South Dakota Archery Deer Season Proposal Would Open More Areas for Antlerless Deer Harvest

A proposal from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission would open more of the state for deer hunters to harvest antlerless whitetail deer during the archery season.

In recent years, GFP has closed certain areas of the state for antlerless deer harvest due to low deer populations. Whitetail deer numbers are increasing across the state; calling for the Commission to ease restrictions. To view a map of these proposed areas, visit http://gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/docs/2016/May/may-materials.pdf.

Resident and nonresident hunters may purchase one statewide any deer license or one East River any deer license and one West River any deer license. Residents and nonresidents may purchase one antlerless whitetail deer license as well.

The proposed archery deer season would run from Sept. 24, 2016 – Jan. 15, 2017.  From Jan. 1-15, only antlerless whitetail deer licenses would be valid.

The Commission also proposed to increase the number of antlerless whitetail deer archery access permits from 20 to 25 for the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.  Five archery access permits would also be available for Good Earth State Park.

The Commission will finalize this proposal at their June 2-3, 2015, meeting at the Watertown Convention Center. Written comments can be sent to wildinfo@state.sd.us. To be part of the official public record, comments must be received by 12 p.m. on June2. 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 June 2, at 2 p.m. CDT at the Watertown Convention Center.

IOWA’S ARCHERY DEER SEASON BEGINS OCTOBER 1

Deer hunters have October 1 circled on their calendar marking the beginning to Iowa’s popular archery deer season.

An expected 50,000 hunters will be hiding among the branches on tree stands in the timber across Iowa forests and field edges waiting for the next legendary Iowa buck to walk by.

“The herd is in excellent condition statewide following the mild winter and early spring and the population is about where we want it. If they put in the time scouting and sight in their bow, I expect hunters will have another good year in the timber,” said Dr. Dale Garner, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau.

Regulation changes incorporated last year have helped to stabilize Iowa’s herd. There were no regulation changes for 2015. The archery season is open through Dec. 4, when it closes for the shotgun deer seasons. It then reopens Dec. 21 and runs until Jan. 10, 2016.

Youth Season Open Through Oct. 4

Iowa’s archery season crosses over with the youth only season for the first four days. The youth only deer hunting season opened Sept 19. 

Around 9,500 youth under 16 years of age participate in the special season each year. They must hunt under the supervision of an adult mentor who has a valid hunting license and habitat fee.  Only one youth hunter may accompany each adult mentor.

Youth hunters harvested more than 3,300 deer in the 2014 special season.  The 2015 season closes onOct. 4.

Where to Hunt

Looking for new areas to hunt? Try Iowa’s online hunting atlas, highlighting more than 600,000 acres of public hunting land. The atlas is available at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting in the middle of the page.

The atlas shows which zone the area is in, type of shot allowed, wildlife likely to be found, gives the user an overhead look at the terrain and provides a downloadable or printable map. The mobile version of the atlas will show hunter location on the area if granted permission.

Another resource is the Iowa Habitat Access Program (IHAP), where private landowners receive assistance to improve habitat on their land in exchange for opening the property for hunter access.  The program has added more than 9,000 acres where hunters can access private property.

Site maps are available at www.iowadnr.gov/ihap showing boundaries, which species would be most likely attracted to the habitat and the location of a comment box where hunters can leave their thoughts on the program.

Walk-in public hunting through IHAP is available between September 1 and May 31.

Related articles

• Michigan - Deadline approaching to refund deer license purchases (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Commission approves changes to 2016-2017 deer regulations (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Deer hunting archery season in Ohio begins this later month (ohio.com)

New Bowhunter

I have hunted with a rifle or shotgun my whole life and have always wanted to get into bow hunting.  Did not
know this would be the year when that would begin, but got a nice surprise from my oldest son last weekend.

We were meeting at a wilderness area in the Ozarks of Missouri to do some Fall turkey hunting.  He called me as we were driving down to tell me he had bought me this bow second hand.  I knew once I got one that I would be instantly adicted to shooting it, and indeed this has been the case.  On my way home from work on Monday, I picked up a decent target and some straw bales as a backstop.

I have shot every night as long as light and strength would allow.  At 20-25 yards I am putting arrows in a 5" group. It feels like the draw on the bow is perfectso I guess I am pretty lucky there.

I know I need more practice (a lot more!), but I am headed out in a bit to meet my other son and gonna sit in a ground blind and if by dumb luck a deer or turkey strays within that 20-25 yard threshhold, I am gonna send an arrow flying.

Part of my thrill about getting the bow is that I get to hunt more... a lot more.  I love being in the outdoors and this is just one more way to do it.

I have some pretty awesome kids I have to say, and only a small part of that assessment is that one of them bought me this bow!