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The Ward County Commission plans to examine its policies around hunting on its public lands after approving a hunting request from an archer Tuesday.
Commissioners also directed the sheriff and highway departments to discuss the future of the county's truck-weighing scales after rejecting a proposal to sell the scales.
The commission approved the archery hunter's request on the premise that unposted public land is open to anyone as long as state laws are followed. However, questions were raised about whether county properties, such as parks, require some form of hunting prohibition by ordinance. The county also leases some land for agricultural purposes that it considers closed to hunting unless the leasee grants permission.
The commission is asking the State's Attorney's Office to explore any rules the county has on the books to determine whether new ordinances or other actions are necessary to control hunting in certain areas.
In the case of the archery hunter, the commission noted the permission granted isn't exclusive. County properties are open to any hunter, although hunters who leave equipment on the property, such as wildlife cameras or deer stands, do so at their own risk.
The commission rejected Sheriff Robert Roed's proposal to sell 10 truck-weighing scales to McKenzie County for $25,000. The department has not been using the equipment since the oil boom ended, Roed said. He added his department is too short-staffed to utilize the scales.
Highway Engineer Dana Larsen said the county has a lot of commercial traffic and a need to enforce weight restrictions on roads. He noted that fines are lost to the county and townships for road repairs when unenforced violations occur.
"It doesn't take many violations to more than pay for the scale," said Commissioner Jason Olson, who advocated for keeping the scales for possible future use. The commission voted 0-5 against the sale.