Call it the "squeaky wheel" (that gets the grease) or "the vocal minority" rules.
It was a "vocal minority" that led to the limitation of non-resident waterfowl hunting licenses, the results of the latest North Dakota Prairie Poll show.
A news story in the McLean County Independent reveals that North Dakotans strongly disagree with the reduction in non-resident license numbers imposed by Gov. John Hoeven for the 2002 waterfowl hunting. The margin was better than three to one.
The governor placed a 30,000 cap on the licenses after some resident hunters made an issue of the number of non-resident hunters. The 30,000 was slightly less than the number of non-resident licenses sold in 2001 but slightly higher than in 1999 and 2000.
The North Dakota Prairie Poll showed that 50 percent are opposed to limiting non-resident license numbers and only 15 percent favor. A substantial number, 35 percent, don't care or are undecided.
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Of persons who do have an opinion, 79 percent feel that "non-resident hunting is an asset that should be promoted" while only 21 percent disagree. That's a margin of almost four to one.
There's no question about it. The limitation of non-resident hunting licenses goes against majority opinion.
The minority can be pretty vocal. That was apparent in the past. It will be apparent during this year's legislative session when the struggle will likely continue between on the one side, some (not all) sportsmen and sports groups (representing the minority) and development and business interests (the majority) on the other.
If majority opinion is to rule, the state will put an end to limiting out-of-state hunters. The sooner the better.
Numerous businesses in North Dakota reported sharp reductions in income during the 2002 hunting season because of the cap on out-of- state licenses -- a cap imposed even though hunting pressure is almost non-existent in many areas of the state including some prime areas.
Unfortunately the "experiment" in limiting licenses not only had a negative impact this past year, it will also have a negative effect in coming seasons.
That's because some of the business that was lost will never be replaced. Hunters turned away in 2002 who had been coming to this state for many years found other states (and provinces) to pursue their sport.
Unfortunately, too much of the earlier promotion of the state's hunting resource -- for economic or business reasons -- was compromised by the limiting of out-of-state licenses. It may take years to recover the loss.
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Gackle, Garrison, N.D., is chairman of the board of BHG, publisher of 11 weekly newspapers. This piece was exerpted from his "Here and There" column in the McLean County Independent.
