Agency

GFP Commission Holds March Meeting

March 13, 2023

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their March meeting at Pierre’s Matthew's Training Center.

WILDLIFE PROPOSALS 

Waterfowl Seasons

The Commission set several hunting seasons with no changes. By rule, the following seasons are finalized:

  • Dove
  • Duck
  • Early Fall Canada Goose
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Snipe
  • Tundra Swan
  • August Management Take
  • Youth Waterfowl
  • Light Goose
  • Special Canada Goose
     

Apprentice Deer

The Commission proposed to open the Ft. Meade Bureau of Land Management area in Unit WRD-49A to archery only for the Apprentice deer season.

Custer State Park Deer

The Commission proposed to remove the Nov. 1-15 archery only restriction for the Custer State Park deer season.

Refuge Deer

The Commission proposed to restrict hunters during the fourth season at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge to muzzleloaders without telescopic sights. The proposal also allows the Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge staff the ability to control the areas open to hunting.

West River Deer 

The Commission proposed an administrative cleanup for Unit WRD-27A (portions of Custer and Fall River counties) and to allow hunting in Ft. Meade Bureau of Land Management Area in Unit 49A to archery only.

Youth Deer

The Commission proposed to open the Ft. Meade Bureau of Land Management area in Unit WRD-49A to archery only for the Youth deer season.

Nonresident Waterfowl

The commission proposed to increase 3-day temporary nonresident licenses from 2,000 to 2,100 and increase two 5-day nonresident licenses from 3,750 to 3,950. 

WILDLIFE FINALIZATIONS

Archery Antelope

The Commission finalized their proposal to allow for:

  • Unlimited number of nonresident one-tag archery buck 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 buck antelope licenses valid on public and private land.

Archery Deer

The Commission finalized their proposal to allow for:

  • Unlimited nonresident archery any deer licenses 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 valid on public and private land; and, 
  • Remove the East River and West River specific licenses for nonresident archery deer, limiting nonresidents to one any deer archery license. 

Mountain Goat

The Commission finalized the closing of the mountain goat hunting season.

During the 2022 helicopter survey, 42 mountain goats were counted in the survey. The mountain goat action plan provides guidance when the minimum number counted reaches less than 50 individuals the season will be closed.

Included in this finalization would be the discontinuance of the sale of preference points for mountain goat hunting.

No Boating Zone

The Commission finalized changing the “no boating zone” on Angostura Reservoir from 100 to 300 feet fronting the dam which includes the 5 control gates and the canal siphon. 

PARKS FINALIZATIONS

Firearms Changes to State Parks and Recreation Areas

The Commission finalized a change to provide the Department the option to open 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.

This will allow hunters to hunt park lands at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area west of SD Hwy 1806, that include the off-highway vehicle designated area and land outside the fenced shooting complex perimeter.

It also clarifies 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 April 9.

The next GFP Commission meeting will be held in Brookings April 13-14.

 

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