§ 20.1-02-27 — Public access program - Private landowner assistance to promote public hunting access

hunting access.
1. The director may establish programs for landowner assistance that encourage public
access to private lands for purposes of hunting.
2. Rules adopted by the director to implement this section may address:
a. A hunter management program consisting of a cooperative agreement between
landowners and the department, and including other resource management

agencies when appropriate, that allows public hunting with certain restrictions or
use rules.
b. A hunting access enhancement program consisting of incentives for private
landowners who allow public hunting access on their land.
c. Development of similar efforts outside the scope of the program that are designed
to promote public access to private lands for hunting purposes.
3. The director may not structure a program in a manner that provides assistance to a
private landowner who charges a fee for hunting access to private land that is enrolled
in the program or who does not provide reasonable public hunting access to private
land that is enrolled in the program. The director shall develop criteria by which
tangible benefits are allocated to participating landowners, and the director may
distribute the benefits to participating landowners. Benefits must be provided to offset
potential impacts associated with public hunting access, including those associated
with general ranch maintenance, conservation efforts, weed control, fire protection,
liability insurance, roads, fences, and parking area maintenance.