·        National Conservation Award Presented to GFP Director

·        Nonresident Trapper Applications Available

·        State Park Employees Honored by Parks Association

·        2008 State Park Entrance Licenses Available October 1

 

National Conservation Award Presented to GFP Director
 

PIERRE, S.D.—Doug Hansen, Wildlife Division director of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department, has been awarded the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Seth Gordon Award. 

 

The national award is presented annually to an outstanding individual who has been dedicated to making progressive and effective contributions to natural resource management in North America. This national award was presented at the annual meeting of the association held in Louisville, Ky.

 

After earning a BA in zoology at the University of South Dakota and an MS in fisheries management at Iowa State University, Hansen began his career 36 years ago when he was hired as the department’s first watershed and pollution biologist. For 18 years, Hansen’s work involved research on water quality of glacial prairie lakes, recreational use of prairie streams and evaluation of walleye stocking in glacial lakes. 

 

He was appointed director of the Division of Wildlife in 1989. His tenure as director has been marked by an emphasis on strategic thinking, communicating effectively, utilization of human dimensions information, customer service and management effectiveness.  Hansen’s efforts helped develop and fund the highly successful “Outdoor Campus” program which instructs almost 20,000 young people annually in outdoor skills and understanding conservation.

 

“Doug’s career has been centered on a love of the outdoors and a dedication to making sure that as many people as possible could enjoy the state’s resources,” said GFP Secretary Jeff Vonk. “I am thankful that the association has chosen to honor Doug with this very prestigious honor on the eve of his retirement.”

Hansen has a long history of working with the association. As the longtime chairman of the association’s Fish and Water Resources Policy Committee, he provided the leadership which resulted in the landmark National Fish Habitat Action Plan, which is integral to the resolution of problems found in aquatic ecosystems nationwide. He also led a committee that was successful in securing funding for studies that have led to approval of drugs and chemicals used in public and private fish hatcheries. Active in many other committees over the years, Hansen currently serves on both the Invasive Species and Leadership and Professional Development committees.

Hansen, a past president of the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and vice chairman of the federally chartered Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, was instrumental in developing important initiatives for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s national fish program and in rebuilding the national fish hatchery system.

 

“His skill in working with legislators at all levels, to impart to them an understanding of and the need for conservation is legendary among his co-workers,” said Wayne MacCallum, director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “In this forum he has been a true champion for the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. He is a builder, a leader, a friend, and an inspiration to so many of us, in so many ways.”
 
Nominations for the Seth Gordon Award come from state fish and wildlife agencies. Qualifications for award winners require that the nominee “shall have made diverse and valuable contributions to conservation objectives over a period of at least 20 years.”


The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks out on important fish and wildlife issues. It can be found on the Web at www.fishwildlife.org.

 

--GFP—

 

Nonresident Trapper Applications Available

 

PIERRE, S.D.—Applications are now available for nonresidents who wish to trap furbearers in South Dakota.

 

All applications will be handled by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department Licensing Office in Pierre at 412 W. Missouri Ave. The $250 licenses are valid through Jan. 31, 2008. Applications can be printed from the GFP Web site at this address: http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Applications/PDFs/FurBearerNRAppl.pdf.

Applicants may also write the licensing office for a copy, or call (605) 773-3393.

 

Rules governing the taking of furbearers by nonresidents were finalized by the GFP Commission at its August meeting in Watertown. The rules were needed after the last session of the S.D. Legislature endorsed trapping by nonresidents.

 

According to the rules adopted by the GFP Commission, properly licensed nonresident trappers may take raccoon, mink, weasel, beaver and muskrat after Dec. 1 and bobcats from Jan. 12 through Feb. 15.

 

--GFP--

 

State Park Employees Honored by Parks Association

 

PIERRE, SD - The South Dakota Parks and Recreation Association (SDPRA) recently honored one past and two present South Dakota State Park employees. Don Gannon was presented with the Hall of Fame Award, Steve Papendick was given the Professional Service Award and Eric Vanderstouwe received the Young Professional Award. All three awards were given during the SDPRA annual conference in Aberdeen Sept. 18-20.

 

Gannon, now retired near Hot Springs, worked in various park management positions across the state during his career. He spent the last 14 years, before retiring in 2000, working for South Dakota State Parks and finished his career as the district park supervisor for Angostura Recreation Area. Gannon was a charter member of SDPRA when it was formed in 1965 and was honored with the Hall of Fame Award for the many contributions he made over his career.

 

Papendick of Hot Springs has worked for Game, Fish and Parks for 27 years. He is currently the assistant park manager at Angostura Recreation Area. Papendick has been a member of SDPRA for 23 years and during that time has been a membership board member and been involved in maintenance school planning. He was given the Professional Service Award for the numerous roles he has taken on in SDPRA and at Angostura Recreation Area.

 

Vanderstouwe of Beresford is currently the park manager at Newton Hills State Park. He began his career in park management as assistant park manager at Snake Creek Recreation Area in 2000. He was nominated for the Young Professional Award because of the exemplary job he has done as membership coordinator for SDPRA as well as for the excellent service he has provided in the parks and recreation field.

 

“The parks and recreation association relies on its members to run and support the organization,” said Lynn Spomer, SDPRA board member. “All three of these people take the SDPRA mission to heart and work hard to promote the growth, status and unity of parks and recreation opportunities across the state.”

 

-GFP-

 

2008 State Park Entrance Licenses Available October 1

 

The 2008 annual park entrance license for South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas will be available for purchase Oct. 1.

 

The 2008 park entrance license, which features a picture of kids playing in a lake, is $23 and is valid through May 15, 2009. Purchasers of one license can also buy a second at half price for $11.50. The license is required for entrance into designated state parks, recreation areas and lakeside use areas, although it does not cover camping costs or additional fees.

 

Entrance licenses can be purchased at local state park offices or by calling the South Dakota Division of Parks and Recreation at (605) 773-3391. Licenses can also be purchased online using a credit card. To place an order, visit www.SDParks.info and click on "Shop GFP Online" along the left side of the screen.

 

- GFP -