Published: February 26, 2009 06:57 am      

DU says governor disregarding property rights

Ducks Unlimited says the decision of North Dakota’s governor to turn down the conservation organization’s request to buy property in Kidder County does not respect basic private property rights. Governor John Hoeven has refused DU’s application to buy an almost 600-acre piece of land from a private owner.

“The governor should not be denying this type of request,” said Steve Adair, director of DU’s Great Plains Regional Office.

“The state law that requires the governor’s approval is unfair to private property owners and non-profits. The landowner, Mrs. Hetletved, should be allowed to sell this land to whomever she wants.”

Under North Dakota’s corporate farming law, non-profits cannot buy land without going through a lengthy process to gain approval from the governor. First they must go before the local county commission and then the state Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee. Both boards make a recommendation on the sale to the governor.

“No harm to the state would be caused by DU owning this property,” Adair said.

“We pay taxes on our land, manage it well and keep it in grass-based agriculture by renting it out to local ranchers.”

The property in question is in the heart of the Missouri Coteau, a continentally unique landform with some of the highest amounts of nesting ducks in the world.

“Maintaining North Dakota’s grasslands and wetlands is important to the state’s strong hunting traditions and the growing eco-tourism industry,” Adair said.

“This decision to downplay these values does not reflect North Dakota’s strong outdoor recreation culture.”

Nearly one in every three North Dakota residents hunts or fishes. The total economic impact of sportsmen in North Dakota is $358 million a year.

More than 283,000 resident and non-resident sportsmen hunt and fish in North Dakota every year, generating $232 million and $20 million in state and local taxes. These sportsmen support 4,500 North Dakota jobs.