Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF)

'For more information on Depredation Assistance contact a local Game and Fish district office.' Or request contact via https://gf.nd.gov/pli/contact.

Deadline text on the page: Request any time via district office or contact form.

General office

NDGF helps North Dakota livestock producers prevent big-game (deer) damage to stored livestock feed with repellents, scare devices, temporary fencing and permanent hay yard fences, plus technical help on feed storage and depredation food plots. The department does not pay compensation for wildlife damage.



- Private landowners with stored livestock feed supplies damaged or at risk from big game animals.

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

In-kind materials/technical assistance; no damage payments.

Published amounts: 'Options may include repellents, scare devices, temporary fencing, and permanent hay yard fences.' No cash compensation.

Submit the Meadowlark Initiative Landowner Interest Form (https://gf.nd.gov/meadowlark-initiative/contact) any time, or contact any partner, a county USDA service center, or NDGF.

Deadline text on the page: FAQ: 'Landowners may submit a Meadowlark Initiative Landowner Interest Form at any time.'

The Meadowlark Initiative is a North Dakota grassland partnership coordinated by NDGF that gives producers one place to apply for partner programs. They cover grazing infrastructure (fencing, water), native grass reconstruction, grassland management, wetland restoration, and transition rental payments while cropland is converted to native grass. Funding comes from USDA RCPP and private and state partners, and a single interest form is routed to the right partner.



- FAQ: 'Most producers, farmers and ranchers will be eligible for many programs offered through the Meadowlark Initiative. If RCPP funds are used, participants must meet eligibility requirements as defined by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.'

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Contract lengths vary by partner; 'RCPP funded contract lengths may be up to 10 years.' Research/monitoring participation encouraged but not required.

Published amounts: Cost-share for grazing infrastructure ('border/perimeter fencing, interior cross-fencing, watering features (tanks, pipelines, spring developments), solar systems'), grass plantings, prescribed burning, brush removal, wetland restoration; FAQ: 'Landowners may be eligible to receive a rental payment for the first three years when marginal cropland is planted to diverse native perennial grasses'. RCPP contracts up to 10 years.

Contact a private land biologist; PLOTS enrollment deadline June 30.

Deadline text on the page: 'Landowners can contact a private land biologist in their area at any time, however the deadline to enroll land into the PLOTS program is June 30th.'

Kevin Kading

Private Lands Section Leader

Curt Francis

East Region Supervisor

Colleen Gleason

West Region Supervisor

NDGF pays North Dakota landowners $10 per acre per year to open land under an active USDA CRP contract to walk-in hunting through a PLOTS agreement. New CRP plantings earn a one-time $30/acre habitat incentive, and wildlife food plots on CRP earn $150/acre for establishment. Agreements generally run the length of the CRP contract.



- 'Land with an active USDA CRP contract may be enrolled into a PLOTS agreement.'
- 'Landowner must allow the Department to sign and publicize the access acres as open to walk-in hunting.'
- 'Haying and grazing of CRP acres is allowed with some restrictions.'

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

'PLOTS agreement lengths generally run the length of the USDA CRP contract; however, shorter term agreements are available.' 'Additional payments for adjacent, non-CRP acres may be available.'

Published amounts: 'The Department will provide an access payment of $10 per acre, per year for CRP acres. Payments may be upfront or annual.' 'The Department will provide a one time Habitat Incentive Payment of $30 per acre for newly established CRP plantings.' 'The Department will provide an establishment payment of $150 per acre for wildlife food plots on CRP acres.'

NDGF pays North Dakota landowners $10 per acre per year to open land under an active USDA Wetland Reserve Easement to walk-in hunting through a PLOTS agreement. Agreements generally run the length of the WRE contract. WRE land east and north of the Missouri River may also qualify for stewardship funding to address woody encroachment.



- 'Land with an active USDA WRE contract may be enrolled into a PLOTS agreement.'
- 'Landowner must allow the Department to sign and publicize the enrolled acres as open to walk-in hunting.'

Agreement length generally runs with the WRE contract; shorter terms available. 'Land enrolled in WRE that lies east and north of the Missouri River may be eligible for stewardship funding to address woody encroachment.'

Published amounts: 'The Department will provide an access payment of $10 per acre, per year for WRE acres. Additional payments for adjacent, non-WRE acres may be available. Payments may be upfront or annual.'

Contact a Game and Fish private land biologist (online form https://gf.nd.gov/pli/contact or district biologist); enrollment deadline June 30 for the PLOTS program.

Deadline text on the page: 'Landowners can contact a private land biologist in their area at any time, however the deadline to enroll land into the PLOTS program is June 30th.'

Logan Bandy

PLOTS district biologist

Ben Reith

Jaden Honeyman

Ryan Huber

Zach Johnson

Brandon Ramsey

Matt Parvey

T.J. Oswald

Renae Schultz

Jeff Williams

Working Lands pays North Dakota landowners multi-year rental and access payments for maintaining or improving wildlife habitat on active cropland and working grasslands. Enrolled acres are signed and published as open to walk-in hunting in the annual PLOTS Guide. Cost-share and higher payments are available for new conservation practices or new habitat.



- Private landowners with active agricultural lands or working grasslands in North Dakota.
- 'Landowner must agree to maintain or improve the agreed-upon management activities for the term of the agreement and must allow the Department to sign and publicize the access acres as open to walk-in hunting.'
- Biologists evaluate habitat, hunting opportunity, management practices and proximity to other accessible lands.

'The agreement length is normally two years but longer term agreements may be available.' PLOTS agreements overall run 'from two years up to 30 years'; cancellation may require reimbursement of payments/cost-share.

Published amounts: 'Payments vary based on land use, habitat features and management activities.' 'Landowners may also receive cost-share and increased payments for implementing new conservation practices or developing new habitat.'

'Landowners can contact a private land biologist to discuss specific program details, agreement terms, payment rates and how to apply.'

Deadline text on the page: No deadline; pilot capped at 1,000 acres ('The OHF grant includes funding to enroll 1,000 acres of native forest into 20-year forest protection agreements.').

This Turtle Mountains pilot pays North Dakota forest landowners an upfront $500/acre to put native forest into a 20-year forest protection agreement with a North Dakota Forest Service stewardship plan. Landowners who also sign a 20-year PLOTS walk-in hunting agreement get another $200/acre and 100% cost-share for aspen clearcut regeneration (75% without PLOTS). Grazing is not allowed on enrolled acres during the 20-year term.



- 'This program is available only in the Turtle Mountains.'
- All enrolled lands need 'a site-specific forest stewardship plan, developed by NDFS'.
- 'All stewardship plans will require aspen clearcutting on approximately 10% of the enrolled acres.'
- At least 600 of the 1,000 acres must be enrolled in PLOTS for 20 years.

20-year forest protection agreement; lump-sum upfront payments; 'grazing is not permitted on enrolled acreage during the 20-year term of the agreement'; NDGF secures aspen contractors by competitive bid; landowners may use firewood from clearcuts.

Published amounts: 'Forest protection payments - $25/year x 20 years = $500/acre'; 'PLOTS payments - $10/year x 20 years = $200/acre'; 'All protection and access payments are issued upfront in a lump sum.' Aspen management cost-share 100% with a 20-year PLOTS agreement, 75% without.

Contact your local Soil Conservation District (numbers listed).

Deadline text on the page: No dates or deadlines published.

This OHF-funded pilot pays Red River Valley producers 60% cost-share to put marginally productive cropland (saline, flood-prone, riparian) into grass, pollinator plantings, buffers, grassed waterways, filter strips or cover crops, plus management payments for up to 10 years. It is delivered by local Soil Conservation Districts in Cass, Grand Forks, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Walsh counties. Public access is not required.



- Agricultural producers in Cass, Grand Forks, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Walsh counties.
- 'Marginally productive croplands (e.g., saline areas, flood prone sites, etc.) in the uplands and along riparian corridors are the primary focus of the program.'
- 'Public access is not required with this program'.

60% cost-share; 'Management agreements can be up to 10 years in length and the payments will be based on local county rental rates.' Annual or lump-sum payments.

Published amounts: 'Cost share for eligible practices is sixty percent (60%), supported with Outdoor Heritage funds. The balance of costs (i.e., 40%) will be the responsibility of the producer.' Management payments 'cannot exceed sixty percent (60%) of the local county rental rate.'

'Landowners who are interested in receiving the food plot seed must sign up online by April 3 .' Seed pickup in May at Bismarck, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Harvey, Dickinson, Williston and Riverdale offices.

Deadline text on the page: 'The application period for 2026 is March 2 through April 3, 2026.' Seed available in May at Game and Fish offices.

Each year NDGF gives North Dakota landowners free seed for up to a 5-acre wildlife food plot for pheasants, using a diverse multi-season mix. Landowners sign up online in spring and pick up seed in May at Game and Fish offices. A PLOTS contract is not required, but NDGF asks for reasonable public access and no fee hunting.



- North Dakota landowners interested in planting wildlife food plots for pheasants.
- 'this food plot campaign does not require a PLOTS contract.'
- 'Landowners participating in the promotion cannot charge a fee for hunting.'
- 'The Department does ask participating landowners to allow reasonable public access, such as opening land to youth hunters.'

Free seed for up to 5 acres; technical assistance on plot location and site preparation available.

Published amounts: 'The Department will provide enough seed to cover up to a maximum 5-acre planting at no cost to the landowner.'

List of North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) Funding Opportunities