PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota mountain lion season yielded its 12th mountain lion this morning. An estimated 2-3 year-old female was harvested approximately 4.5 miles south of Sturgis.

Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Biologist Steve Griffin of Rapid City said the lion weighed 86 pounds and was in good health. "It is possible she has a litter of kittens, so department officials are searching the area where the cat was taken. If kittens are found, they will be handled in the same manner as the others found earlier in the season."

South Dakota’s mountain lion season opened Oct. 1 and continues through Dec. 15. The mountain lion season in the Black Hills unit will end earlier if the limit of 25 total mountain lions, or five breeding age females, is met at an earlier date. Females harvested will count towards the limit of 25 lions.

"This is the fourth breeding-age female taken in this season," Griffin noted, "so hunters should be sure to check the harvest status on the telephone hotline or GFP website before heading into the field, because the season will immediately end if one more breeding-age female is taken."

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