Dick Monson

Barnes County

In every session of the ND Legislature a No Trespass/No Hunting bill comes forward from a few people. Thankfully it has always been soundly defeated in the Legislature as a bill that is a perennial bad idea.

Our current recreational access law allows sportsmen to hunt private land that is not posted. It has stood the test of time and legislative compromise for most of 90 years. The new bill, SB-2315, would require permission on all private land which is 93% of ND, even from landowners who have never posted. As a farmer I believe this new trespass bill would be a public relations disaster for the ND ag community. Think about it.

Farmers have depended on public financial support to stay in business. Taxpayer funded farm programs through USDA have funneled billions of dollars into ND agriculture. Add in other low-interest loans and grants for infrastructure like REC, rural water, roads, and fiber optic. It made our farms more profitable and valuable. Try that on your own dime. I am grateful for that public support. So how will the ag community show gratitude for that public assistance now? With a no trespass/no hunting bill. It’s a shame.

A new statewide no trespass law seems to me a short sighted and mean spirited way to thank the hundreds of thousands of ND citizens who hunt and fish in our state and have supported us in agriculture. Those sportsmen will go some place else and take their good will and dollars with them if this bill passes. Main street businesses, hospitality interests and tourism will suffer. That good will is too valuable to squander with a no trespass/no hunting bill.

Call your state legislators at 328-3373 to defeat this anti-hunting proposal, SB-2315.