|
< Back to Regional Advisory Panel Listing
Archive: October 2008 Summary
WESTERN REGIONAL ADVISORY PANEL - January 2009 Summary
Western Regional Advisory Panel
Second Meeting Notes
January 13, 2009
at Cammack Ranch Supply in Union Center
Attendees:
GF&P Staff:
Mike Kintigh
Curt Robertson
Susan Petersen
Panel Members:
Travis Bies
Dennis Nash
Gary Cammack
Jeff Sleep
Kenneth McIIravy
Marty Vanderploeg
Terry Mayes
Visitor/Guest: Travis Enright
The second meeting of the WRAP panel was held January 13, 2009, at Cammack Ranch Supply in Union Center. Gary Cammack graciously hosted the meeting in his company’s comfortable facility.
Mike Kintigh addressed the group briefly indicating that this meeting would focus upon the primary topic of increasing youth involvement in hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Panel members had previously been surveyed and had entered their opinions on the level of importance that should be assigned to a number of topics that had previously been identified by the panel. Kintigh also stressed that the panel was in charge of the agenda and that this meeting, as well as future meetings, would be directed by the panel members.
Curt Robertson, the HuntSAFE and Bowhunter Education Coordinator for Game, Fish & Parks, Pierre, presented a PowerPoint program entitled “Youth Opportunities in Hunting & Angling: South Dakota”.
Some of the key points Curt mentioned were:
- The number of hunters in the US is steadily decreasing
- Only 5% of the general U.S. population are licensed hunters
- Females are the fastest growing segment of the hunting population
- 91% of youth have an interest in wildlife BUT only 44% express an interest in hunting
- A real problem is that 50% of youth feel that hunting is unsafe! (This may be tied to the increase in school shooting incidents?)
- There are many educational programs available designed to increase youth involvement in the outdoors and/or hunting and fishing. In South Dakota, many of these programs are administered by Game, Fish & Parks and are available to anyone in any community in SD.
Some points of discussion generated were:
- A discussion of the role of the new GF&P educational facility to be built in Rapid City
- Avenues to reach the public and educate young people on what is available for outdoor recreation (especially hunting and fishing)
- How to get more youth interested in shooting sports which may lead to actual hunting participation
- How to increase opportunity for youth (i.e. find more places for youth to hunt) which should encourage/increase involvement in hunting
- Make sure educational opportunities for kids encouraging hunting and fishing activity are easily accessible by the public in both large and small communities
The panel then looked at the list of the top five topics and also discussed some additional ideas for future panel discussions. The top five topics are:
- Increasing youth involvement (which was covered at this meeting)
- Identify private lands programs and improve the same
- Large predator management
- Hunter ethics and image
- Continue and expand GF&P communication efforts
Gary Cammack brought up a possible future topic of the timing of the doe deer season and doe hunting in general. Cammack (and his local counterparts) would like to see more background on how the doe deer herd is managed by GF&P.
Kintigh indicated that he has heard other complaints from landowners that the deer seasons are extending too long. The landowners feel that the deer need to be harvested, but that they need to be wrapping up their hunts sooner. This is a topic that will generate future discussions by the panel!
An enjoyable and educational field trip was taken to Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studios taxidermy shop in Union Center. The group also toured the Minuteman Archery Club’s indoor range north of Union Center.
A brief wrap-up discussion was held regarding what had been discussed at this meeting and a few additional thoughts were shared on the importance of encouraging youth to get more involved in the outdoors and hunting in particular. Future scheduling and location of the panel meetings was also discussed. It was decided the next meeting shall be Thursday, April 23, 2009. The location is tentatively set for Rapid City with the time of the meeting beginning at noon and adjourning at 4pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30pm.
|
