· Turkey Hunters Need to be Watchful, Wary for Safety’s Sake
· Elk, Bighorn Sheep Hunting Seasons Finalized
Turkey Hunters Need to be Watchful, Wary for Safety’s Sake
PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota’s robust turkey population has proven to be popular with hunters. Consequently, when they take to the field this weekend, turkey hunters should use caution in order to have a safe hunting experience. The spring turkey season starts on April 12.
“Hunters shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that they’re in the woods alone,” said Curt Robertson, hunter safety coordinator for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “A hunter who makes that assumption is more likely to be involved in an accident.”
Robertson noted that through the years there has been progress on making turkey hunting a safer sport. “The hunter who is aware of his surroundings and constantly watchful is the one who’s going to stay safe,” Robertson said.
Some safety rules for hunting wild turkeys include:
· The colors of the gobbler turkey include red, black white and blue. Eliminate those colors from your hunting outfit.
· The safest calling spot is in open timber rather than thick brush. The key to success and safety is eliminating movement, not complete concealment.
· Select a tree trunk, rock or stump that is wider than your shoulders and higher than your head to place your back against when calling a turkey.
· Be alert when other birds, crows or your turkey fall silent. That may be the sign of another hunter in the area.
· Don’t alert another hunter to your presence by moving, waving your arms or making turkey sounds. While remaining in place, speak in a loud, clear voice to announce your presence.
· Don’t stalk your quarry. More than half of all turkey hunting accidents happen when one hunter mistakenly stalks another.
· Always assume that any call you hear is another hunter.
· Don’t shoot until you can clearly see the entire turkey and determine its sex.
· Always wear hunter orange when going into the woods, leaving the woods or walking in the woods.
· While sitting and waiting for a turkey, put hunter orange on a nearby tree.
· Wrap hunter orange around any turkey you take or while moving your decoys.
“The most important key to safety is making sure your target is a turkey before firing,” Robertson said. “A dark object that suddenly appears behind some bushes or moves along a ridge may be your hunting partner.”
A copy of the rules governing spring turkey hunting is included in the license package that each licensee receives. Hunters who need another copy can get one at the GFP Web site, www.sdgfp.info. On the home page highlight “Wildlife, Hunting, Fishing” and click on the link to “Hunting.” Then click on the link to “Turkey” and then click on “Spring Turkey Regulations.” Copies of the regulations may also be obtained through the mail by phoning the GFP Information Office at (605) 773-3485.
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Elk, Bighorn Sheep Hunting Seasons Finalized
BROOKINGS, S.D.—Reacting to the success of a management plan designed to reduce the size of the Black Hills elk herd, the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved a 2008 hunting season that offers fewer elk licenses. The commission also finalized archery elk, prairie elk and bighorn sheep hunting seasons at its April meeting in Brookings.
At the meeting, Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel reminded commissioners that the intent of the proposed Black Hills elk hunting season was to back off the harvest because of a reduction in the herd size. The season approved by the commission has 100 fewer “any elk” licenses and 300 fewer “antlerless elk” licenses than were offered in 2007.
Black Hills season dates for “any elk” licenses are Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. Two “antlerless elk” seasons will run Oct. 1 through Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 through Oct. 31. A December season for unsuccessful “antlerless elk’ license holders will run Dec. 1 through Dec. 15.
Thirty-five fewer licenses—five “any elk” and 30 “antlerless elk”—will be offered in the archery elk hunting season. The dates for the Black Hills archery units are Sept. 1 through Sept. 30. The dates for Unit 30A in Gregory County are Aug. 15 through Nov. 14 and Nov. 24 through Dec. 31.
The dates for Unit 30A for both the archery and prairie elk hunting seasons had to be adjusted this year to coincide with the season dates in Boyd County, Neb.
There was no adjustment in the number of licenses offered in the prairie elk hunting season. Season dates include Sept. 1 through Oct. 12 and Oct. 18 through Dec. 31 in Bennett County, Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 in portions of Butte County and Aug. 14 through Nov. 14 and Nov. 24 through Dec. 31 in portions of Gregory County and Boyd County, Neb.
Commissioners also finalized a longer bighorn sheep hunting season. The 2008 season was extended to run from Oct. 4 through Nov. 30. This year’s season will also have a new unit with an extra license. The new unit is located in Custer County west of Highway 79 excluding the fenced portion of Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. Four licenses are allocated in the original bighorn sheep unit of Pennington County west of Highway 79 excluding Mount Rushmore National Monument.
Vandel told commissioners that this year bighorn sheep hunting license applicants will need to specify the unit for which they wish to apply.
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