SD GFP NEWS FOR 6-11-09

 

 

 

Commission Finalizes West River/Black Hills Deer Seasons

 

YANKTON, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized both the West River Deer and Black Hills Deer hunting seasons at its June meeting.


The West River Deer season will open Nov. 14 in most areas and run through Nov. 29. Gregory and Mellette counties will have a split season with one running Nov. 7-10 and the other Nov. 23-29. Corson, Dewey and Ziebach counties will have a season running from Nov. 7-29.

 

In addition, the season will re-open from Dec. 26 through Jan. 3 and all unused and unsold licenses will be valid as antlerless permits. Last year there were over 28,000 licenses sold, and over 29,000 deer harvested, with a hunter success of 55 percent.

 

The application process for this season will open in late June, and the deadline for submitting applications for the first drawing will be July 24.

 

The Black Hills Deer season will be open from Nov. 1-30. There will be 500 “any deer” licenses available to residents and 40 to nonresidents. There will be 4,500 “any whitetail deer” licenses available to residents and 360 to nonresidents. In addition, there will be 400 “any antlerless deer” and 1,800 “antlerless whitetail” licenses available to residents, and 32 “any antlerless deer” and 144 “antlerless whitetail” licenses to nonresidents.

 

Last year, there were 8,451 resident licenses issued and 722 nonresident licenses. The harvest included 2,620 whitetail bucks, 1,824 whitetail antlerless deer, 138 mule deer bucks, and 56 antlerless mule deer. Hunters reported a 51 percent success rate.


The Commission also finalized the Fall Turkey season, open from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31.

 

The Fall Turkey season will include a new unit in western South Dakota that will consolidate all the previous prairie turkey units, with the exception of Stanley County, into one unit. There will be an unlimited number of two-tag licenses available to both residents and nonresidents, however no one may have more then five licenses for the Fall Turkey season.

 

The application process for the three seasons will open in late June. The deadline for application to the first drawing will be July 24.

 

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Commission Proposes Hunting Season Changes

 

YANKTON, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed minor changes to several fall hunting seasons, including Mountain Lion, East River Deer and Antelope.

 

The Commission had made an initial proposal in May to allow a harvest limit of 35 mountain lions, or 20 female mountain lions. At its June meeting, the Commission changed that proposal to increase the harvest limit to 40 mountain lions or 25 female mountain lions.

 

A Commission proposal would adjust the start date for East River Deer hunting from opening on the third Saturday in November to opening on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Under the proposal, the 2009 season would open Nov. 21 and run through Dec. 6.


Another change to East River Deer season would eliminate the seven-day extension at the conclusion of the regular 16-day season that allowed “antlerless only” hunting. The proposal will adjust the start date of the 9-day antlerless extension to begin the Saturday after Christmas, versus Jan.1.  Last year, McPherson, Edmunds, Faulk and Spink counties were combined into one large unit for the antlerless extension. Under the 2009 proposal, they would remain separate units, just as they are during the regular season.

 

Changes to the Firearms Antelope hunting season would remove the split season dates in both Corson and Dewey counties. They would be part of the regular season dates, which would run from Oct. 3-18. Butte, Harding, Perkins, Meade, Fall River and Ziebach counties would have split season dates from Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 10-18.

 

The National Wildlife Refuge Deer season was proposed with changes to the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge to lower the number of tags available compared to 2008. There would be 75 fewer resident “any deer plus antlerless deer” permits and five fewer for nonresidents. There would be 150 fewer two-tag “antlerless deer” permits and 15 fewer for nonresidents.

 

The Early Fall Canada Goose hunting season was proposed with one change from 2008, to modify the season ending date from the Friday before the last Saturday of September to Sept. 30.

 

In addition to hunting season changes, the Commission proposed an additional water-safety zone onMcCook Lake in Union County. Responding to a request from homeowners around the lake, the Commission proposed a “no-wake zone” to the waters within 100 feet of the shoreline around the outer edge of the lake from the no-wake zone on the southwest arm of the lake to the extreme southeastern corner of the lake.

 

Citizens who would like to provide written comments on the proposal may do so until5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D., 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 July GFP Commission meeting, which will be held inPierre at the Ramkota RiverCentre, during the public hearing which is scheduled for 2 p.m. CDT Wednesday, July 1.

 

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State Record Hybrid Bass Caught

 

YANKTON, S.D. – Yet another South Dakota angler was in the right place at the right time and landed the fish of a lifetime. Gayville, S.D., fisherman Matt Sarha caught a new state record hybrid bass on May 11.

 

The fish is a cross between a white bass (Morone chrysops) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis), sometimes referred to as a wiper. The hefty 14-pound, 28-inch hybrid bass was caught on a crankbait in the Missouri River near Yankton.

 

Hybrid bass are stocked in reservoirs in southern states, with Nebraska being the closest neighboring state with a hybrid bass stocking program. Nebraska’s state record hybrid bass weighed in at 17-pounds, 14-onces.

 

For a fish to qualify as a state record, the angler must get the fish weighed on a certified scale, have the species verified by a fisheries biologist, or ichthyologist, and fill out a form that can be found at: http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/fishing/StateRecordFishForm.pdf.

 

For a complete list of state fishing records, visit www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/fishing/Info/StateRecords.htm.

 

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Thank Dad with a camping trip to a S.D. State Park

PIERRE, S.D. - If your father is the type who likes to sit back, cookout or occasionally drop a fishing line in the water, spending a day or the weekend at the SD state parks is a perfect way to celebrate Father's Day.

According to Game, Fish and Parks officials, camping reservations are still available for Father's Day weekend. As of June 10, campsites were available at numerous state parks and recreation areas across the state, including several sites at the following parks:

Reservations can made online at www.campsd.com or by calling 1-800-710-2267.  Reservations are not taken at the following parks, but campsites are available on a first come-first served basis:

A portion of campsites are available first come, first served at the following campgrounds:

If you've already made plans for Father's Day, why not give dad a state park gift card? Gift cards can be used for camping fees, park entrance licenses or fire wood, among other items. Shoppers can purchase the cards in any amount by calling 1-800-710-2267, ordering online at www.campsd.com, or from your local park.

To learn more about South Dakota state parks, visit www.sdparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

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Oahe Downstream To Host 3rd Annual Kids' Fishing Derby

PIERRE, S.D. - Kids can join in a morning of fun-filled fishing and prizes at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre on Saturday, June 20.

Kids are encouraged to register the week prior to the event at the Welcome Center at Oahe Downstream. Registration will close at 9:30 a.m. on June 20. Fishing begins at 10 a.m. and will end at noon. Immediately following fishing, prizes will be awarded for the largest, smallest and most interesting catches of the morning.

Kids ages 16 and under are welcome to participate in the event. Children age eight and under must be accompanied by an adult during the event. Participants are asked to bring their own fishing poles and lures, as a limited number of poles will be available at the park. Volunteers are also needed for the event.

There is no cost to participate in the fishing derby, but a daily or annual park entrance license is required. Oahe Downstream Recreation Area is located five miles north of Fort Pierre on Highway 1806, on the south side of Oahe Dam.

For more information, to volunteer, or to register, call Greg at Oahe Downstream at (605) 223-7722. Additional information on South Dakota State Parks can be found at www.SDparks.info or by calling (605) 773-3391.

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Yankton Recreation Areas to host outdoor activities

YANKTON, S.D. - Visitors to South Dakota's recreation areas near Yankton will have the opportunity to learn about plants, Dutch oven cooking, and geocaching over Father's Day weekend. June has been proclaimed Great Outdoors Month by Governor Rounds, and these free activities are a great way to enjoy the outdoors with dad.

Make plans to attend the following events:

There is no cost to participate in any of these programs; however, a park entrance license is required.

Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is located 6 miles west of Yankton off SD52. For more information about these programs, contact Lewis and Clark Recreation Area at (605) 668-2985. For more information on SD state parks and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

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Make plans to attend Father's Day weekend events in S.D. State Parks

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota state parks will be holding several special events over Father's Day weekend. These activities are a great way to spend a summer day with your family. We hope you will make plans to attend the following events:

The programs are open to all ages. There is no cost to participate in any of the events; however, park entrance licenses are required.

For more information on activities in the SD state parks, visit www.SDparks.info, contact the individual park office, or call (605) 773-3391.

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