ND Senate committee hears testimony on bill limiting Game and Fish authority over baiting (SB 2137)

The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee took testimony on Senate Bill 2137, which would strip North Dakota Game and Fish of the authority to prohibit supplemental feeding on private property for the purpose of taking big game.

Why it matters: Supporters of the bill told the committee restrictions on hunting over feed reduce hunting opportunities and rely on disputed science. State wildlife officials, conservation organizations and professional wildlife biologists warned removing the agency’s ability to act by annual proclamation would limit flexible disease-response tools—particularly for chronic wasting disease (CWD) and other wildlife illnesses that can affect livestock and long-term herd health.

Several residents spoke in favor of SB 2137. "I am in favor of Senate Bill 2,137," said Marty Beard, identifying himself as a North Dakota citizen from Burleigh County. Scott Schmidt, a private landowner southeast of Bismarck, also testified in support and said he found no validation that CWD “is any more serious or devastating” to North Dakota’s herd.

State wildlife officials and conservation groups offered the strongest opposition.…