Oahe Downstream Hosts Kids’ Fishing Derby This Weekend

 

PIERRE, S.D. – Kids can join in a morning of fun-filled fishing, food and prizes at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre on Saturday, June 16.

 

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Marina. Fishing begins as soon as all kids are registered and goes to 12 p.m. Immediately following fishing, prizes will be awarded for the biggest, smallest and most interesting catches of the morning and a snack will be served. 

 

Kids ages 16 and under can participate in the event. Children ages eight and under must be accompanied by an adult during the event. Please bring your own fishing poles and lures. A limited number of fishing poles will be available at the park.

 

There is no cost to participate in the fishing derby, but a daily or annual park entrance license is required. Oahe Downstream Recreation Area is located five miles north of Ft. Pierre on Highway 1806, on the south side of Oahe Dam.

 

Sponsors for prizes include Burger King, McDonalds, Hardees, Subway, Videoland and Lariat Lanes. The snack is being provided by Wal-Mart.

 

For more information, questions or to register, call Oahe Downstream at (605) 223-7722 and talk with Emily. For additional information on South Dakota State Parks, visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

 

-GFP-

 

Deadline Nears For 10th Anniversary Trail Trek Early-Bird Registration

LEAD, S.D. – Only one month remains for cyclists to qualify for early-bird registration for the 10th Annual Mickelson Trail Trek. The deadline for early-bird registration is July 15 for the supported three-day ride, which begins on Friday, Sept. 14.

 

Growing popularity of the event has organizers encouraging riders to get their registration in as soon as possible. In 2006, 435 people rode in the Trek, including riders from 30 states, Washington, D.C and Canada.

 

“This is the 10th anniversary ride,” said Shannon Percy, manager of the Mickelson Trail. “We are expecting a large turnout of riders and supporters. We have several special events planned to commemorate the event.”

 

Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. According to Percy, at this time there is no limit on the number of riders this year.

 

Pre-registration can be completed online by visiting www.MickelsonTrail.com and by following the "Trail Trek" link. Materials for registering through the mail can also be downloaded from the trail website or by calling the Black Hills Trails office at (605) 584-3896.

 

Riders on the Trail Trek will cover 109 miles of the trail over three days, from Friday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 16. The $150 registration fee includes the trail pass, shuttle service, commemorative souvenirs, refreshments and some meals during each day’s ride. Riders are responsible for accommodations and mechanical support. The ride is open to all bicyclists 14 years of age or older. Riders registering after the July 15 early-bird deadline will need to pay an extra $25. 

 

The Trail Trek highlights the George S. Mickelson as it winds through the heart of the Black Hills from Edgemont to Lead/Deadwood. The ride began as a celebration of the completion of the rails-to-trails project. It continues today to introduce new bicyclists to the trail and thank supporters for their long-standing enthusiasm for the Black Hills trail.

 

For more information on the Mickelson Trail or the Trail Trek, visit www.MickelsonTrail.com or contact the Black Hills Trail office at (605) 584-3896.

 

-GFP-

 

Make Plans to Attend Special Events in S.D. State Parks

 

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota state parks will be holding several special events the fourth weekend in June. These activities are a great way to spend a summer day. Make plans to attend the following events:

 

·        “Liberty Trail Trot and Walk” Walk in the Park, George S. Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills, Sat., June 23 at 8 a.m. (MT). Enjoy a two-mile walk or a four-mile run on the Mickelson Trail. Starts at Sugarloaf and ends almost at Deadwood. Open to men and women of all age groups. Info: (605) 584-1113

 

·        “Red Rocks Escape” Walk in the Park, Palisades State Park near Garretson, Sat., June 23 at 4 p.m. Hear the stories of the rocks and trees as you learn the history of the area. The walk will focus on the geology of the Sioux Quartzite formations and take a look at the forces of nature that created the colorful formations. Info: (605) 594-3824

 

·        “Shannon’s Survival Hike” Walk in the Park, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton, Sat., June 23 at 9:30 a.m. Learn about Private Shannon, who became lost for two weeks near this area while on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Find out how he survived and what edible plants he used. Info: (605) 668-2985

 

·        Evening Picnic, Games and Lantern Tour, Fort Sisseton Historical State Park near Lake City, Sat., June 23 at 6 p.m. Spend an evening a Fort Sisseton – explore the fort grounds and buildings as you learn about a piece of South Dakota history. Info: (605) 448-5474

 

·        “Healthy, Incredible Edibles” Walk in the Park, LaFramboise Island Nature Area in Pierre, Sat., June 23 at 6:30 p.m. Take a walk along the shore of the Missouri River and learn about healthy snacks you can eat and make. Info: (605) 223-7722

 

·        Family Fun Days, Shadehill Recreation Area near Lemmon. Sat., June 23. Info: (605) 374-5114

 

·        Family Fun Days, Pickerel Lake Recreation Area near Waubay. Fri., June 22 through Sun., June 24. Info: (605) 486-4753

 

The programs are open to all ages. There is no cost to participate in any of the events except the Liberty Trail Trot and Walk, and participants in that event also need a trail pass. Park entrance licenses are required at all other parks except LaFramboise Island.

 

The Walk in the Park programs are part of a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Park staff and volunteers lead the programs, which are co-sponsored by the S.D. Departments of Health. Visitors are encouraged to dress according to the weather and to wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes.

 

For more information on activities in the S.D. state parks, visit www.SDparks.info, contact the individual park office or call (605) 773-3391.

 

- GFP -

 

Third Mountain Lion Season Approved

 

PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved the state’s third consecutive mountain lion hunting season at its June meeting in Pierre. In the process, commissioners and GFP staff were reminded that mountain lions continue to spark keen interest in the citizens of South Dakota.

 

A lengthy public hearing offered commissioners a wide variety of opinions about the lions and the hunting season that has been in place for the past two years. Those opinions ranged from shutting down the season to protect the big cats to shooting even more of the mountain lions.

 

Commissioners finalized a season that GFP personnel believe will be consistent with the department’s goal of maintaining a sustainable mountain lion population in the Black Hills. The 2007 season will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 or until 35 lions or 15 female lions are harvested. In 2006 the season limits were 25 lions or eight females.

 

Another change in the 2007 is creation of one statewide unit instead of using Black Hills and prairie units. GFP Secretary Jeff Vonk explained that the department’s management plan for lions does not extend beyond the Black Hills. “The decision to go with a statewide season is, in essence, a decision to manage the lion population only in the Black Hills,” Vonk said.  “We are not going to manage beyond the Hills.”

 

Using a variety of methods, GFP estimates that the current population of mountain lions in South Dakota is between 200 and 225. That population is estimated to include 15 to 25 adult males, 75 to 80 breeding females and 110 to 120 dependent young.

 

GFP estimates an annual recruitment of 62 to 66 lions into the population with documented adult mortalities of 46 in the Black Hills in 2006.

 

One indicator of the growing size of the mountain lion population is the number of lions killed by other lions. GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif said there were four documented cases of one cougar killing another in the previous 10 years. So far in 2007 there have been five such cases. “It’s another indicator of the size of the mountain lion population,” Leif said.

 

--GFP--

 

 Black Hills, West River Deer Seasons Finalized

 

PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized the Black Hills deer season at its June meeting in Pierre, eliminating the “two-point” provision and directing the GFP staff to embark on an education program to explain the change to hunters.

 

Last year, the department offered 5,500 resident and 440 nonresident “any buck with two points or more and any antlerless deer” licenses. The commission’s action means that in 2007 the department will have available 500 resident and 40 nonresident “any deer” licenses and 5,000 resident and 400 nonresident “any whitetail deer” licenses.

 

An additional 2,750 resident and 220 nonresident antlerless licenses will also be offered in 2007. A similar number of antlerless tags were offered in 2006.

 

GFP staff advised the commission to eliminate the two-point provision even though it was popular with some hunters and credited as a reason why the deer populations in the Black Hills have made a comeback.

 

George Vandel, assistant Wildlife Division director, explained to the commission that the two-point provision was one of many changes made about 10 years ago when the Black Hills deer season was overhauled. “We made that change in negotiation with hunters and sportsmen’s groups,” Vandel said, “but we made it clear at the time that one day the two-point rule would need to be eliminated.”

 

GFP personnel in the Black Hills estimate that the two-point rule does not protect very many deer. According to information provided to the commission, the rule protects about 10 percent of  bucks who “spike” in their first year. Another 70 percent develop “fork horns” in their first year with 20 percent developing “basket racks.”

 

“Protecting deer that fail to produce a forked antler in their first year as an adolescent buck is counterproductive to managing the Black Hills for buck quality,” said game program administrator Tony Leif. “Our hunters have repeatedly told us they want the opportunity to harvest nice bucks in the Black Hills.”

 

Vandel told the commission that there’s no biological basis for the two point rule, noting that deer herds have made a comeback in the Black Hills because of harvest restrictions and limited licenses. If the rule is eliminated, Vandel said, “They’re not going to see any difference in the deer herd.”

 

The 2007 Black Hills deer hunting season will run from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.

 

At the meeting the commission also finalized the West River deer season with small adjustments in the number of tags issued in six units that resulted in no change in the number of resident tags to be issued in 2007. The West River season will run from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 and Nov. 19 to Nov. 25 in Gregory and Mellette counties; from Nov. 3 to Nov. 25 in Dewey, Ziebach and Corson counties; and from Nov. 10 to Nov. 25 in all other units. Antlerless tags may be filled from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 and from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9, 2008.

 

--GFP--

 

Longer Fall Turkey Hunting Season Approved

 

PIERRE, S.D.—S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commissioners approved a longer fall turkey hunting season at their June meeting in Pierre.

 

The 2007 season will run from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, 2008. Asked by commissioners about the need to make the season a month longer, GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif said, “The extra days give us another tool for controlling depredation. When turkeys start to congregate in farm yards, we can use hunters to take care of those issues.”

 

Leif explained that the fall season provides an additional hunting opportunity. “We currently have abundant turkeys,” he said.

 

Other changes from the 2006 season include:

·        The availability of 17 percent more licenses in the Black Hills unit and 15 percent more licenses in the prairie units.

·        Adding new units in Brookings County east of Interstate 29 and in Brule County. Turkey hunters in Brookings County will not be allowed to use rifles.

·        Expanding the five-county unit in northeastern South Dakota to include all of Grant County.

 

--GFP—

 

East River Deer, Antelope Hunting Seasons Proposed

 

PIERRE, S.D.—In an effort to increase the harvest of antlerless deer, a proposal for the East River deer season includes the creation of an experimental “super unit.”

 

The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved the proposal at its June meeting in Pierre. The season will be the subject of a public hearing at the July meeting at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.

 

The super unit would consist of the McPherson, Edmunds, Faulk, Spink and Brown county units. Unfilled tags for any of those units would be valid anywhere in the experimental unit during the January “antlerless deer only” season dates.

 

“It’s something that we’re going to try on a one-year basis,” said Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel. He explained that pooling the five counties was a way to simplify the hunting rules, a tactic that has brought increased participation and increased success when applied to the archery antelope, muzzleloader and youth deer seasons.

 

Commissioners also approved a proposal for the antelope season. A robust antelope population resulted in a proposal that includes the availability of more hunting licenses—an increase of 1,610 resident tags over 2006 and an increase of 127 nonresident tags.

 

“We have a strong antelope population,” Vandel said.

 

With minor changes in the number of licenses offered, the commission also approved a proposal for national wildlife refuge deer hunting seasons.

 

The proposed hunting seasons will be the subject of a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting planned for July 12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A copy of the proposal the commission will consider can be accessed at http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the official record.

 

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.

 

--GFP--

 

Early Fall Canada Goose, Youth Waterfowl Seasons Proposed

 

PIERRE, S.D.—A proposal for a simplified early fall Canada goose hunting season was approved by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission at its June meeting in Pierre.

 

The proposal calls for the early season to be open in one unit that includes most of the state except for those counties along the Missouri River, portions of Fall River and Custer counties and Bennett County.

 

“This is a real simple season,” said GFP Wildife Division Assistant Director George Vandel, “making it easier for the hunters.”

 

The proposal calls for the season to run from Sept. 8 through Sept. 28 with a daily limit of five Canada geese. This will allow this season to roll right into the regular Canada goose hunting season that is planned to open on Sept. 29.

 

The commission also approved a proposal for the youth waterfowl hunting season. It would be held on Sept. 22 and 23.

 

Both seasons will be the subject of a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting planned for July 12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A copy of the proposal the commission will consider can be accessed at http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the official record.

 

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.

 

--GFP—

 

Third Mountain Lion Season Approved

 

PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved the state’s third consecutive mountain lion hunting season at its June meeting in Pierre. In the process, commissioners and GFP staff were reminded that mountain lions continue to spark keen interest in the citizens of South Dakota.

 

A lengthy public hearing offered commissioners a wide variety of opinions about the lions and the hunting season that has been in place for the past two years. Those opinions ranged from shutting down the season to protect the big cats to shooting even more of the mountain lions.

 

Commissioners finalized a season that GFP personnel believe will be consistent with the department’s goal of maintaining a sustainable mountain lion population in the Black Hills. The 2007 season will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 or until 35 lions or 15 female lions are harvested. In 2006 the season limits were 25 lions or eight females.

 

Another change in the 2007 is creation of one statewide unit instead of using Black Hills and prairie units. GFP Secretary Jeff Vonk explained that the department’s management plan for lions does not extend beyond the Black Hills. “The decision to go with a statewide season is, in essence, a decision to manage the lion population only in the Black Hills,” Vonk said.  “We are not going to manage beyond the Hills.”

 

Using a variety of methods, GFP estimates that the current population of mountain lions in South Dakota is between 200 and 225. That population is estimated to include 15 to 25 adult males, 75 to 80 breeding females and 110 to 120 dependent young.

 

GFP estimates an annual recruitment of 62 to 66 lions into the population with documented adult mortalities of 46 in the Black Hills in 2006.

 

One indicator of the growing size of the mountain lion population is the number of lions killed by other lions. GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif said there were four documented cases of one cougar killing another in the previous 10 years. So far in 2007 there have been five such cases. “It’s another indicator of the size of the mountain lion population,” Leif said.

 

--GFP--

 

 Black Hills, West River Deer Seasons Finalized

 

PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized the Black Hills deer season at its June meeting in Pierre, eliminating the “two-point” provision and directing the GFP staff to embark on an education program to explain the change to hunters.

 

Last year, the department offered 5,500 resident and 440 nonresident “any buck with two points or more and any antlerless deer” licenses. The commission’s action means that in 2007 the department will have available 500 resident and 40 nonresident “any deer” licenses and 5,000 resident and 400 nonresident “any whitetail deer” licenses.

 

An additional 2,750 resident and 220 nonresident antlerless licenses will also be offered in 2007. A similar number of antlerless tags were offered in 2006.

 

GFP staff advised the commission to eliminate the two-point provision even though it was popular with some hunters and credited as a reason why the deer populations in the Black Hills have made a comeback.

 

George Vandel, assistant Wildlife Division director, explained to the commission that the two-point provision was one of many changes made about 10 years ago when the Black Hills deer season was overhauled. “We made that change in negotiation with hunters and sportsmen’s groups,” Vandel said, “but we made it clear at the time that one day the two-point rule would need to be eliminated.”

 

GFP personnel in the Black Hills estimate that the two-point rule does not protect very many deer. According to information provided to the commission, the rule protects about 10 percent of  bucks who “spike” in their first year. Another 70 percent develop “fork horns” in their first year with 20 percent developing “basket racks.”

 

“Protecting deer that fail to produce a forked antler in their first year as an adolescent buck is counterproductive to managing the Black Hills for buck quality,” said game program administrator Tony Leif. “Our hunters have repeatedly told us they want the opportunity to harvest nice bucks in the Black Hills.”

 

Vandel told the commission that there’s no biological basis for the two point rule, noting that deer herds have made a comeback in the Black Hills because of harvest restrictions and limited licenses. If the rule is eliminated, Vandel said, “They’re not going to see any difference in the deer herd.”

 

The 2007 Black Hills deer hunting season will run from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.

 

At the meeting the commission also finalized the West River deer season with small adjustments in the number of tags issued in six units that resulted in no change in the number of resident tags to be issued in 2007. The West River season will run from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 and Nov. 19 to Nov. 25 in Gregory and Mellette counties; from Nov. 3 to Nov. 25 in Dewey, Ziebach and Corson counties; and from Nov. 10 to Nov. 25 in all other units. Antlerless tags may be filled from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 and from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9, 2008.

 

--GFP--

 

Longer Fall Turkey Hunting Season Approved

 

PIERRE, S.D.—S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commissioners approved a longer fall turkey hunting season at their June meeting in Pierre.

 

The 2007 season will run from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, 2008. Asked by commissioners about the need to make the season a month longer, GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif said, “The extra days give us another tool for controlling depredation. When turkeys start to congregate in farm yards, we can use hunters to take care of those issues.”

 

Leif explained that the fall season provides an additional hunting opportunity. “We currently have abundant turkeys,” he said.

 

Other changes from the 2006 season include:

·        The availability of 17 percent more licenses in the Black Hills unit and 15 percent more licenses in the prairie units.

·        Adding new units in Brookings County east of Interstate 29 and in Brule County. Turkey hunters in Brookings County will not be allowed to use rifles.

·        Expanding the five-county unit in northeastern South Dakota to include all of Grant County.

 

--GFP—

 

East River Deer, Antelope Hunting Seasons Proposed

 

PIERRE, S.D.—In an effort to increase the harvest of antlerless deer, a proposal for the East River deer season includes the creation of an experimental “super unit.”

 

The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved the proposal at its June meeting in Pierre. The season will be the subject of a public hearing at the July meeting at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.

 

The super unit would consist of the McPherson, Edmunds, Faulk, Spink and Brown county units. Unfilled tags for any of those units would be valid anywhere in the experimental unit during the January “antlerless deer only” season dates.

 

“It’s something that we’re going to try on a one-year basis,” said Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel. He explained that pooling the five counties was a way to simplify the hunting rules, a tactic that has brought increased participation and increased success when applied to the archery antelope, muzzleloader and youth deer seasons.

 

Commissioners also approved a proposal for the antelope season. A robust antelope population resulted in a proposal that includes the availability of more hunting licenses—an increase of 1,610 resident tags over 2006 and an increase of 127 nonresident tags.

 

“We have a strong antelope population,” Vandel said.

 

With minor changes in the number of licenses offered, the commission also approved a proposal for national wildlife refuge deer hunting seasons.

 

The proposed hunting seasons will be the subject of a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting planned for July 12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A copy of the proposal the commission will consider can be accessed at http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the official record.

 

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.

 

--GFP--

 

Early Fall Canada Goose, Youth Waterfowl Seasons Proposed

 

PIERRE, S.D.—A proposal for a simplified early fall Canada goose hunting season was approved by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission at its June meeting in Pierre.

 

The proposal calls for the early season to be open in one unit that includes most of the state except for those counties along the Missouri River, portions of Fall River and Custer counties and Bennett County.

 

“This is a real simple season,” said GFP Wildife Division Assistant Director George Vandel, “making it easier for the hunters.”

 

The proposal calls for the season to run from Sept. 8 through Sept. 28 with a daily limit of five Canada geese. This will allow this season to roll right into the regular Canada goose hunting season that is planned to open on Sept. 29.

 

The commission also approved a proposal for the youth waterfowl hunting season. It would be held on Sept. 22 and 23.

 

Both seasons will be the subject of a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting planned for July 12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A copy of the proposal the commission will consider can be accessed at http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the official record.

 

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.

 

--GFP--