SOUTH DAKOTA DEPT. OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Oct. 28, 2005
CONTACT: Tony Leif, 773-4193

PIERRE, S.D. – As the Black Hills prepares to welcome hunters for the deer season opening Nov. 1, hunters are being reminded that the South Dakota mountain lion hunting season has now concluded for this area.

"We have issued more than 7500 Black Hills Deer licenses," said Tony Leif, game program administrator for Game, Fish and Parks. "Some of those may also have purchased mountain lion hunting licenses, and we want to remind all hunters that the mountain lion season in the Black Hills has concluded."

South Dakota’s mountain lion hunting season opened Oct. 1. The Black Hills unit was scheduled to run through Dec. 15, unless a harvest limit of 25 mountain lions or five breeding-age female mountain lions was reached at an earlier date. On Oct. 24, the fifth breeding-age female lion was taken, bringing the hunting season to a close. Approximately 2,300 individuals had purchased a license to hunt mountain lions in the Black Hills.

"With that number of deer hunters in the field, there is a likelihood that some will encounter a mountain lion," Leif said. "There were approximately 1700 elk hunters and several hundred turkey hunters during the actual mountain lion season. With more hunters, there is certainly the potential for more mountain lion sightings."

Leif noted that mountain lions taken by hunters came from different areas throughout the Black Hills. "There is a potential to encounter mountain lions just about anywhere. Mountain lion habitat includes remote areas with rough terrain and good cover. Lions like areas with lots of cover from which they can stalk prey. Wherever there is an adequate supply of deer or other prey, there is a potential to find a mountain lion."

A total of 13 mountain lions were harvested during the 2005 hunting season. Besides the five breeding-age females, there were two sub-adult females and six males taken. Game, Fish and Parks biologists will review data from the season and other mountain lion research as part of the ongoing mountain lion management program for South Dakota.

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