North Dakota Canned Hunting Statutes and Regulations

No Ban: Mammals permitted.

The North Dakota Secretary of State has approved a ballot measure that would make it illegal to operate a canned hunt in the state. Hunters initiated the measure and will need to gather 12,844 valid signatures to qualify for the 2008 election.

Statute

North Dakota statutes require the issuance of a permit to "any person who desires to establish a shooting preserve..." N.D.C.C. §20.1-12.02.

A "shooting preserve" is defined as "any privately owned or leased acreage on which hatchery-raised game birds are released to be hunted for a fee over an extended season." Id. at §20.1-01-02 37.

Game birds that may be stocked on a shooting preserve and hunted "must be artificially propagated pheasants, quail, partridges, turkeys, prairie chickens, and any other species allowed by the director." Id. at §20.1-12-04. 

Regulation

In response to a request for regulations regarding the establishment and operation of shooting preserves, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department provided a copy of the relevant sections of the North Dakota Century Code previously summarized. A North Dakota Game and Fish Department official stated they do not regulate shooting preserves for mammals and propagation of mammals is licensed by the North Dakota Board of Animal Health.

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