North Dakota

The Northern Badlands Chapter Spotlight

Setting the Stage in North Dakota

November/December 2007

By Brandon Mason, Regional Director

For seven years now, the Northern Badlands Chapter (NBC) has been a chartered chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation. Being the first chapter in North Dakota and starting with less than fifteen members in the entire state, the growth in the MDF that the chapter has brought to the state has been tremendous. Presently, there are hundreds of members, and three new chapters have started this year alone. This presence that the MDF has in the state is no doubt a result of years of hard work, dedication and desire by the volunteers of the NBC.

Prior to becoming the Regional Director of the Northern Great Plains for MDF, I was on the committee as a volunteer and witnessed first-hand the tremendous strides that have been made for MDF and the wildlife resources in the state. What was once a small committee that demanded a lot of time from the few that volunteered has blossomed into a larger group of individuals who have a lot of fun together and get a lot done at the same time.

The NBC has sponsored three of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation’s Youth Conservation Camps, has partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Jake’s Day, has had three joint youth days with the local archery club – the NISHU Bowmen, has made two grants to the Sportsmen Against Hunger campaign, has cost-shared on fencing materials for a cell-grazing system on a ranch near Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch site in western North Dakota, has cost-shared on fencing materials to fence cattle out of wildlife food plots along the Missouri Breaks where isolated pockets of mule deer reside, and has made a grant for four consecutive years to the North Dakota Game & Fish Department’s Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) Program to develop habitat and secure public hunting access in the badlands of western North Dakota.

In 2003, the NBC testified in the House Natural Resources Committee of the North Dakota State Legislature to obtain one mule deer license, by governor’s proclamation, for fundraising purposes. The winner of the license can hunt anywhere he or she has permission, as there are no unit restrictions. All of the money raised from the sale of the deer license raffle has to be used for projects in North Dakota. This has been a huge boost to the fundraising efforts done in the state, with over $18,000 having been raised to date. Without this vital fundraising tool, where the resource is basically raising money for itself, many of the projects that have been funded to date would not have been possible. Many thanks need to go out to Governor John Hoeven, the House Natural Resources Committee (especially Rep. Kaiser), and the North Dakota Game & Fish Department for their help and support in this endeavor.

People are often asking us, “What has made your chapter so successful? How come you have seen such growth in such a short amount of time?” The answer is simple: Consistency, reliability and dedication. As many of you know that have helped start something like this in your area, be it with MDF or another organization, people want to see what you are all about and how long you’re going to “hang around” before they support you whole-heartedly. Once we got some really good projects on the ground and made people realize that we weren’t going away, MDF support in the state escalated exponentially. Now, instead of having to beg people to come the banquet at the end of February every year, we are looking at the possibility of having to sell a limited amount of tickets and possibly turn people away at the door. I sure hate to see people unable to attend because of a sold out event, but that is a very good problem to have!

Not only are the NBC volunteers passionate about their chapter and what they’re doing with the money they are raising, but they are more than willing to help out the new chapters that are getting started. The first thing out of their mouths when I mentioned we have new chapters coming on board was, “When is their banquet, because we want to help them out?!” I have been really inspired by their eagerness to help these new chapters get their feet wet. Many of them, such as committee member Tim Wolf, have said, “We might as well give them some advice and some help so they don’t have to start from scratch like we did.” What a great attitude to have!

The next NBC banquet is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2008, at the Bismarck AMVETS Club. Tickets will be printed up in the next couple of months. Tickets for the N.D. Mule Deer Tag Raffle will be available for sale around the first of November. In addition to the mule deer license, there will be given away: Weatherby Vanguard (caliber of choice); Ruger Mark II 7mm Win. Short Mag.; Mossberg Silver Reserve 12 ga. Over & Under Shotgun; Howa M1500 .243 Youth Rifle; and a Crooked Horn Outfitters Pack. Tickets for the raffle will sell for $10/ticket or three tickets for $20.

For more information on the Northern Badlands Chapter or for information on tickets or how you can become involved, you can reach me at 701-527-0609 or by e-mail at brandon@muledeer.org.

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