FINALIZATIONS

Aquatic Invasive Species

The Commission added Prussian Carp to the Aquatic Invasive Species list.

The Commission also created an exemption so that live Red Swamp Crayfish can be possessed in certain instances for human consumption. Live Red Swamp Crayfish could not be at a location that sells bait.

The Commission also modified the European Rudd and Snakehead species listings to align with common name changes.

Mountain Lion Season

The Commission expanded the season dates for hunting intervals allowing the use of dogs and increased the unit size where hunting with dogs is allowed in the Black Hills Fire Protection District. Hunters with an access permit to use dogs will now be allowed to hunt in an area including Custer State Park and portions of the Black Hills east and south of Custer State Park. The Commission also eliminated the requirement for access permits to hunt mountain lions in Custer State Park without the use of dogs.

Hunting mountain lions in the designated area with the use of dogs will be allowed for a total of fifteen individuals with access permits, provided the harvest limits have not been met. Three access permits will be issued in each of the five 21 day intervals, starting Dec. 26.

Figure: Black Hills Fire Protection District boundary with expanded unit indicated with black diagonal hashed lines where access permits will be available to harvest mountain lions with the use of dogs.

PROPOSALS

Custer State Park Buffalo Season

The Commission accepted a petition desiring an increase in the percentage of resident licenses offered for CSP bison tags. This petition has now become an official Commission proposal and will continue through the rule promulgation process. The petition would make Custer State Park Trophy Bison and Non-Trophy Bison licenses available with 60% of licenses available for residents, then the remaining 40% of the licenses available to both residents and nonresidents.

Public Comments Being Accepted

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. CDT on October 5.

The next GFP Commission meeting will be held in Lemmon October 9-10.