the number one reason why people stop hunting.

We will see where this bill goes from here. As an avid North Dakota bird hunter myself, this bill concerns me too. We don't want our pheasant hunting to become like South Dakota, where a good share of the hunting is "pay to play".

To stay up to date on this bill in the North Dakota legislature click here.

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