Southeast Regional Advisory panel

January 2012 Summary

Southeastern Regional Advisory Panel
Meeting Notes for January 31, 2012

Attendees

Panel Members: Jim Headley, Tim Gutormson, John Hemmingstad, Craig Roth, Bob Vosburg, Randy Bauder, Jon Brown

GFP employees: Arden Petersen, Ron Schauer, Kevin Robling, Steve VanderBeek, Tom Kirschenmann, Kathy Nedved

Absent panel member: Dick Behl

Welcome, Introductions and Overview of RAP Meeting - Arden Petersen, Regional Supervisor

  • Reviewed and arranged agenda to fit panel members' needs.
  • Introduced Regional Habitat Manager Steve VanderBeek, Chief of Terrestrial Resources Tom Kirschenmann, Regional Wildlife Manager Ron Schauer and Wildlife Resource Biologist Kevin Robling.
  • Future RAP meetings are tentatively planned for April/May and July/August/September timeframes - no confirmed dates at this time.

Hunting Access Program/CREP - Tom Kirschenmann and Steve VanderBeek

  1. Walk-In-Area Program
    • The WIA Program is a long-standing program with over 1 million acres enrolled statewide.
    • Regional Review Team looks at unique opportunities and negotiates, at times, to enroll more land into this program.
    • Panel members suggested implementing an extra fee for an Access/Habitat stamp when applying for a license.
  2. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
    • CREP is the newest access program GFP has and is restricted to the James River Watershed. It has over 60,000 enrolled acres at this time, with a cap of 100,000 acres.
    • Panel members discussed options to add a CREP for the Big Sioux and/or Vermillion River Watersheds. Most RAP members were in favor of adding a CREP for the Big Sioux and Vermillion. They thought it was important to start moving forward on another CREP soon to counteract habitat loss to CRP and wetland drainage. Discussion followed on how to generate more money and land into this program. Some of the suggestions - add habitat/access stamp, raise license fees, raise non-resident small game license fees, Dept of Tourism contributions, bed/booze tax during hunting seasons, add fees on non-consumptive users, license plates with earmarks for wildlife habitat.

Deer Management/Seasons - Kevin Robling

  • Kevin presented deer management updates for Region 3. He proceeded to show a PowerPoint presentation with statistical information in the form of graphs, charts and maps. This information also consisted of how many licenses were sold, types of licenses, license availability, season lengths and hunter surveys.
  • Panel members discussed hunter ethics, adjusting season dates, length of seasons and license allocation.
  • A decision was made to continue this discussion at the next RAP Mtg.

Bobcat Management/Seasons - Ron Schauer

  • Ron spoke about how the Department manages bobcat populations and displayed the findings with a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation consisted of maps, population estimates and bobcat study results. Seasons in neighboring states were also reviewed as South Dakota investigates the possibility of adding some type of bobcat season east river.
  • After the presentation and discussion, most panel members felt there was justification for requesting a limited bobcat season east river.

Closing Comments - Arden Petersen

  • Topics for next meeting will include further information regarding deer management/license allocation and continuation of the CREP/wildlife habitat discussion.

Meeting adjourned at 5:16pm.