SOUTH DAKOTA GFP NEWS FOR 1-26-09

 

 

 

Special Buck Seasons Set

 

PIERRE, S.D. –The Game Fish and Parks Commission made no changes to a coveted big game tag at their January meeting in Pierre.

 

The “Special Buck” licenses, will remain at the same level as they were in 2008.  These licenses are valid on private land only for either the East River Deer season or West River Deer season.

 

Five hundred resident and 500 nonresident any deer licenses will be available for the West River Deer Season, and 400 resident any deer licenses for the East River Deer Season. The license fee is $155 for residents and $505 for non-residents.

 

“The Special Buck tags are very popular with sportsman because it does not restrict the hunter to a specific unit,” said Tom Kirschenman, GFP Terrestrial Resources Chief.  “Because these licenses are valid on private lands, hunters are required to have landowner permission as part of the application process.”

 

The Special Buck licenses are good for the respective regular firearms season.  Applications for the licenses will be available in mid March and are due by April 24.

 

-GFP—

 

GFP Changes Two Refuges and Buoy Placement Requirements

 

PIERRE, S.D. – The Game Fish and Parks Commission proposed changes to two state refuges on the Missouri River and one in Clark County.

 

Under the proposal, Antelope Lake State Game Bird Refuge would be changed to a State Waterfowl Refuge to provide sportsmen to upland game hunting opportunities. Landowners in the area of the refuge have been experiencing pheasant depredation and are encouraging the change. Waterfowl hunting will still be prohibited at Antelope Lake.

 

The Sutton Bottom and Latin Draw State Waterfowl Refuges on Lake Oahe would have their western boundaries move from the water’s edge to the center of the reservoir.

 

In an attempt to control unauthorized placement of buoys on public waters, the GFP Commission also proposed that only citizens who have authorization from the GFP Secretary may place buoys in public water.

 

The season proposal will be the topic of a public hearing when commissioners gather for their March 5-6 meeting at the AmericInn in Fort Pierre. More information on the proposal can be accessed on the GFP Web site at www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm.

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on the proposal may do so up until 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must have the sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the public record.

 

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, March 5.

-GFP—

 

 

 

 

Wholesale Bait Dealer Changes

 

PIERRE, S.D. – A series of meetings between South Dakota Game Fish and Parks staff and wholesale bait dealers within the state has led to proposals that may change the way the bait dealers will do business.

 

“We had good discussions with the bait dealers across the state and these changes are a result of suggestions from those meetings,” said John Lott, Chief of Aquatic Resources for Game Fish and Parks.  “These changes make it easier for bait dealers to comply with the law and address current issues facing the bait business.”

 

Bait dealers would no longer be required to display their full business address on their vehicle. In addition the size of the lettering required to identify their business vehicles will decrease from 4 to 3 inches.

 

Bait dealers would be required to have the word “bait” be included as part of the identification on vehicles or bait tanks.

 

In addition to the rule change for vehicle identification, other rule changes affecting bait dealers were proposed at the December GFP meeting and have been a part of discussions with the bait dealers. These rule proposals will also be acted on at the March Commission meeting.

 

Proposals involving changes to commercial bait regulations will be the topic of a public hearing when commissioners gather for their March 5-6 meeting at the AmericInn in Fort Pierre. More information on the proposal can be accessed on the GFP Web site at www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm.

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on the proposals may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.  Comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must have the sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the public record.

 

Comments may also be presented in person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, March 5.

 

-GFP--