Thanks Allen for sharing your experience with Kansas. Sounds like these westerners keep their cards close to the vest? Idaho was similarly protective with some records, though my gg grandpa's death certificate came without my having to send a mountain of death/birth certificates to prove the relationship.
As for North Dakota, I have since learned from a genealogist based in Bismarck, ND that the courthouse records are hard to access for many genealogists. The local society is trying to get permission to help index and tidy up the records.
When the BLM GLO records come back online it will be easier to follow our prospecting ancestors. Before their system went down this summer I was able to find many ancestors' claims and actually see the documents on line. Hopefully it will retain the same functionality in its new form.
Blessings on your searches,
Stephanie