BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) _ North Dakota hunters are facing trends
that are shrinking wildlife habitat as they prepare to gather for a
second ``Future of Hunting'' conference in Bismarck.
Since the first conference eight months ago, 650,000 acres of
Conservation Reserve Program land have been lost to crop production
and 1,400 new oil wells have been drilled.
A proposed ballot measure to set up a state conservation fund
also was derailed by a petition fraud scandal.
Hunters and conservationists hope their conference on Nov. 30
and Dec. 1 will lead to proposals to increase habitat that they can
take to the Legislature next year.