GFP Commission Holds January Meeting
January 13, 2023PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their January meeting at Pierre’s Matthew's Training Center.
WILDLIFE PROPOSALS
Archery Antelope
The Commission continued to discuss proposed changes to the archery antelope season. They are as follows:
• Unlimited number of nonresident one-tag archery antelope licenses valid on private land not leased by the Department of Game Fish and Parks for public hunting; and,
• No more than 450 nonresident one-tag archery antelope licenses valid on public and private land.
Resident one-tag archery licenses valid on public and private land would remain unlimited.
Archery Deer
The Commission continued their discussions on the proposed several changes to the archery deer season. They are as follows:
• Unlimited nonresident “any deer” licenses (limit of one per hunter) may be issued statewide valid on private land not leased by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks for public hunting;
• No more than 2,200 nonresident “any deer” licenses may be issued statewide on public and private lands;
• With the proposed limit of 2,200 nonresident “any deer” licenses valid on public and private lands, the Commission proposed to eliminate the April 1 application deadline for those licenses that will be issued by a lottery drawing; and,
• Unlimited resident and nonresident antlerless whitetail deer licenses (limit of one per hunter) may be issued for unit ARD-LM1.
Unlimited resident “any deer” licenses remain unchanged, and residents may be issued one statewide license valid on public and private land. In lieu of a statewide "any deer" license, a resident may purchase one East River "any deer" license and one West River "any deer" license valid on public and private land.
Mountain Goat
The Commission proposed the closing of the mountain goat hunting season.
During the 2022 helicopter survey, 42 mountain goats were counted in the survey area near Crazy Horse Memorial, Battle Creek Road, and Black Elk Peak. Based on the mountain goat action plan, Objective 3, Strategy B states “When the minimum number counted reaches less that 50 individuals the season will be closed.”
Included in this proposal would be the discontinuance of the sale of preference points for mountain goat hunting.
No Boating Zone
The Commission proposed to change the “no boating zone” on Angostura from 100 to 300 feet fronting the dam which includes the 5 control gates and the canal siphon.
PARKS PROPOSALS
Firearms Changes to State Parks and Recreation Areas
The Commission proposed to make a change to provide the Department the option to open up portions of state parks and recreation areas to hunting during the months of September and May by means of posting, signage, and other designations. This change would provide additional public hunting acres in some state parks for early fall seasons such as mourning dove, archery deer, and youth seasons in addition to spring turkey seasons.
The proposal will allow hunters to hunt park lands at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area west of SD Hwy 1806. Park lands include: OHV and land outside the fenced shooting complex perimeter.
It would also help clarify Revheim Bay Recreation Area as archery only and designate Newtown Hills State Park, Rocky Point Recreation Area, and Lake Poinsett Recreation Area to archery hunting and shotgun with shot shells only, but with options to post certain areas for open hunting.
Public Comments Currently Being Accepted
If you would like to comment on any of these proposals, visit gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions. Comments can also be mailed to 523 E. Capitol Ave Pierre, SD.
To hear the discussion on these proposals, audio from the meeting is available through South Dakota Public Broadcasting and will soon be available on the GFP website as part of the meeting archive.
To see these proposals in their entirety, visit gfp.sd.gov/commission/information.
To be included in the public record and to be considered by the commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CST on March 5.
The next GFP Commission meeting will be held in Pierre, March 9-10.
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