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GF&P COMMISSION MEETING
Notes & Highlights: Nov. 5-6
Pierre, SD

Division of Administration

Action Items
Approve minutes of October meeting
            Web link:  http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/DraftMinutes.pdf
Additional Commissioner salary days
License lists requests

• Taxidermy in Mitchell-deer and elk license holders-full fee
• Successful applicant muzzleloader-outfitter-full fee
• Elk licenses to rocky mountain elk foundation for raffle-no fee
• East river deer license summary-electronic group licenses programming was changed.  Programming had an error.  Impact of the error was we over issued some any deer and any deer plus antlerless tags over quota by 473 licenses.

When a landowner applied with a group, landowner preference was not included in quota.  In order to amend this, an emergency rule that would take effect immediately.  The Secretary of State would need to sign, issue a notice in the paper and in three days it would take effect.  Rule would only be in effect to 90 days.  As we get into 2010, this rule would have sunset.  On or before Thursday, November 19, commission would have a conference call to approve rule.  No action needed at this time.

Information items
License sales report

• 2009 small game license sales are behind 2008 sales by 5%,
• big game limited issue licenses  had 84% on line applicants for the antelope season
• resident special goose licenses at about 800-1000 applicants
• black hills deer season-applications are up
• antlerless deer applications are up
• archery deer licenses are up approximately 2,000 licenses

• Electronic communications-will be held for next month

Open Forum for Public comments

• Chris Hesla-SD Wildlife Federation-supports the acquisition of the three properties today.

Public Hearing of Finalizations

CSP Park entrance license- no written or oral testimony

Rocky Point and Springfield camping changes- no written or oral testimony
Large group camping reservation fee- no written or oral testimony
Park facility rental for Ft Sisseton and Pierson Ranch    - no written or oral testimony

Fishing regulations for tournaments

Matt Hoffsinger of Sioux Falls- would like Pointsett added to largemouth and smallmouth bass protected list.  Fishing for smallmouth on Pointsett has increased dramatically.

Norbert Brugeman of Brandon – fishing on river, wants to know why bass are protected

Duane Schniederman of Platte would like to have a walleye season closed in the spring statewide
Steve Baumburger of Sioux Falls- The guides must have came up with new regulations for Lake Sharpe.  He would like to have more lake specific slot limits.

Mark Malone- no minimum length limit for lake Oahe.  Spearfishing would become difficult

Matt Fonder-central SD chapter of walleyes unlimited-Don’t allow fishing tournaments like the CCR format.  The current rule is important. Too many fish die during hot months.

Kim Schelaouski- cedar rapids NE- Would like fisherman to have to tag and harvest the first legal fish they catch.

ORAL TESTIMONY-none

Baitfish-no written testimony
Bill blickinstorf, rapid city- gene galinat came to monthly meeting to explain bait for trout reg changes.  John lott also talked to bill.  Creek chub fisherman.  Very simple fishing process.  Likes the rule changes.

Kenny dell from rapid city-thank gene galinat-likes dead bait regulation, benefits anglers.  It is a great change.  Creek chubs are a sought after bait.  Great fun to fish for.

Private fish hatcheries-no written or oral testimony

Fish importation- no written or oral testimony.

Finalizations

Custer State Park motorcycle Park Entrance License

• Streamline fee structure during rally.  Help traffic flow and will extend the length of the permit through the entire rally.  Have not had any public comment in the hills.  passed

Rocky Point and Springfield Recreation Areas camping fee changes

• Take these and put them into the preferred campground fee. passed

Large group camping reservation fee-recommend withdrawal

• Withdrawn due to existing rules.  Group reservations will have cancelation fee from day one after reservation was made passed-move to ammend-passed as ammended

Park facility rental fees – Fort Sisseton & Pierson Ranch

• passed

Fishing Regulations and Tournaments

• Implentation of the fish regulation toolbox.  No recommended changes from the proposal.

Closing fishing season in spring is a common request.  It has never been shown that angling pressure has a negative impact.  We don’t want to restrict opportunity.  We would not like to go down that road.
Pointsett smallmouth bass regulation: talked to fisheries staff.  We don’t want to regulate every lake in the state.  If a lake has a great population of big fish, we don’t want to change regulations for the time being.  Would also use Pointsett as a comparison to lakes that do have a protected slot limit.  Also gives anglers a different opportunity.-PASSED

Paddlefish Snagging

• According to information and research, majority of fish that are snagged and released are surviving.  No changes from proposal-PASSED

Bait Fish

• no changes from proposal-PASSED

Private Fish Hatcheries

• no changes from proposal – PASSED

Fish Importation

• no changes from proposal – PASSED

Fishing Tournaments

• This is an attempt to clarify language.  We currently limit catch and release tournaments when fish are held in a livewell.  This would allow CRR tournaments.   We  don’t feel it will negatively impact resource.  Wildlife division will have the discretion to allow tournaments.  This does not automatically allow for these tournaments.  Commission requested an information item on 2009 tournaments.  – PASSED

Bait restrictions in the Black Hills

• Recommended change to specify that creek chubs may be taken from Black Hills and used in other areas that allow creek chubs for bait. – PASSED

Division of Parks and Recreation

Action Items

Same day reservations at Custer State Park and Lewis and Clark

• All non reserveable sights by rule must occupy the sight at the time of the reservation by rule.  Rule proposal would bring about a same day reservation- rule change would say you need to be there by 10pm or make arrangements with park staff to allow this process. .passed

Custer State Park Spring Turkey Hunting Season

• 79% success in 2009, comments from hunters was positive.  1 hunter per 526 acres within park for hunter density.  Proposing no changes in license numbers.  Finalized

Sica Hollow Spring Turkey Hunting Restriction

• Change in the spring turkey season would coincide with Sica hollow season.  Previously the ending date in Sica hollow ended on an early date.-so moved

Information items
Mickelson Trail / Mt Rushmore Connector

• park has been working with Mt Rushmore society and national park service.  Park is now working on a feasibility study.  Have had a great deal of public input.  November 17, a final workshop will be held at dahl fine arts center to look and comment on final draft of feasibility study.  Report will then be finalized.  There are 6 trail route alternatives at this point.  One is a no route alternative, one would follow highway 44, etc.  There will be no preferred alternative.  Next step would be to get groups involved and discuss implications of submitting a special use permit or easement.  That application would trigger an Environmental Assessment.  The feasibility study does not include any costs or funding.  Full report can be seen at

October revenue and visitation report

• On Nov 1 we take reservations for upcoming year at lodges and group campgrounds…for large group camping.  Up until this year those reservations were taken at the park and not through the 1800 number.  This process takes a good deal of time and jammed up the call center, aggravating callers.  1,440 nights were reserved on the first day.  In the future, we will split those large group and lodge reservation opening days on different days.  Looking at different fixes one may be to take applications.  Park staff will discuss options and decide what the best process is.
• Visitation- october was down.  Primarily to the weather.

Division of Wildlife

Action Items
Spring Turkey Hunting Season

Recommended changes from last year:

• Offer residents 160 more one-tag “male turkey” and 50 more two-tag “any turkey” licenses for the Prairie Units than 2009 for an overall increase of 260 tags (+3%).
• Eliminate the split season for the Deuel, Grant, and Hamlin County units (23A&B, 29A&B, and 32A&B) to have one season (23A, 29A, and 32A respectively).
• Open Jerauld County to state wide archery hunting.
• Change the end of the spring wild turkey hunting season from the third Sunday of May to the fourth Sunday of May and 8 days prior to memorial day weekend.
• Eliminate the use of rifles to hunt turkeys in the Black Hills and restrict to bow and arrow, a shotgun using shot shells or a muzzleloading shotgun.
• Add units 07A, 12A, 13A, 17A, 19A, 19B, 36A, 44A, 44B, 62A, and 62B to those restricted to bow and arrow, a shotgun using shot shells or a muzzleloading shotgun; placing all units in eastern SD under this restriction.

• Dr Larry Gigliotti presented results from a survey of spring turkey hunters regarding the issue of restricting rifles and handguns for spring turkey hunting. 40% favor restrictions for east river…44% favor restrictions in the Black Hills.  45% oppose restrictions for east river, 43.8% oppose restrictions in the Black Hills
• KNIPPLING MAKES A MOTION TO REMOVE 5,&6-DOES NOT PASS
• KNIPPLING MAKES A MOTION TO RECONSIDER – PASS
• MOTION TO REMOVE 5&6.  WOULD ALLOW FOR RIFLES- PASS.
• MOTION TO APPROVE PROPOSAL AS AMMENDED-PASSED
• Commissioner Mcmahon asked Director Leif to find out landowner attitudes towards extended seasons.

Spring Light Goose Hunting Season
Recommended changes from last year:

• Change the dates for the light goose Conservation Order from February 14 through May 3 to begin February 13 and end May 2.
• A conservation order is open statewide beginning on the 106th day from the Saturday closest to November 1 for 79 consecutive days.  This will eliminate having exact dates and will allow to not having to open up this chapter every year.
• Passed

Prairie Dog Shooting

• No changes recommended from last year

• Finalized 

Land Acquisitions/exchange

• Finstead acquisition in Clark County- addition to existing GPA where we have had a tough time of access. Area is good native prairie.  PASSED
• Brunkow property in Turner County. Currently this area is a WIA.  Habitat is currently in WRP easement and planted into warm season native grasses and some food plots currently..PASSED

• Stoner property in Yankton county.  Owner read about our Dept acquisition in Landowners Matter publication and called the Department.  River breaks and ½ mile of James River valley.  One of the places that department did initial introduction of eastern turkeys. PASSED

Information items
Land acquisition in development 

• Wetlands American Trust in Sanborne County

Turkey survey report

Season setting schedule
2010 SCHEDULE FOR SETTING SEASONS/REGULATIONS

*Denotes change from 2009

• Package to the commission for January or March to look at all season dates

Fall media campaign

• Update and preview commercials and a quick rundown of where they are/will air.  Two commercials featuring a father/son and a father/daughter.  Commercials urge hunters to get out and “take a perfect walk in nature”.

Resident Canada goose management

• Plan to have public meetings regarding goose depredation, early spring hunting etc.  We are going to have 4 open houses.  Potential dates are being worked on at this time.  Would like to have small groups and idea exchange as well as gathering public input and simply giving out information.

Side scan sonar

• will give presentation next month

Outdoor campus west update

• Preliminary estimate of the facility- 13$ million .  We are currently looking to itemize this estimate. Possibly looking to do a main bid, and then partition some of the items out and do an add/alternate list and add items.
• Just the buildings cost estimate is about 12 million dollars
• Site development, picnic shelters etc is the additional million
• There is a very competitive bid
• This is useful information but it doesn’t mean a whole lot.  Don’t want to give false message.
• Schedule for putting this project out to bid is Nov. 16. Prebid conference will be on Nov 24 with the bid opening on Dec 15 and contract awarded by end of 2009.  Ground breaking about first of year with a completion date of 15 months.
• The bid is wide open.
• Building committee will pick contractor then bring it to commission as an information item.

Pheasant hunting and transportation laws/rules

• Transportation rules are allowed in policy.  The biggest problem that we run into with transportation permit is that hunters want a transportation permit and use it as a transfer of possession permit.  We use citizens as contractors to be able to issue permits for transportation.  Hunters must go through our office staff or conservation officers to get in touch with our contractors.  Currently we have 11 individuals on contract in southeastern and central South Dakota.  Contractors are paid by the transaction.
• We need to do a better job of getting information on transportation permits out…give convenience store a list of contractors and phone numbers to contact, etc.  Improve the web information on contractors.
• Two years ago we did a revision of our transportation rules and enabled hunters to gift birds to homes.
• Commissioner Kessler talked about the possibility of looking into uncased guns on UTV’s, and also asked about the idea of using a UTV for a fixed blind for big game.

Miscellaneous updates

Next Meeting Information:

December 3-4, 2009
Pierre Ramkota RiverCenter
920 West Sioux Ave, Pierre, SD