North Dakota Outdoors: PLOTS Program Makes Hunter Access Easier | News, sports, jobs

Submitted Photo Properties are a voluntary agreement between the private landowner and Game and Fish that allows walk-in public access for hunting on private lands. Photo by NDGF.

Here's something to think about if you're driving or running through North Dakota during your fall. More than 93% of the land in North Dakota is privately owned. Think about how great this is for a state where hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation are considered important parts of the quality of life. We have generations of hunting heritage in our ancestry, while less than 10% of the land is public. It highlights how important the relationship between hunters and landowners has been and will be.

All the talk about the tens of thousands of us spending time outdoors hunting is even more impressive when you consider that for months of the year the landscape is covered in a blanket of white, with icy roads and freezing temperatures.

We are indeed a hardy bunch who know the importance of fresh air on the other side of the window, which we all appreciate.

We value the public trust doctrine regarding fish and wildlife, administered by the Game and Fish Department and owned by the people who call North Dakota home.

All of this makes the 836,000 acres of private sports land (PLOTS) small in terms of area but enormous in terms of importance to outdoor heritage.

If you want to hunt in North Dakota and have never lived here, don't know a landowner, or don't have direct access to hunting areas, the PLOTS program has just that for you. It is a trailhead or bridge over private property with accessible hunting opportunities.

PLOTS is a voluntary agreement between the private landowner and Game and Fish that allows walk-in public access to hunt on private lands.

Where do you find out? The North Dakota Game and Fish Department's 2024 Private Land Open To Sportsmen Guide is now available.

The guide covers approximately 836,000 hectares of land. Hunters are encouraged to use mobile maps and browser-based applications to locate and identify the boundaries of PLOTS areas.

The PLOTS Guide includes maps highlighting these walkable areas, identified in the field by inverted triangular yellow signs, as well as other public lands.

The guides are not available by mail, so hunters must pick one up at a local retailer or at the Game and Fish offices.

If you're like me and like numbers, check out Game and Fish Private Lands Coordinator Kevin Kading's breakdown:

– 2,700 contracts, 2,500 cooperation partners

– 1,600 hectares of new lawn seed

– 1,700 acres of newly seeded CRP

– 17,000 acres CRP filed

– 1,300 hectares of wildlife food areas

– 24,000 acres open to waterfowl access

We must also recognize the landowners who participate and the partnerships that work with the Game and Fish Department: Pheasants Forever, Outdoor Heritage Fund, North Dakota

Natural Resources Trust, Ducks Unlimited and the Mule Deer Foundation.

Here is a summary of some common sense reminders:

– Treat PLOTS areas as if they were your own.

– Remove all trash and empty wrappers.

– Do not block field entrances or gates with vehicles.

– Clean play, away from ditches and approaches.

– Stay away from livestock.

If you find an area that is listed as a PLOTS area but is not marked with department yellow triangular PLOTS signs, we recommend that you err on the side of caution and avoid entering the area until you have it with us have checked.

Pursuant to NDCC 20.1-08-04.9, nonresidents may not hunt game on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas or conservation lands during the first seven days of pheasant season.