GFP Commission Proposes South Dakota Deer Hunting Seasons

With decreased deer populations across the state, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed to reduce the number of licenses and tags for many of the state’s deer hunting seasons.

The proposed East River deer season would result in a reduction of 7,240 licenses and a reduction of 20,560 tags compared to 2013. A substantial decrease in antlerless tags is intended to increase deer populations in several management areas. This management response is being implemented where deer populations have declined over the past few years due primarily to outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), habitat loss and weather.

The proposed West River deer season would result in 3,775 fewer licenses with a corresponding reduction in tags by 25,120 (56 percent). Similar to the East River deer season, the most significant reduction in tags for the West River season will be antlerless tags; which are proposed to decrease by 86 percent or 23,145 compared to what was available in 2013.

The Commission proposal for the Black Hills deer hunting season would have no

antlerless licenses for 2014. The Black Hills proposal calls for 200 resident and 16 non-resident any deer licenses and 3,000 resident and 240 non-resident any whitetail deer licenses.

The Department of Game, Fish and Parks recommended no changes to the Custer State Park deer hunting season and will again have 10 any whitetail licenses and 20 antlerless whitetail muzzleloader licenses.

The proposal for the 2014 archery deer hunting season would only allow the harvest of whitetail deer on antlerless deer licenses. Each hunter could only have one antlerless license. In addition, several management units in both the eastern and western parts of the state would be closed to antlerless archery deer licenses. 

Under the Commission proposal, the area used during the archery season east of the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve would be modified and reduced in size. The number of access permits for the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve will be reduced from 10 to 5.

As proposed for the archery season, only whitetail deer could be harvested with antlerless licenses during the muzzleloader season. A hunter would be limited to one antlerless license.

Youth deer hunters could have one antlerless license; which would be valid statewide under the Commission’s proposal.

The Commission’s proposal would reduce refuge deer licenses for residents by 15 and for non-residents by three for the Waubay National Wildlife Refuge. For LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge, licenses will be valid for any deer and no antlerless licenses would be issued.

View the full deer hunting season proposals here:http://www.gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/archive/2014/May/info-materials.pdf.

View a video explaining updates to deer management and current research projects:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jgoJ8J1qIw.

The Commission will finalize these proposals at their June 5-6 meeting in Yankton at Lewis and Clark Resort. Written comments can be sent towildinfo@state.sd.us To be part of the official public record, comments must be received by 12 p.m. on June 5. Please include your full name along with the city and state of residence. If you would like to comment in person, the public hearing will be held Thursday, June 5, at 2 p.m. CDT at Lewis and Clark Resort in Yankton.

Related articles

• North Dakota Deer Gun Application Deadline is June 4 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
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• South Dakota Hunting Seasons Proposed (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

South Dakota GFP Opens Application Process for Deer Hunting Seasons

The Game, Fish and Parks License Office has announced that the application process for all South Dakota deer hunting seasons is now

open.

Applications may be submitted online through the GFP website at www.gfp.sd.gov. A paper form containing application and information for all deer seasons will be available in late June. Hunters will have the option to apply online or fill out the paper application and mail it to the License Office.

“We are now accepting online applications for all deer hunting seasons. Deadline dates for submitting applications will vary from season to season,” GFP Licensing Supervisor Shon Eide said.

Season deadline dates include:

·         Archery Deer, no deadline

·         Youth Deer, no deadline

·         Custer State Park Deer, July 19

·         Black Hills Deer, July 19

·         West River Deer, July 19

·         Muzzleloader Deer, Aug. 30 for Any Deer tags

·         Refuge Deer, Aug. 30

·         Resident East River Deer, Aug. 30

·         Nonresident East River Deer, Oct. 11

In addition to deer seasons, the application process is also open for Fall Turkey and Archery Antelope. The deadline is July 22.

For more information or assistance with the application process, call 605-223-7660or email wildinfo@state.sd.gov.

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Hunters in SD Help those in Need

Who hasn't needed a little help somewhere along the way?  Well, hunters in SD are enjoying the sport they love, serving as ambassadors for hunting, and helping some families all at the same time.  Read more:

At its recent annual meeting in Custer State Park, the South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) Board of Directors reported that hunters donated 78,735 pounds of game meat to needy individuals and families across the state last year.

Although the total pounds of donated meat dropped 25 percent in 2011, donations in 2010 were record large.

“A reduction of donations in 2011 was not a surprise to us because deer and antelope populations were reduced during severe winters the past few years,” noted Jeff Olson, President of SAH. “It is a double-edged sword for us. One goal of the program is to reduce the number of deer in areas where landowners are having problems, and that part is working well. What we do not like to see is the number of pounds to the needy drop, as demand and need for this meat is high.”

One of the highlights from 2011 was the implementation of a new goose donation program. SAH worked with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow hunters to donate geese harvested in the August Management Take. SAH would like to expand donations from other waterfowl seasons and plans to begin discussions with management agencies this summer.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Those who benefited from the donated meat would like to send a big ‘Thank You’ to all the donors and volunteers for yet another great year for the program,” Olson said.  “Many people contributed to the continuing success of SAH this past year, including sportsmen who donated game animals, game processors who worked with us to process the animals, and food pantries that accepted and distributed the donated meat.”

Olson also thanks hunters, private donors and SAH volunteers for their generosity and help in making the program a big success.

To learn more about South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger, visit its website at www.feedtheneedsd.com

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SD: Elk, Paddlefish, CSP Deer and Bighorn Sheep Application Deadline Approaching

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Paper applications for the 2012 SD Elk, paddlefish, Custer State Park Deer, and Bighorn Sheep Hunting Seasons must be postmarked by Friday, May 18.  Online applications will be taken until 8 am CDT Tuesday, May 22.  To apply online, visit: https://appsf5.sd.gov/applications/gf79biggame/login.asp

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South Dakota Hunting Seasons Proposed

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

CUSTER STATE PARK – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed changes in several fall hunting seasons, including West River Deer, Black Hills Deer, Archery Deer, Archery Antelope, Youth Deer, Muzzleloader Deer, Fall Turkey and the August Management Take for Canada Geese.

Changes proposed for the West River Deer Season include:

• Adjust the number of resident licenses that were issued in 2011 by increasing one-tag licenses by 1,590 to 2,625; increase two-tag licenses by 830 (1,660 tags) to 16,735 (33,470 tags); and reduce three-tag licenses by 4,960 (14,880 tags) to 3,340 (10,020 tags)
• Adjust the number of nonresident licenses that were issued in 2011 by increasing one-tag licenses by 128 to 212; increase two-tag licenses by 67 (134 tags) to 1,342 (2,684 tags); and reduce three-tag licenses by 397 (1,191 tags) to 268 (804 tags)
• Modify the boundary for Fall River County Unit 27L to add some public lands adjacent to the Cheyenne River and Angostura Reservoir and make the unit boundary more easily identifiable for hunters
• Only unfilled antlerless tags would be valid during the antlerless deer extension beginning the Saturday after Christmas and running for nine consecutive days
• Eliminate antlerless deer hunting during the Antelope Rifle Season

Changes proposed for the Black Hills Deer Season include:

• Adjust the number of resident licenses that were issued in 2011 by reducing "any deer" licenses by 200; "any whitetail" licenses by 500; "antlerless whitetail" licenses by 50
• Adjust the number of nonresident licenses that were issued in 2011 by reducing "any deer" licenses by 16; "any whitetail" licenses by 40; "antlerless whitetail" licenses by four

Changes proposed for the Archery Deer Season include:

• Add Brookings, Deuel, Hamlin and McCook counties to the area where only one, one-tag "antlerless" deer license is valid
• Antlerless deer licenses would not be valid for Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Allow issuance of access permits for five "antlerless deer" and five "any deer" resident-only licenses for Blood Run Nature Area, along with the 45 "antlerless deer" and five "any deer" resident-only licenses for Adams Nature Area
• Modify an existing rule to allow an individual to possess an uncased bow and allow the use of bow-and-arrow to hunt deer and turkey within the Blood Run Nature Area

Changes proposed for the Archery Antelope Season include:

• Eliminate the two-tag license valid for one "any antelope" and one "doe/fawn antelope"
• Include those portions of Custer and Pennington counties within the Black Hills Fire Protection District (except Custer State Park) and issue by lottery drawing five special-access permits to licensees who possess a valid "any antelope" resident archery license

Changes proposed for the Youth Deer Season include:

• Add Brookings, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Moody, Roberts, Turner and Yankton counties to the restricted area where only one youth deer license is valid

Changes proposed for the Muzzleloader Season include:

• Add Brookings, Deuel, Hamlin, and McCook counties to the restricted area where only one, one-tag "antlerless" deer license is valid

Changes proposed for the Fall Turkey Season

• Offer residents 410 more one-tag licenses and 1,550 fewer two-tag licenses in East River units
• Offer 500 fewer one-tag licenses for residents and 40 fewer nonresident licenses in the Black Hills
• Close Harding and Turner counties to fall turkey hunting
• Season dates Oct. 1-Jan. 31

 

Changes proposed for the August Management Take of Canada Geese include:

• Expand the hunting area to include Brown, Hutchinson, Spink, and Turner counties

More information and highlights from the May GFP Commission meeting are available online.

People who wish to provide written comments on those commission hunting proposals may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 6. Comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD, 57501 or emailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us . Comments must have the sender's full name and address in order to become part of the public record.
Comments may also be made in person at the next GFP Commission meeting during a public hearing at 2 p.m. CDT on Thursday, June 7, at the Ramkota in Pierre.

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South Dakota: East River Deer and Antelope Hunting Seasons Finalized

PIERRE, S.D. – The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized rules for the 2011 East River deer and antelope hunting seasons in South Dakota.

East River deer season will run from Nov. 19-Dec. 4.  It will re-open Dec. 31-Jan. 8 for antlerless deer hunting only.

About 28,000 licenses will be available. The lottery drawing application process will open in late July for residents only; the application deadline is Sept. 2. Nonresidents may apply for unsold licenses beginning in mid-October.

Antelope season in South Dakota will run from Oct. 1-16.
About 6,000 antelope licenses will be available. The application process for both resident and nonresident hunters will be open by mid-July with an Aug. 12 application deadline.

The Custer State Park antelope season will run from Oct. 11-19. There will be three resident-only “any antelope” licenses available for inside the park. The application process for the lottery license drawing will open in mid-July with an Aug. 12 deadline.

For more information on East River deer and antelope seasons, visit online at www.gfp.sd.gov

South Dakota - Prairie and Custer State Park Antelope Licenses Available

Image via Wikipedia

Online applications are now being accepted for the 2011 Prairie and Custer State Park Antelope Seasons. For more information and to apply, visit:

http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/antelope/default.aspx

 

Paper applications will be available next week at authorized agents.