Kirschenmann GFP’s New Wildlife Program Administrator

PIERRE, S.D.--A wealth of research goes into the setting of South Dakota’s hunting seasons. The Game, Fish and Parks Department has tapped its senior upland wildlife biologist to lead that effort.

Tom Kirschenmann, Huron, has been named the department’s wildlife program administrator for game management. Kirschenmann fills the opening created when Tony Leif was appointed director of GFP’s Wildlife Division.

Kirschenmann’s name may be familiar to hunters who pay particular attention to South Dakota’s pheasant season. In his capacity as senior upland wildlife biologist, Kirschenmann was responsible for overseeing the research that went into the publication of the annual pheasant brood survey report, a highly-anticipated account of how the state’s ring-neck population fares from one year to the next.

That experience is sure to serve Kirschenmann well in his new position where he will direct all game management and research, gather management information used in setting hunting seasons, oversee survey and harvest data and organize the information used in the development of recommendations made to the Game, Fish and Parks Commission. Kirschenmann will also be responsible for directing the department’s game management funds and budgets for contract research projects and be the department’s point person dealing with disease issues.

“I look forward to working with our department staff, the commission, landowners and sportsmen as we face challenges and seize opportunities affecting game populations of today and years to come,” Kirschenmann said.

A member of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department since January of 2005, Kirschenmann previously served for almost 10 years as a regional wildlife biologist for Pheasants Forever, serving territories that ranged from Illinois and Indiana to South Dakota and Wyoming.

A native of Eureka, Kirschenmann earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wildlife management from South Dakota State University, Brookings.

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