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GF&P COMMISSION MEETING
Notes & Highlights: July 1
RamkotaRiverCenter - Pierre

Division of Administration

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

• Wings of Thunder commercial hunting operation out of Kimball, SD, for random sample list of 1,000 nonresident preserve license names. Commission approved.

Information Items
License sales report

• The number of applicants for most big game seasons has remained steady with 2008 numbers
• 80-90 percent of those applying for elk, bighorn, etc. have been applying online

Compliance report

• The issue of compliance review will be handled each year at the May Commission meeting.

Division of Parks and Recreation

Action items

Proposal: Lifetime disabled veteran/POW park entrance license

• Gov. Rounds signed a bill passed by the 2009 legislature that qualifies SD military veterans who are 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury, or were held as a prisoner of war to receive a free lifetime SD state park entrance license.
• Law went into affect July 1. Commission passed rule making this change.
• Applicant will complete paperwork and provide a copy of the veteran’s “K” award or letter from the Veteran’s Administration indicating receipt of a veteran’s allotment for total disability which is deemed a service-connected injury or held as a prisoner of war.

Award elk license for nonprofit raffle

• Each year one CSP “Any Elk” License is set aside for a raffle by a nonprofit organization as a fund raiser. In 2009 that organization was the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the same organization that has been awarded the raffle license since 1990.
• RMEF channels funds raised from the raffle through an advisory committee. Funds are then referred to SD and are dispersed for projects in CSP and throughout the Black Hills depending on habitat priorities.
• Commission approved awarding the license to RMEF

Information items

Sandy Shore Recreation Area land trade resolution

• This is a small recreation area located in the southwest corner of Lake Kampeska near Watertown.
• Working on a land trade with privately held property that will greatly enhance the size of Sandy Shore.
• Working on an appraisal with a certified property appraisal. Have worked with the local zoning board to see if it will be possible to vacate a road that runs through the area.

June revenue and visitation report

• Preliminary report indicates that June was a good month considering a cold stretch of weather early in the month
• Year to date up about 3.5 percent in visitation. Revenue is running well ahead of projections. Camping income is about 20 percent ahead of last year with no associated fee increase.

Recreational trail program grant awards

• This is a federal grant program through the Federal Highway Administration and on state level through GFP. Provides funding for recreational trails. Source of funds is from gas tax for off road vehicles.
• A minimum of 30 percent of this grant must be for motorized trail use, including snowmobiles and ATVs.
• Applications are taking annually. This year around $1.1 million was available so about $330,000 for motorized trail projects.
• 5-member advisory board, appointed by Governor, reviews the projects and recommends projects they deem worthy of funding. These are 80% grant funds that require a 20% match.
• Projects approved include a $200,000 shop at Hardy Camp where the groomers used for the trails are headquartered.

Division of Wildlife

Action items
Waterfowl hunting season proposal

• Proposed change from 2008 to increase the Wood Duck limit from 2 to 3 daily; Commission asked for proposal to High Plains from Oct. 3-Dec. 1 then closed then re-opened Dec. 8-Jan. 14; proposal change to Canada goose season will open Unit 1 on Oct. 1 instead of Sept. 26
• For Duck Season: High Plains season would run with proposed change; Low Plains North & Middle from Sept. 26-Dec.8; Low Plains South from Oct 10-Dec. 22; Daily limits 2 scaup, 3 wood duck, 2 redheads, and 1 hen mallard or 1 pintail or 1 canvasback
• For Goose Season: Light and White-fronted season would run Sept. 26-Dec. 20; Canada Geese Unit 1 from Oct. 1-Dec. 20, Unit 2 from Oct. 31-Feb. 12, and Unit 3 from Jan. 9-17; Daily limits Canada Geese 3, Light Geese 20, and White-fronted 1

Depredation hunt proposal

• No changes from 2008 so this is finalized.
• Between Dec. 1-Mar. 31 may issue up to 600 permits
• Hunters who register for pool will be randomly ordered to determine who will be called first in county of hunt. After Dec. 31 hunters added to the pool will be registered in order that they enroll
• GFP may issue 200 landowner/operator depredation permits in addition to the regular depredation permits
• The maximum number of landowner/operator permits that may be issued per household is 4

Elk Depredation Permits

• Proposed changes from 2008: allow elk depredation hunts in areas not designated as an elk unit; may be conducted before regular season is opened; base hunter selection on unsuccessful hunters for that unit from the first drawing, then from second drawing, then any unsuccessful applicant for that unit, and finally unsuccessful applicants for units closest to the depredation hunt area
• Base hunter selection for pre-season hunts on successful applicants for that unit, then unsuccessful applicants for that unit, then unsuccessful applicants for elk hunting units closest to the depredation area
• Collect fees from elk depredation hunters who did not pay for a license during the current season
• Unsuccessful applicants selected for a depredation hunt who elect to participate would not lose their preference points

Uses of Parks and Public Lands proposal – Firearms restrictions on Lake Andes GPA

• Public safety concerns over occupied dwellings within close proximity to the Lake Andes Game Production Area and a recent complaint about high-powered rifles in these areas
• The Lake Andes GPA is two small parcels of land on the south side of Lake Andes and total about 51 acres. GFP originally acquired the land as part of a past fish culture program.
• The proposal would add the area as one restricted to shotguns using shot shells and bow and arrow
• Commission approved for proposal

Land acquisitions – Gregerson addition to Bitter Lake GPA-Day County

• Due to high water conditions there has been a great deal of interest on the part of local landowners to sell their property. This has provided an opportunity to view property that might enhance public hunting and access opportunities
• Public notice was given in the area to gather public response to a potential purchase and one positive response was received.
• Property is mostly underwater now but has been agriculture land and in fact 130 acres is in CRP; Commission questioned the value of this land for public use as opposed to the appraisal price, and how the purchase fits into long-term value to public opportunity around Bitter Lake and the entire area
• No action was taken on this to allow another month to gather more information for the Commission to consider

Length of Permits for Shooting Preserves

• A proposed multi-year permit is intended to lessen the administrative burden on both GFP and the preserve operators
• Permit applicants would have option of applying for a 1-year or 3-year permit
• There would be no change in the fee charged since that is set in statute
• If needed to adjust acreage, would send in additional fee; if less acreage there would be no refund for fees submitted
• Application period for permits is Jan. 1-Mar. 1 of the year the shooting preserve begins operation
• Commission approved this for proposal

Information items
Land acquisitions in development
1 - Custer County addition to Friendshuh GPA

• The County has taken over this property and came to GFP wishing to sell

2 - Walton addition to Bitter Lake GPA - Day County

• This is another addition to Bitter Lake holdings

Private shooting preserves update for 2009-2010 season

• Harvest information from 2008-09: Last year 229 preserves making it the most in preserve history
• This year 229 applicants and all approved, however there have been three that have withdrawn their permits and just over 227,000 acres
• Last year just over 393,000 pheasants released (down about 46,000 from previous year)
• Amount of pheasants harvested has been less then the amount of birds released
• Last year 198,124 pen-raised birds harvested. Over past years 80 percent of birds harvested have been pen-raised and 20 percent wild.

Hunting Handbook review and development plan

• Director Leif has asked that a formal process for review of the Hunting and Fishing Handbook be put in place. This will involve assigning specific pages to staff for review to get a more controlled and concentrated edit process.
• Another point of discussion was potentially splitting the waterfowl information out of the Hunting Handbook to make an earlier publication time for the Handbook. Commissioner Kessler encouraged staff to continue having one central publication for all information.

2009 aerial antelope survey results

• Andy Lindbloom shared information on Region 2’s survey. The aerial survey gives a very good estimate of antelope population. About 13-14 percent of the antelope population is in Region 2. Last year about a 5 percent decrease in population. Corson County has highest density in region, and it is down about 30 percent. Dewey saw about a 10 percent increase. Overall, population in region is doing well and there have been few problems reported with antelope numbers
• John Kanta shared information on Region 1. Survey looks at adult population, and later in the fall the fawn population is factored in. Down about 19 percent in the region. The buck to doe ration is running around 49:1. This ratio is down, but still one of the best among states with good antelope populations. If factor the number of breeding does have potential for 22,000 fawns. If harvest 15,000 this fall would still have increasing population.

2009 Mountain lion hunter survey report

• Survey sent to Black Hills residents. 9,000 plus surveys were sent with follow up to those who did not respond
• Data is being analyzed by Colo. State Univ. researchers and has not been completed yet and should be ready by the end of the summer

GFP Secretaries Conference

• Many of the GFP secretaries were in Pierre for a training conference held at the Eagle’s Nest Bed and Breakfast. The secretaries had the opportunity to introduce themselves to the Commission

Petition to increase daily limits on shooting preserves  

• Brett Koenecke brought forward a petition as council for the preserve operators. A group of operators is interested in raising the limit from 15 roosters per day to 20 per day. He requested a formal hearing in August for finalization. It would be mid September before the rule would become effective.
• Commission approved this proposal and will consider for finalization in August at the Mobridge meeting.
• Commission also proposed raising the fee for tags to shooting preserves.

Open Forum for Public comments

• The Commission allowed time for Dr. Tom Huhnerkoch to give a short presentation on mountain lions. His presentation addressed his concerns with what he termed misrepresentation of the mountain lion in the population.

Public Hearing on Finalizations

Finalizations

CSP Antelope Hunting Season

• No changes were recommended from the proposal.
• Season finalized as proposed.

Antelope Hunting Season

• Staff recommended these changes from proposal: In unit 45B adjust the number of “Any Antelope and Doe/Fawn” licenses from 30 to 20, and the number of 2-tag “Dow/Fawn” licenses from 30 to 20; adjust the number of licenses in 27A from 300 to 500 and for nonresidents from 24 to 40.
• Commission approved amendment and finalized season as amended.

East River Deer Hunting Season

• No staff recommended changes from proposal.
• Season finalized as proposed

Refuge Deer Hunting Season

• No staff recommended changes from proposal.
• Season finalized as proposed.

Early Fall Canada Goose Hunting Season

• No staff recommended changes from proposal.
• Season finalized as proposed.

Markings and Zones – McCook Lake

• No staff recommended changes from proposal.
• A number of people commented both in favor and opposed to this proposal
• Staff does not feel the “no wake” zone will impact the ability of people to boat on the lake
• Commission pointed out this is a very unique body of water where there are safety concerns. There are also concerns that the use of the lake should be for all the public and restrictions based on the good of the entire public and not strictly the lakefront property owners and that this would open up a lot of concern on the part of the public on how their specific bodies of water should be zoned
• Commission approved the proposal

Mountain Lion Hunting Season

• No staff recommended changes from proposal.
• This season was initially proposed in May and public comment was taken in both June and July.
• Director Leif pointed out that a change in harvest limit does affect research, but added that any change in conditions including weather, number of hunters, lion population all can affect ongoing research. These are things that staff can overcome as they work with conditions and their research
• Commission made an amendment motion to decrease the total number from 40 to 35 with idea that there is a good chance to reach that harvest limit with the normal 50-50 take of lions. The amendment failed on a 4-2 vote (must have five votes to pass)
• The original proposal then passed on a 7-0 vote.

Next meeting information

August 6 & 7 in Mobridge
Wrangler Inn @ 820 W Grand Crossing