The North Dakota legislature has passed its cross-over date, the time when bills approved by either the House of Representatives or the Senate are sent to the other chamber for further action, yeh or nay.

There has not been a lot of “outdoors” bills for legislators to deal with during the current session, which makes tracking them somewhat easier and, dare I say, reduces the frustration factor for sportsmen who have been greatly puzzled by the content of many bills they have seen debated in previous legislative sessions.

This week the Senate passed HB1113 on a 47-0 vote. That followed a 94-0 vote in the House. In summary, the bill requires written permission from a landowner if a person wishes to use bait or a trail camera. The first violation, or failure to obtain written permission, is a class 1 noncriminal offense. Do it a second time or more and the fine is $250.

A bill that was approved 28-19 in the Senate got roughed up in the House, which soundly defeated it 13-79. SB2211 would have allowed artificial light “while hunting furbearer, ground squirrel, prairie dog, porcupine, rabbit or skunk.”

Stephanie Tucker, North Dakota Game and Fish Department furbearer biologist, testified in opposition to the bill, saying the expansion of night hunting was controversial and pointed out “the potential risks to livestock or recreationalists.” Furthermore, said Tucker, there was a concern about species identification while night hunting.

Also testifying in opposition was Bruce Willyard, treasurer of the North Dakota Fur Takers Association and a former hunter safety instructor. Willyard told lawmakers that the “concept of night hunting goes totally against what is being taught in hunter safety.”

Willyard was referring to what hunter safety instructors tell their students repeatedly – know your target and what lies beyond it. He also reminded lawmakers of a Rugby man who was “shot and killed in a night time hunting accident” earlier this year during a coyote hunt near Velva.

Other bills were in various stages of advancement at the time of this writing, including SB2143 which would allow fluorescent pink or fluourescent orange or pink camouflage to be worn during big game seasons. Seemingly destined for approval is SIB2036, a bill to continue an electronic land access database “during the 2021-22 interim, and expand it to all counties”. SIB2036 passed the Senate 45-2.