PIERRE, S.D. – Starting today, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened its general signup period for producers and landowners to enroll environmentally sensitive agricultural land into perennial cover for 10 to 15 years through the federally funded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Diversity Program is accepting proposals for the Wildlife Diversity Small Grants Program. This program provides funding for researchers, educators and naturalists to carry out projects focused on native wildlife. Funding for the 2021 Small Grants Program totals $20,000 for projects that are focused on monitoring and inventory of native wildlife species and their habitats.

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota State Parks Director Scott Simpson announced today that applications are being accepted for grants from the Recreation Trails Program (RTP). The grants will be available for trail projects sponsored by municipalities, counties, state parks, federal land management agencies or tribal governments.

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today announced that the James River Watershed Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) program is open to enroll new land.

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) announced today their photo contest, Snapshot South Dakota, will return for 2021. The first contest was launched in July of 2020 and had success with over 500 entries from across South Dakota. 

PIERRE, S.D. – At their March meeting, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission approved a resolution to authorize the Nest Predator Bounty Program for 2021 and 2022. The resolution specifies that the 2021 and 2022 program will include a payment of $10/predator with a maximum of $500,000 in bounty payments each year. The Commission amended their January resolution, modifying the dates of when the program will start and end. The GFP Commission unanimously agreed to run the 2021 program from April 1 through July 1, unless the $500,000 maximum is reached.

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department unveiled a plan to sell six tracts of land across the eastern part of the state as part of an evaluation effort of Game Production Areas (GPAs).

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their July meeting at the Watertown Event Center on July 8-9. At their meeting they finalized proposals from their May and June meetings as well as passed several other proposals, which will now be up for public comment.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department today announced that beginning July 12 and ending in late September, road workers will be resurfacing all 18 miles of the Wildlife Loop Road.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is seeking comments on the draft elk action plan.

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has confirmed the presence of adult zebra mussels in Lake Mitchell in Davison County.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission approved twenty elk contingency licenses at the September GFP Commission meeting in Rapid City.

The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks (GFP) today announced several major dates individuals need to be aware of as GFP transitions to a new e-commerce system. The new e-commerce system is called Go Outdoors South Dakota and will go live December 15, 2021. This system combines the purchases of hunting and fishing licenses with our state parks camping reservations and other purchases.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was recently confirmed in a new area in central South Dakota. Confirmation of the disease was obtained from sick surveillance efforts coming from an adult female mule deer in Stanley County.

Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 8, Custer State Park's Playhouse Road will be closed to all through traffic for a bridge replacement.

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) will host two open house meetings to collect input on recreational development of Spring Creek Country Club. 

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their December meeting at Brookings' McCrory Gardens.

According to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), entrepreneurs interested in operating a restaurant located within Spring Creek Recreation Area in central South Dakota can now begin submitting their proposals.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was recently confirmed in a new area in central South Dakota.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Department is seeking additional public input on the future development and use of the Spring Creek Country Club near Canton (Harrisburg).

The official start of the Black Hills snowmobile season began on Dec. 15, with the opening of the trails system there.

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) will offer free, guided hikes in six state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states.