· Commercial Vendors Invited to the S.D. Outdoor Expo
· Officials explore trail possibilities to Mount Rushmore
· A New Year Means New Hunting, Fishing and Boat Licenses
· Boating Scholarship Available
For immediate release
Media Contacts: State Fair – Joni Kiple 605-353-7340
Game, Fish and Parks – Chuck Schlueter 605-773-3904
Commercial Vendors Invited to the S.D. Outdoor Expo
HURON, S.D.-- Outdoor enthusiasts and those looking to experience the outdoors for the first time will come together to experience interactive exhibits and activities at the S.D. Outdoor Expo on May 17-18 in Huron on the S.D. State Fairgrounds.
Commercial vendors are invited to be a part of this outdoor event. Vendors will have the chance to display and sell their products to an estimated crowd of 10,000 people. The attendees will be those new to the outdoors who are looking to learn new skills and current outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for the latest in outdoor equipment.
The S.D. Outdoor Expo is an outstanding way to market a positive image of the hunter, angler and outdoor enthusiast by demonstrating how these groups contribute both environmentally and economically to a healthy South Dakota.
Booths are available both indoors and outdoors. Indoor booths start at $200 and outdoor booths start at $100. All vendors, with the exception of food vendors, must have a product related to the outdoors. In keeping with the interactive, educational environment of the Outdoor Expo, vendors are encouraged to include hands-on, interactive activities as part of their booth.
Vendors who are interested in participating in the Expo should contact Joni Kiple at the S.D. State Fair office at (605) 353-7340 or joni.kiple@state.sd.us. A vendor application can also be downloaded from the Web site, www.sdoutdoorexpo.com. Vendors are encouraged to return their applications as soon as possible, as spaces are expected to fill up quickly.
Major sponsors of the Outdoor Expo are: The Weatherby Foundation, Spader’s RV Center, S.D. Parks & Wildlife Foundation, S.D. Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Wildlife Protection Inc. and Scheels.
The S.D. Outdoor Expo is a FREE event that strives to teach an understanding and appreciation for conservation and outdoor recreation and its importance in preserving our outdoor heritage. Anyone who is currently involved in the outdoors or would like to learn more is invited to attend the first S.D. Outdoor Expo, May 17-18. For more information, please call the S.D. State Fair office at (605) 353-7340.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Doug Hofer, (605) 773-3391
Officials explore trail possibilities to Mount Rushmore
PIERRE, S.D. – A group of state, federal and nonprofit entities is exploring a possible link between the 114-mile George S. Mickelson Trail and South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
State Park Director Doug Hofer said the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the USDA Forest Service, the National Park Service and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society are working cooperatively to develop a feasibility study for the project. The study will identify potential trail routes, as well as potential environmental and engineering challenges. A federal Transportation Enhancement grant was recently awarded to complete the study. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society has committed the necessary matching funds.
“One of the key issues will be identifying potential trail routes,” said Black Hills National Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien. “This proposal presents a great opportunity, but we will need to give careful consideration to the important values of the Peter Norbeck Wildlife Preserve.”
The link would be an extension of the existing George S. Mickelson Trail which was completed in 1998. The trail spans the entire length of the Black Hills and is open to non-motorized users. If the extension becomes a reality, Mount Rushmore National Memorial Superintendent Gerard Baker said it could also connect with an 8-mile hiking trail system that is proposed at the national memorial.
“The system will provide new opportunities for visitors to experience and learn about the natural and cultural resources of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and its representative central Black Hills landscape,” Baker said.
Hofer said the group is currently seeking a qualified firm to conduct the feasibility study. The group’s goal is to complete the engineering and environmental study in 2008.
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A New Year Means New Hunting, Fishing and Boat Licenses
PIERRE, S.D.—For South Dakota’s outdoor enthusiasts, a new year brings with it the need for a variety of new licenses.
South Dakota’s 2007 general hunting, trapping and fishing licenses expired on Jan. 31. That means people who want to take advantage of the state’s hunting and fishing resources will need new licenses for 2008. The 2008 licenses are good through Jan. 31, 2009.
The need for a new license is particularly important for anglers who like to go ice fishing. “A valid fishing license is essential before you go out on the ice,” said John Murphy, S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department Conservation Officer for Hughes County.
Hunters need to be checking their licenses, too. South Dakota’s Canada Goose hunting season continues until Feb. 8 in Unit 2 which includes most of the counties on either side of the Missouri River. Hunters who take part in that season after Jan. 31 must have a 2008 waterfowl license and South Dakota Migratory Bird Certification. The 2007 Federal Waterfowl Stamp is valid through June 30, 2008, so a new stamp need not be purchased yet.
A valid 2008 hunting license is also required for the light goose conservation order that starts on Feb. 10. The South Dakota Migratory Bird Certification is required for this season, but not the Federal Waterfowl Stamp.
Boat licenses in South Dakota are sold in one- and three-year increments that need to be renewed at the first of the year. “Take the time now to check whether your boat license needs to be renewed,” Murphy said. “Doing it now beats being disappointed this spring the first time you back up along the boat ramp and remember that your boat’s not properly licensed.”
Boating licenses and registrations are sold through county treasurer’s offices. General hunting and fishing licenses can be obtained through retail license agents or on the GFP Web site at www.sdgfp.info. A statewide list of license agents is also available through the Web site.
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Boating Scholarship Available
PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota college students who know something about boating may be able to use that knowledge to earn a college scholarship.
The Northern Association of Boating Administrators, in association with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, is offering a $1,000 scholarship to students enrolled full-time in a two- or four-year college or university.
Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a declared major in a recreational boating safety-related field like wildlife and fisheries, law enforcement, criminal justice, natural resources, environmental science, education, public relations, marketing or journalism.
Applications must submit a complete application, two letters of recommendation--one faculty, one boating safety professional--their resume and a typewritten double-spaced essay not exceeding two pages in length on topics noted on the application form to their state's respective boating law administrator. In South Dakota, applications should be sent to Game, Fish and Parks Department Boating Law Enforcement Specialist Bob Brown, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501-3182.
The deadline is April 1, 2008. Further details are available at www.nasbla.org/naba.php.
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