The Hunt for Economic Development

In the period of 1980 to 1990, rural North Dakota areas, were experiencing a boom due to hunting to fishing. Factors such as drought, limited numbers of certain species of fish, out state competition, anti-hunting laws and local and national economic health were cited as having direct impact upon rural North Dakota leisure time activities and sources of income. Recreation and tourism figured in as North Dakota's fourth largest source of income with 8,000 created and half of the income and jobs being created for rural areas. Hope was placed in programs like the Conservation Reserve and Wetland Reserve and more active and intense game and fish management