HOEVEN ADDRESSES PHEASANT OPENER

BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today announced that he is launching a special series of Game and Fish Department advisory board district meetings to seek input from the public on the early pheasant opener and issues related to access for hunting in North Dakota.

"There has been much debate about trying an early pheasant opener this year, and clearly there is a concern that there wasn't a sufficient process for making the decision, "Hoeven
said. "To address that concern , starting in early March and ending about mid-March, the department will hold special advisory board meetings conducted by Director of Game and Fish Dean Hildebrand and the regional advisory board member in each of the eight districts."

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has a statewide eight-member advisory board, with one member for each region of the state.

Hoeven said his perception from the start was that all hunters would enjoy an extra week of hunting, and that he saw an early opener as an opportunity to create needed economic benefits for the state's small towns and rural areas. Hunting and fishing bring hundreds of millions of dollars in economics benefit to North Dakota, he said.

"We will publicize the dates and locations, and encourage all interested parties to attend and provide input," Hoeven said. "I'm asking Dean and the advisory board to bring me their recommendation by the end of March, so that we can make a final decision by April."

Hoeven said the meetings would first seek input on the early pheasant opener, specifically with regard to the following options:

1. Open the season this year one week early on a trial basis
   
2. Try a modified early opener, such as for residents or youth only, or another option might be to restrict nonresident hunters from hunting on public access lands for the week
   
3. Open the season this year on the second weekend of October

In addition, Hoeven said, the meetings will also seek input on the primary issues of access and non-resident hunting, so that the department can begin to propose solutions to larger issues concerning hunting in the state to the Legislature. Hoeven said the Department of Game and Fish now has a survey underway to gather valid information concerning access to hunting in the state.

"For North Dakota to move forward, we must find ways for all of us to work together in a manner that both improves the quality of life for our citizens and also builds opportunities for our small communities and rural areas," Hoeven said.