Unit 7: Set 6: Bringing Back the Game: Hunting and Game Conservation in North Dakota- Activities

Intro | Documents | Historic Record | Whitetail Deer | Deer Documents | Pheasants |
Bird Documents | Photos | Activities

1. Reading the documents:
1. What was the legal requirement for deer hunters’ clothing in 1941? What is the requirement today?
2. What birds are listed in the 1917 laws for which there is no current season in ND? What is the status of those birds today?
3. When the 1917 Game Bird law refers to “cranes of any variety,” what might be included in that group? Are there hunting seasons on those birds today?
2. Do some research:
1. Using the internet, research hunter orange or safety orange clothing requirements in several other states. How does North Dakota’s current law compare to other states?
2. Research current wildlife populations. Are there any game animals experiencing population decline? Can adjustments in hunting laws prevent further decline?
3. Do some analysis:
1. How many students in your class have a hunting license? How many have taken the Hunter Education course? How many are male; how many are female? Design a chart to help you analyze these numbers.
2. If someone in your class has a friend or relative in a similar class in another part of the state, ask that friend if they can get the same data for their class. Is there a difference? Can you explain why?
4. Debate:
   Though the Board of Control that governed game and fish laws before 1913 often recommended limitations on deer hunting in order to preserve the animals, hunters pressured their legislators to oppose such laws. As a result, deer numbers continued to decline and finally all deer hunting was halted for nearly 20 years. The democratic process of law making functioned well to meet the interests of the legislators’ constituents, but representative government failed to respond adequately to the state’s wildlife concerns. Does this raise some questions about democracy and legislative process? If so, engage your classmates in a debate:
   
   Resolved: that democracy is the best way to resolve all scientific questions with social and economic impacts.

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