GFP News - March 18, 2013

• Walleye Limits When Fishing Oahe and Other Waters
• GFP Names Montrose Man Habitat Partner of the Year

WALLEYE LIMITS WHEN FISHING OAHE AND OTHER WATERS

PIERRE, S.D. - Anglers targeting walleye on one of South Dakota’s most popular walleye fisheries will be met with new walleye regulations in 2013. In response to a large number of smaller walleyes produced during the last few years and low food availability stemming from the 2011 flood, anglers are now allowed a daily limit of eight walleye. No more than four may be 15 inches in length or longer and the daily limit may include no more than one 20 inches or longer. The possession limit for Lake Oahe is 24 per angler.

If you are fishing Oahe and another water during the same day, the first four walleye you keep count as your standard, statewide daily limit. You can't keep walleye from another water if you have already kept four or more walleyes from Lake Oahe that day. Any walleye caught and kept that day, in addition to your standard statewide four-fish limit, must be from Lake Oahe.

Anglers may have up to 24 walleyes from Lake Oahe, in possession, taken according to the daily limit. The possession limit accrues at the rate of eight walleyes a day and 24 walleyes may not be possessed from Lake Oahe until after the third day of fishing. Anglers may possess an additional eight walleyes provided they are taken according to the daily limit from waters other than Lake Oahe.

For additional information on fisheries regulations, please see the 2013 Fishing Handbook at: http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/rules-regs.aspx.

GFP Names Montrose Man Habitat Partner of the Year

PIERRE, S.D. - The Game, Fish and Parks Department has honored Jim Schaeffer, Jr. of Montrose as the GFP South Dakota Habitat Partner of the Year.

The Habitat Partner award is presented annually by GFP, and honors individuals in four separate regions who have worked in cooperation with GFP to provide quality habitat management practices on their land. Schaeffer was selected for the statewide Habitat Partner award from four regional landowners honored as habitat partners.

Besides Schaeffer, those honored on a regional level were Brady and Wendi Rinehart of Highmore, Richard Kovarik of Rapid City, and Larry Schuster of Eden.

Schaeffer was honored at the March GFP Commission meeting for land management practices, in particular the use of native grasses and food plots, on his land that have provided valuable wildlife habitat. He owns 160 acres of land in McCook County and another 160 acres in Lake County. He also manages 560 acres of land in McCook County for other landowners who have a desire to provide quality wildlife habitat.

"Jim's love of wildlife is evident in the care he uses and proactive management practices he employs to maintain quality habitat," GFP Wildlife Division Director Tony Leif said. "He provides timely haying, burning and chemical treatment to maintain a healthy mix of native grasses. He adds both traditional and non-traditional plantings in food plots to attract a variety of wildlife, and in particular deer."

Schaeffer also hosted South Dakota State University wildlife and fisheries students who were enrolled in a habitat management course. The students were able to use some of his property for project areas to develop their skills and provide Schaeffer with ideas for further improving his properties.

"Area youth have further benefited from the bounty of wildlife on Jim’s property through youth hunting opportunities that he has provided," Leif said. "Jim and habitat partners like him are the key to the future of wildlife and hunting in South Dakota, providing both habitat and hunting opportunity that adds to everyone's quality of life."

Private landowners who wish to have more information on how GFP can benefit their land management practices may check online at http://www.gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/private-land/default.aspx or call the GFP Huron office at 605.353.7145.

-GFP-