09-06-2004, 04:27 AM
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has worked with landowners to improve wildlife habitat and provide hunting access to more than 700,000 acres of private land this fall, according to Kevin Kading, private lands biologist. These tracts, called Private Lands Open to Sportsmen - PLOTS - are featured in the new 2004 Conservation PLOTS Guide, which will be available throughout the state the week of Sept. 6.
The 2004 PLOTS guide includes more than 250,000 acres of land enrolled in the department's new Working Lands program, Kading said. "Working Lands is a short-term program designed to evaluate wildlife and hunting value, and provide public access opportunities on lands that are actively farmed or ranched," Kading said.
Working Lands PLOTS are not like other PLOTS tracts hunters are familiar with. Game and fish personnel urge hunters to please keep in mind that some Working Lands tracts may not appear to be made up entirely of quality wildlife habitat. However, the producer may be in the process of working with the department to develop or enhance habitat on the area for the future.
The PLOTS guide contains maps that highlight these walk-in areas, identified in the field by triangular yellow signs, as well as the rest of the state's public land. The guide also includes information about PLOTS and other game and fish programs, an upland game bird identification guide and other useful materials.
PLOTS guides are free, and available at any license vendor and county auditor in the state; by walk-in at the game and fish department's Bismarck office; and at district offices in Riverdale, Harvey (Lonetree), Williston, Dickinson, Jamestown and Devils Lake. Interested hunters can also view the guide, and find a list of vendors where guides are available, through the department's web site at discovernd.com/gnf.
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The 2004 PLOTS guide includes more than 250,000 acres of land enrolled in the department's new Working Lands program, Kading said. "Working Lands is a short-term program designed to evaluate wildlife and hunting value, and provide public access opportunities on lands that are actively farmed or ranched," Kading said.
Working Lands PLOTS are not like other PLOTS tracts hunters are familiar with. Game and fish personnel urge hunters to please keep in mind that some Working Lands tracts may not appear to be made up entirely of quality wildlife habitat. However, the producer may be in the process of working with the department to develop or enhance habitat on the area for the future.
The PLOTS guide contains maps that highlight these walk-in areas, identified in the field by triangular yellow signs, as well as the rest of the state's public land. The guide also includes information about PLOTS and other game and fish programs, an upland game bird identification guide and other useful materials.
PLOTS guides are free, and available at any license vendor and county auditor in the state; by walk-in at the game and fish department's Bismarck office; and at district offices in Riverdale, Harvey (Lonetree), Williston, Dickinson, Jamestown and Devils Lake. Interested hunters can also view the guide, and find a list of vendors where guides are available, through the department's web site at discovernd.com/gnf.
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