AN ACT to amend and reenact section 20.1-05.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to discretionary special allocation hunting licenses.
Summary
HB 1094 amends North Dakota’s law governing discretionary special allocation hunting licenses for certain big-game species. The bill authorizes the Game and Fish director, when species populations are sustainable, to issue annual special allocation licenses to eligible organizations for elk, moose, antelope, and white-tailed deer, with specific caps on the number of licenses that may be issued. It also preserves the existing framework for organizations to apply annually, and for licenses to be distributed by lottery if demand exceeds availability.
The bill keeps in place rules for raffles and auctions used by eligible organizations to award licenses, including reporting requirements and restrictions on an individual’s ability to hold both a special allocation license and a general lottery license for the same species in the same year. It also continues to bar people convicted of illegally taking moose, elk, or bighorn sheep from applying for or receiving a license under this section. The definition of eligible organization is updated to require nonprofit status, federal tax-exempt status, and a commitment to direct a larger share of raffle proceeds to conservation-related projects in North Dakota.
Impact
HB 1094 changes section 20.1-05.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code by adjusting the special allocation hunting license program and increasing the required conservation contribution from at least 10 percent to at least 20 percent of net raffle proceeds. It affects nonprofit and charitable organizations that seek to obtain and raffle or auction these licenses, as well as hunters who participate in the special allocation and general lottery systems for elk and moose. The bill also reinforces the Game and Fish director’s discretion over issuance based on species sustainability and maintains statutory limits and eligibility restrictions tied to wildlife conservation and enforcement.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the House 88-4 and the Senate 43-1, indicating strong legislative approval. The available record does not include committee testimony, but the vote margins suggest the measure was generally viewed favorably as a wildlife-management and conservation-related update rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main substantive point of potential contention is the increase in the required conservation contribution from 10 percent to 20 percent of raffle net proceeds, which could reduce the amount organizations retain from license raffles. Another possible issue is the continued use of discretionary special allocation licenses and raffles/auctions for highly sought-after big-game tags, which may raise fairness concerns among hunters who rely on the general lottery. However, the recorded votes show only minimal opposition, and no specific objections are documented in the available committee materials.