North Dakota hearing on HB1236 pits sportsmen against Game and Fish over use of license fees for chronic wasting disease work

The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard more than an hour of testimony on House Bill 1236, which would prohibit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department from using hunting and fishing license fees and application fees for CWD research and management.

Representative Bill Twite, the bill sponsor, told the committee HB1236 “simply says hunting and fishing license fees and application fees assessed under section 20.1‑03‑12.2 may be used only for the department programs and administration unrelated to chronic wasting disease.” He said sportsmen “are tired of the narrative” about CWD and should not be forced to pay for further CWD studies with user fees.

Supporters who testified said license revenues should be focused on habitat, hunter recruitment and landowner relations. Dwight Gross, who…