August 25, 2006
Press Releases

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks News

Walk-In Area Program Again Passes Million-Acre Mark

PIERRE, S.D. -- South Dakota’s Walk-In Area Program surpassed last year's record enrollment of 1.03 million-acres.

“Our long-term goal was to reach 1 million acres by 2006, but due to the hard work of our conservation officers and dedicated landowners, we hit our million-acre goal last year,” said Game, Fish and Parks Walk-In Area Program Coordinator Bill Smith. “2006 was again a record-setting year, enrolling 1.08 million acres.” 

While the program continues to grow, the long-term success of the program relies heavily on partnerships between the department and landowners and the future of the Conservation Reserve Program, with more than 400,000 acres of CRP expiring in 2007.

To help ensure these new areas will remain enrolled in the program in future years, hunters must also play a vital role. “Hunter behavior and ethics plays an important part in a landowner’s decision to re-enroll a Walk-In Area,” Smith said. “All it takes is one hunter littering, shooting up signs, spooking livestock, damaging crops or otherwise acting in an unsafe manner to insult landowners and keep them from re-enrolling their land.” 

Hunter involvement extends beyond the field, all the way to Washington, D.C. “Hunters should also be active in getting CRP renewed in the upcoming 2007 Farm Bill,” said Smith.

Hunters wishing to know more about the locations of these new Walk-In Areas can now access that information online via the Game, Fish and Parks Web site at www.sdgfp.info. The link can be found under the subheading "What’s New."  Printed Hunting Atlases should be available at most license agents by about Sept. 1

Join South Dakota’s Growing Teaming with Wildlife Coalition

PIERRE, S.D.—A group working to restore and conserve the nation’s wildlife is looking for new members in South Dakota.

Teaming with Wildlife is a national coalition of more than 3,000 groups working to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered. The coalition supports increased funding for wildlife conservation and associated recreation and education in every state.

The Teaming with Wildlife Coalition includes biologists, state wildlife agencies, conservationists, hunters, anglers, trappers, birdwatchers, nature-based businesses and many others who support the restoration and conservation of our nation’s wildlife.

This grass-roots campaign starts at the state level. South Dakota recently gained 14 new members and is on its way to meeting a goal of at least 100 South Dakota organizations or businesses by this fall.

The newest coalition members are:

• 29-90 Sportsman’s Club

• Batworks

• Biodiversity Divisions, Bad River Ranches

• Brookings County Pheasants Forever Chapter

• Custer State Park

• Environmental Education Connections of South Dakota

• Girl Scouts of Minn-Ia-Kota

• How-Kota Archers

• Human Dimensions Consulting

• Madison Area Ducks Unlimited

• National Association for Interpretation

• Oahe Sportsman’s Club

• S.D. Department of Health

• SDSU Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society

The coalition is free to join. Members simply go on record to show support for the need to ensure the conservation of wildlife and their habitats and, in the process, maintain the high quality of life South Dakotans enjoy.

Visit South Dakota’s Teaming with Wildlife Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/teaming.htm. View South Dakota’s complete coalition list and learn how an organization or business can join the coalition and keep South Dakota the kind of place where both people and wildlife find the clean water and air and healthy landscapes they need to thrive.

For more information on South Dakota’s Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, contact Eileen Dowd Stukel at eileen.dowdstukel@state.sd.us or 605-773-4229.

Congress approves bill to strengthening conservation tax incentives

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this month, Congress approved legislation that will increase and extend conservation tax incentives as part of the Pension Protection Act, H.R.4.

This federal tax benefit, section 1206, includes tax deductions for farmers and ranchers who donate conservation easements on their property. The bill also sets standards for appraising land, reforms which the conservation community—including the state fish and wildlife agencies—strongly supported and advocated.

“This is a significant conservation success to be able to ensure presence on the land and continued cooperation of working farmers and ranchers who care deeply about natural resources,” said John Cooper, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and secretary of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department. “This legislation helps clear up some of the complexity and concerns about conservation easements and spotlights their role in private lands conservation. Among our many partners in achieving this success, we particularly applaud the leadership of the Land Trust Alliance.”

The bill will not only encourage new conservation easements and provide a significant tax break to family farmers, ranchers, and other moderate-income landowners, but it will also restrict future development, protecting a resource important to the public.

Most conservation easement donations are made to local, community-based charities dedicated to keeping land in agriculture, conserving important wildlife habitats and protecting important open space and historic resources.

The legislation will:

•Raise the maximum deduction a donor can take for donating a conservation easement from 30 percent of their adjusted gross income in any year to 50 percent.

•Allow qualified farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income.

•Increase the number of years over which a donor can take deductions from six years to 16 years.

This provision will be effective for donations made through Dec. 31, 2007.  After that, the law would revert back to previous provisions unless Congress grants an extension before the deadline.

“The bill also sets much higher standards for appraisers and appraisals of all donated property, and sets higher penalties for abusive appraisals,” said Cooper. “Conservationists support this piece of the bill because it ensures the integrity of charitable donations, and justly tightens restrictions on easements.”

In addition to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, many of the nation’s leading sportsmen’s and conservation organizations support the legislation, including Land Trust Alliance, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the American Farmland Trust.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies--which represents all of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies--promotes sound management and conservation and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues.

Angostura Plans Labor Day Weekend Activities

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Summer’s not quite over yet, and Angostura Recreation Area is offering some late season programming for interested visitors over Labor Day weekend.

On Sept. 1, a nostalgic movie night is planned for 8 p.m. at the Jost Shelter House (Shelter House #2). The program features a wildlife movie entitled "American Historian" where a South Dakota artist and sculptor travels across North America in search of wildlife for his artistic passion. The film highlights many species native to the Black Hills, and it also displays some of the most breath-taking scenery in the country. Interested participants should bring lawn chairs or blankets.

On Sept. 2, a new program called Kinder-Nature will be offered twice. The first session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and repeats from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each session is limited to 20 participants. This program is geared for families with children just starting school. The participants will construct their own educational backpack, create a simple pair of binoculars, and learn how to look for signs of nature in wild places. This program also stresses some basic ideas for proper behavior on field trips in parks and recreation areas, and parents are welcomed and encouraged to get involved with this event. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Angostura Recreation Area at (605) 745-6996.

On Sept. 3, a 10:30 a.m. guided nature hike will take visitors along the Angostura Breaks Nature Trail. This hike is geared for kids ages 7-12, however, families are welcome to attend. Participants will explore the various habitat settings of the recreation area, such as the prairie, forested ravines and open beaches. Interested hikers should wear boots or sturdy shoes, as well as bring water and sunscreen. The hike will start at the trailhead, located past the entrance to Cascade Campground.

On the afternoon of Sept. 3, a program called "Them Bones" will take place at Horsehead Campground at 1 p.m. and repeat at the Cascade Campground at 3 p.m. Dealing with wildlife skulls, participants will learn about animal adaptations and have the chance to hold several different samples.

Each program is free, however, a valid park entrance license is required on all vehicles entering the recreation area. For more information, contact the park office at (605) 745-6996 or visit www.SDparks.info.

Labor Day Camping Reservations Still Available in S.D. State Parks

PIERRE, S.D. – Game, Fish and Parks officials are reminding campers planning an outdoor holiday for the Labor Day Weekend that there is still time to make reservations.

“With Labor Day Weekend just around the corner, many campers have already made their reservations, but there are still some parks with campsites available," said Doug Hofer, state parks director.

Those state parks and recreation areas with campsites available as of Monday, Aug. 21, are the following:

·        Angostura Recreation Area near Hot Springs

·        Cow Creek Recreation Area near Pierre

·        Custer State Park near Custer

·        Hartford Beach State Park near Milbank

·        Indian Creek Recreation Area near Mobridge

·        Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Pierre/Ft. Pierre

·        Platte Creek Recreation Area near Platte

·        Rocky Point Recreation Area near Belle Fourche

·        Roy Lake State Park near Lake City

·        Union Grove State Park near Beresford

·        West Bend Recreation Area near Pierre

·        West Whitlock Recreation Area near Gettysburg

A current site availability listing is available online at www.CampSD.com. Reservations for Labor Day weekend can be made until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, through www.CampSD.com or by calling 1-800-710-CAMP (2267). On Thursday, Aug. 31, all sites not reserved become available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, horse camp sites were available for reservation at Oakwood Lakes State Park near Bruce, Pease Creek Recreation Area near Geddes and Pelican Lake Recreation Area near Watertown. Bear Butte State Park near Sturgis has sites available first-come, first-served.

Campers without reservations for Labor Day weekend can consider visiting one of the state parks and recreation areas that are entirely first-come, first-served. These areas include Bear Butte, Burke Lake, Lake Hiddenwood, Little Moreau, Llewellyn Johns, North Wheeler, Okobojo Point, Swan Creek and West Pollock. Buryanek, Cow Creek, Custer, Lake Louise, and Lewis & Clark also have a limited number of first-come, first-served campsites.

Campers should also be informed about any campfire bans in place. For current restrictions, please contact the individual park office directly.

After the Labor Day weekend, sites at most parks become available first-come, first-served, but a number of parks do accept autumn reservations. Reservations for arrival dates through Oct. 9 are accepted at Big Sioux, Custer, Lewis & Clark, Newton Hills, Palisades and Snake Creek.

For more information on SD state parks and recreation areas, visit www.SDparks.info or call (605) 773-3391.

Fort Sisseton to Host Wagon Teams Labor Day Weekend

PIERRE, S.D. – Fort Sisseton State Park near Lake City invites wagon team owners and drivers to attend the Wagon Train activities Labor Day weekend.

“The Fort Sisseton Wagon Train is designed for people with horses and wagons who want a place to drive them," said Dave Daberkow, District Park Supervisor. "This annual event typically brings several wagon teams together for a fun weekend of activities, including the volunteers who gave wagon rides at Fort Sisseton throughout the summer.”

The Wagon Train kicks off Friday, Sept. 1, with an outing around Cattail Lake outlet at 2 p.m. A potluck supper will follow at 7 p.m. Activities Saturday begin at 10 a.m. as the Wagonmaster leads teams on a cross-country drive through the Fort Sisseton backcountry. This longer ride is expected to last until 4 p.m., with another potluck supper that night at 7 p.m. Festivities conclude Sunday with a 10 a.m. final tour around Cattail Lake.

There is no cost to participate in any of the activities, although regular camping and park entrance fees apply. Guided tours of the fort will also be held throughout the weekend.

Fort Sisseton hosts a number of special events throughout the year. Upcoming events include the Fall Frolic on Oct. 7 and the Frontier Christmas on Dec. 9 and 10. The park is open year-round and features interpretive tours by costumed guides and a number of historical displays in the restored Fort buildings.

For more information on Fort Sisseton Historic State Park and for a listing of upcoming events, visit www.SDparks.info or contact the park office at (605) 448-5474.