Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Veteran Hunting Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill would accelerate lottery points for veterans rated 100% disabled; wildlife federation urges other options
Summary
Senate Bill 2199 would give veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA an accelerated bonus‑point advantage in the state's deer‑license lottery; the department said the language appears to add an annual preferential point, while conservation groups urged alternative veteran‑focused programs instead of altering the lottery.
Senate Bill 2199, sponsored by Senator Mike Wabamaw, would provide a statutory benefit for veterans rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by accelerating their accumulation of bonus points in the state deer‑license lottery. The House committee heard the bill and received questions about implementation and equity.
Senator Wabamaw said the bill is meant to honor veterans who were rated 100% disabled and who may face physical barriers to hunting. "Those who have been rated 100% disabled by the VA have paid a price to which this country and the state of North Dakota owe a debt of gratitude," he testified, and indicated the amended draft retained lottery application but accelerated bonus‑point accumulation.
John Bradley, executive director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation, testified in opposition on philosophical grounds, saying the federation supports veterans but objects to altering the deer lottery in a way that could advantage one group of many worthy claimants (emergency responders, law enforcement, other disability groups). Bradley noted confusion in bill language about whether the additional point would be a one‑time or accumulating advantage and urged the committee to consider other veteran programs such as Camp Grafton hunts.
Jeb Williams, director at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, told the committee the department interprets the bill to add one additional bonus point for qualifying veterans each year they apply, which would accelerate their movement through the lottery; he said the vehicle would operate like existing bonus‑point mechanics and that drawing a license would reset the applicant's accumulated points per existing rules.
Committee members asked for a factual sheet showing how many license applicants and current license allocations would be affected and asked the department for a unit‑level chart of typical bonus‑point totals needed to draw in specific units. The department agreed to provide that information. The committee took no final action during the hearing.
