Selected Articles from the LAND Newsletter

President's Report

By Richard Volk, LAND President

Greetings from my desk to yours.

This is the year the legislature is in session. There will be many bills that will affect you directly or indirectly, so it would be good if you keep your eyes and ears open and keep in touch with your senator or representative if there is something that affects any of you. Let him or her know your feelings.

Many hunting issues that will be brought forward. The one I have a hard time with is a cap on out-of-state hunters. With the farming economy as depressed as it is I would expect our state to welcome as many hunters and fisherman as possible to come . This is economic development - the easiest and cheapest to set up. No buildings, tax rebates or anything else that goes with setting up a business. They arrive, enjoy their hobby of hunting, spend and go home.

According to the ND Game and Fish Department survey covering the 2001-2002 fishing and hunting seasons, resident hunter and fisherman spending increased by 101 percent.

Some say that there are too many hunters. That may be true in some areas but from what I have personally witnessed in the last few years, I don’t believe it.

We do not have the hunting pressure we used to have , so I think it takes care of itself.

In closing , I would like to remind you to watch your e-mails and if asked to contact your legislators ,please do. Also keep posted by reading your newspapers for any legislative reports.