Senate committee hears competing views on bill to bar hunting within 440 yards of buildings

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on an unspecified date heard testimony on Senate Bill 2168, a proposal to make it illegal to hunt or pursue game within 440 yards of a building, occupied structure, or storage structure without the property owner’s consent.

Senator Don Scheible, District 31, who introduced the bill, said the measure was prompted by a constituent who found damage and holes in buildings near which hunting occurred. "It was my understanding that we had laws to restrict shooting from 440 yards from buildings. ... This bill draft is an attempt to make sure that buildings are protected from being shot at," Scheible said. Scheible added he did not intend to broadly restrict hunting access and that owner consent should still allow hunting on the owner’s land.

The North Dakota…