Committee reviews $5 waterfowl stamp to fund habitat restoration and youth hunting programs

Senate Bill 2216, introduced by Senator Sean Cleary, would establish an electronic waterfowl habitat restoration stamp and create a dedicated fund in the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. "This bill basically has 2 goals," Cleary said: improving data collection on resident waterfowl hunters and directing stamp revenue to youth-hunting programs and waterfowl habitat improvement.

Supporters told the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee the stamp would allow the department to identify resident waterfowl hunters more precisely than current federal registrations and small-game licenses permit. Nathan Brand, a testifier in support, said the stamp would "provide dedicated funding for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department to support waterfowl habitat, conservation and restoration, "and would "improve data collection by ensuring an accurate count of resident waterfowl hunter in the state."

Casey Anderson, wildlife-division chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, told the committee the department currently estimates the number of active resident waterfowl hunters at "about a little over 16,000." Anderson said an electronic stamp tied to state licensing would reduce survey fatigue and increase data accuracy: "This electronic waterfall stamp will allow the department to more accurately determine hunter activity and harvest, reducing the need for broad harvest surveys while increasing response rates, data accuracy, and reduce and survey efficiency."

Witnesses emphasized the bill's modest revenue and program focus. Anderson summarized that at $5 per stamp, the department would expect roughly $82,000 annually from 16,000 resident hunters (about $164,000 on a biennial basis), though the fiscal note attached to the bill still referenced the earlier $10 figure and an estimated $400,000 in revenue; committee members asked staff to reconcile that discrepancy. Anderson said the department does not view adding the $5 stamp to its electronic system as a significant development cost and that its priority is obtaining accurate participation data.

Ducks Unlimited, North Dakota Wildlife Federation and landowner and hunting organizations testified in support, citing the user-pays model of conservation and the potential to expand private-land habitat and access programs. Ryan Taylor of Ducks Unlimited summarized the funding principle: "User pays, user benefits." Supporters noted the Senate had previously considered a $10 stamp, which was amended to $5; committee members discussed options for alternative fee structures for residents and nonresidents but took no final action on fee levels.

The committee closed testimony on the bill; members asked the department for updated nonresident license counts and a corrected fiscal note reflecting amendments. No committee vote on final passage was taken at the hearing.