Grand Forks County Water Board Considers Decision on Public Hunting Lands

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Photo byNorth Dakota Game & Fish Department

Jimmy Dean
March 10, 2024

The Grand Forks County Water Board is deliberating a proposal from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department aimed at restoring access to lands recently closed to public hunting. In a meeting held on Wednesday, March 6, Scott Peterson, deputy director of the ND Game and Fish Department, presented the proposal to the Water Board.

The proposal suggests collaboration between the Water Board and the Game and Fish Department to manage lands closed to hunting, potentially allowing for their reopening. While no decision was made during the meeting, the Water Board agreed to discuss the proposal with legal counsel and possibly reach a decision at its next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 20.

The closure of hunting lands, including areas surrounding dams managed by the Water Board, was prompted by concerns such as damage caused by vehicle traffic on the dams, rising repair costs, and pressure from adjacent landowners. This closure affects approximately 1,200 acres of land previously accessible to hunters.

Peterson highlighted the Game and Fish Department's willingness to manage additional lands on a case-by-case basis, similar to their existing arrangement with the Water Board. He assured that vehicular access would be restricted to established roads and trails, with options to designate certain areas as walk-in access only to address erosion concerns.

Charlie Gorecki, an advocate for public land hunting, voiced concerns about losing access to valuable hunting resources and urged the Water Board to consider alternatives that would balance conservation efforts with public access.

While no immediate decision was reached, Grand Forks County Commissioner Mark Rustad and others encouraged the Water Board to reconsider its decision and explore the collaborative proposal from the Game and Fish Department.

The Water Board plans to further discuss the proposal with legal counsel and may reach a decision at its upcoming meeting on March 20.

In light of these developments, individuals interested in hunting & fishing are encouraged to equip themselves with top-notch knives, such as the APEX Titan hunting/fishing knife, available at Rancher's Ridge.