BISMARCK (AP) -- Gov. John Hoeven has denied a proposed 598-acre Ducks Unlimited land buy in Kidder County.
His decision follows the recommendation of the Kidder County Commission and the Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee, which advises the governor on land purchases by nonprofits.
Ducks Unlimited says Hoeven's decision does not respect private property rights. The group had wanted to buy the land from a private owner.
The rejection was the second time in two years that Ducks Unlimited has been denied the chance to buy land in the nation's prime duck production territory.
Nonprofits have to go through the process because of North Dakota's anti-corporate farming law.
