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Bill would let landowners grant permission to drive off established trails while hunting; committee advances measure
Summary
House Bill 1598 would clarify when motor-driven vehicles may be used to hunt or to reach hunting sites on private land. The bill would allow a landowner to grant written permission for off-trail driving that now is restricted during certain big-game seasons; Game and Fish said it is neutral and helped draft language.
Representative Cynthia Schriberback presented House Bill 1598 as a statutory clean-up to clarify Title 20.1-01-07and related language about using motor-driven vehicles while hunting. The sponsor said the rewrite was intended to make the existing law clearer for hunters, landowners and law enforcement.
Supporters described the bill as preserving private-property access while preventing misuse. Mike Savaleson (public supporter) and Levi Otis (property-rights advocate) said the change would allow owners or ownerswith written permission to drive to a deer stand or other hunting location on private land without changing existing prohibitions on chasing or harassing game.
Scott Winkleman, chief game warden for North Dakota Game and Fish, said the department participated in drafting the language and stood neutral. Winkleman explained enforcement would typically stem from landowner complaints rather than proactive checks; written permission could be a text or written note in practice. He also said a lessee could be authorized if the landowner grants written rights in a lease.
Committee members asked about narrow points: the bill preserves the existing exception for waterfowl and cranes (equipment-related needs such as decoys), distinguishes retrieval-only driving after harvest from pre-hunt driving with permission, and removes confusing enumerations of off-trail terrain from statute. Senator Bohm asked whether the measure allows driving before harvest; the answer from the department was yes if the landowner has granted permission; retrieval-only exceptions remain for those hunting on nonposted land.
The committee moved a due-pass recommendation on House Bill 1598; clerk records indicated a favorable vote (reported as a due pass and recorded as 7-0).
Ending: The committee advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation and asked colleagues to consider the clarified enforcement and permission language; Game and Fish said the wording should reduce gray areas around what counts as an established trail.
