South Dakota GFP News for December 10, 2008
2009 Spring Turkey Season Set
PIERRE, S.D. – The Game Fish and Parks Commission tackled an issue that has resurfaced at meetings several times over the past decade, and in the end decided “no change”, for the present time, was the best course of action.
The 2009 Spring Turkey season will proceed with hunters still being able to use rifles in most of South Dakota, including the Black Hills.
A proposed change that would have made it illegal for hunters to use rifles while turkey hunting was tabled with the promise that it will be revisited next year.
“I don’t think we have gotten enough input from the hunters,” said Commission member Tim Kessler. “I would like to see us make sure the nearly 10% of west river and Black Hills turkey hunters who use rifles get the opportunity to weigh in on this issue. We can look at this next year after we have heard from them.”
The GF&P Commission directed the Wildlife Division to survey spring turkey hunters over the next year to gather additional input, as well as providing information to all spring turkey hunters in 2009 by means of an insert included with their spring turkey licenses.
The current restriction against the use of rifles will remain in effect for the Prairie Spring Turkey counties of Minnehaha, Brookings, Davison, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hutchinson, Jerauld, Moody, Sanborn, Turner, Marshall, Roberts, Codington and Hanson
The Commission did increase the number of tags available for the 2009 season by increasing the number of two-tag licenses in certain hunting units.
The Commission also chose to combine Perkins County into one hunting unit, Roberts and Marshall Counties into one unit, and give hunters the option for choosing a preference point instead of applying for a specific unit.
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2009 Baitfish Regulations Change for SD Anglers
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota anglers should be aware of several changes to the 2009 baitfish regulations.
The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission took action to limit the species and numbers of baitfish, and other types of bait, anglers can take on a given day.
Anglers can still trap or net most of the common species of baitfish, tiger salamanders, leopard frogs, leeches, crayfish and freshwater shrimp.
“We are trying to split out the baitfish regulations for anglers from those for commercial bait dealers,” said John Lott, Game Fish and Parks fisheries section leader. “Anglers can still trap and use the most common baits.”
The Commission also set daily and possession limits for angler-caught baitfish, crayfish, leeches and freshwater shrimp at 12 dozen, and tiger salamanders and leopard frogs at two dozen.
Anglers will also have five days to notify a conservation officer after they have discovered a missing or stolen bait trap. The period of the year when anglers have to check bait traps at least every 48 hours has been shortened to May 15th to September 14th and anglers are required to check traps every 96 hours from September 15th to May 14th.
A comprehensive list of legal baitfish will be printed in the 2009 South Dakota Fishing Handbook, which will be available in mid-January.
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Fishing Regulation Changes
PIERRE, S.D. - Several changes to fishing regulations will affect anglers in 2009.
The Game Fish and Parks Commission took action to clean up language regarding the spearing of game fish. Several anglers had contacted GFP officials asking about the legality of taking Chinook salmon in the fall with a bow and arrow. Bow and arrow will now be a legal method of taking game fish from sunrise to sunset, June 15th to the last day of February in waters already open to spearing game fish.
The Commission also voted to allow the stocking of the non-native fish, Tilapia, in indoor aquaculture facilities without prior commission approval. Stocking Tilapia, or any other non-native fish into state waters is still prohibited without Commission approval.
Lake herring and lake whitefish will no longer be included in the daily limit of trout and salmon for the inland waters of the Missouri River. Anglers will be allowed to keep incidentally caught herring and whitefish without affecting an angler’s daily limit for salmon and trout.
The Minnehaha County lakes of Beaver and Diamond will now have the same daily limits and length restrictions as most other lakes in South Dakota. Anglers on those lakes will be able to keep four walleyes per day with one of those fish being 20 inches or greater.
Angler netting rainbow smelt will be able to use lift nets and cast nets in 2009. The dimensions for nets used to take smelt will be the same as those for taking baitfish.
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Spring Light Goose Season Set
PIERRE, S.D. –Sportsmen will once again get the opportunity to hunt light geese in South Dakota this spring.
The South Dakota light goose conservation order will run from February 14 through May 3, 2009, will be open state-wide and will allow hunters a daily limit of 20 geese with no possession limit.
A “conservation order” differs from a regular hunting season because it is intended to be a more direct approach to control of a wildlife population with some liberal restrictions. Snow geese numbers are high and the birds are damaging lands they nest on in Canada.
Hunters will be able to use electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells.
The light goose season includes snow, blue and Ross’ geese.
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Resident Big Game Depredation Pool Hunt Open
PIERRE, S.D. – Applications for South Dakota’s 2008-09 resident big game depredation pool are now available. This is a no-cost, on-line application program only.
"Depredation hunts allow us to promptly respond to landowners who have large numbers of animals congregating on crops and forage, and when other methods of reducing or eliminating damage have proven ineffective,” said Wildlife Damage Management Administrator Art Smith of Pierre. “It is an especially valuable tool in cases of severe damage that cannot be controlled by any other method, as the hunt targets the specific animals causing damage."
The depredation drawing is used to establish pools of hunters who can be called upon for special hunts intended to minimize damage to private crops or forage. The need for the hunter pools is usually closely related to winter weather - a mild winter has meant few calls for a depredation hunt, and during extremely harsh winters, entire lists have been contacted.
When applying for the depredation pool, hunters can choose which county, or counties, in addition to which species they are interested in hunting. The species are deer, turkey, and antelope. There is no fee associated with applying for the depredation pool. Applications for the depredation hunt are available on-line only.
“Hunters who are called must be immediately available to participate in a depredation hunt,” Smith said. “Because of this, it is recommended that applicants only apply for those counties in which they reside or live closest to in order to minimize travel time and other difficulties associated with the getting to a hunting area. If depredation hunts are necessary, they will be authorized between Dec. 1 and March 31.
To apply, interested hunters need to enter the Game, Fish and Parks website at www.sdgfp.info, and then navigate to the “What’s New” section or go to http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Applications/Index.htm. Paper applications will not be available for this season.
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South Dakota Muzzleloader Deer Season Opens Saturday
PIERRE, S.D. - Starting this Saturday, South Dakota hunters will get another chance to bag a deer.
The muzzleloader deer season will run December 13, 2008-January 31, 2009. All “any deer” tags will convert to “antlerless deer” after December 31, 2008. Hunters participating in the season must use a muzzleloader with open or peep sites and it must be capable of shooting a .44 caliber bullet or larger.
Individuals may have up to five licenses for this season. Antlerless deer licenses are valid statewide and may be purchased either through the mail by paper application or by online application through the Game, Fish and Parks Department Web site at www.sdgfp.info. Hunters should allow at least 7-10 days for the processing and return of licenses when applying.
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