North Dakota Legacy Program Boosts Habitat for Pheasants, Year-Round Bass Fishing in Minnesota

Conservation efforts in the Upper Midwest aim to improve wildlife populations and outdoor recreation access.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A new habitat program in North Dakota will provide payments and incentives to farmers to plant more grass on marginal acres, benefiting wildlife like pheasants. Meanwhile, Minnesota has expanded its bass fishing season to be year-round, allowing anglers to pursue their favorite sportfish even in the colder months.

Why it matters

These initiatives highlight how states in the Upper Midwest are working to address past challenges around habitat loss and limited access, finding collaborative solutions that balance the needs of hunters, anglers, farmers, and wildlife. The changes aim to boost populations of popular game species and expand outdoor recreation opportunities.

The details

North Dakota's new Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program will provide $4.3 million in funding over six years to incentivize farmers to idle unproductive land and plant more grass, which will benefit species like ringneck pheasants by providing better nesting and brood-rearing cover. This comes after the state struggled to maintain habitat in the years following the federal Conservation Reserve Program's peak in the early 2000s. In Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources has modified fishing regulations to create a year-round continuous bass season, with some catch-and-release only stretches. This expands opportunities for conservation-minded anglers to pursue smallmouth and largemouth bass even in the cooler fall and winter months, building on the state's earlier move to open an early catch-and-release bass season after ice-out.

  • The North Dakota Legacy Soil Health & Habitat Program was announced in January 2026.
  • Minnesota's new year-round bass fishing regulations went into effect on January 26, 2026.

The players

North Dakota Game & Fish Department

The state wildlife agency that organized the Habitat & Hunting Access Summit and developed the new Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

The state natural resources agency that modified fishing regulations to create a year-round continuous bass season.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The North Dakota Game & Fish Department will continue to monitor the impact of the Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program and make any necessary adjustments to maximize benefits for wildlife and hunters. In Minnesota, the DNR will evaluate the success of the year-round bass season and consider expanding the catch-and-release only areas if warranted.

The takeaway

These conservation efforts in North Dakota and Minnesota demonstrate how states in the Upper Midwest are finding innovative ways to balance the needs of agriculture, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. By working collaboratively and adapting to changing conditions, they are making progress in restoring habitat, boosting game populations, and expanding access for hunters and anglers.