South Dakota Game,
Fish and Parks News
Sand Volleyball
Tournament at Oakwood Lakes
PIERRE, S.D. -
Gather a group of friends and form a team to play in the first
annual sand volleyball tournament at Oakwood Lakes State Park near
Bruce, S.D. All ages are welcome to play in this exciting, new
event.
“This is a great
opportunity for kids and adults to get together, get active and
have fun at the park,” said Lee Kratochvil, regional park
supervisor. “We are hoping for a good turnout of teams and
supporters.”
The tournament kicks
off at 10 a.m. at the swim beach of Oakwood Lakes State Park.
There is a limit of eight teams, so teams need to pre-register by
Wednesday, June 27 by calling the park office at (605) 627-5441.
The tournament is
free, but a daily or annual park entrance license is required.
Oakwood Lakes State Park is located 7 miles north and 3 miles west
of Volga, SD, off US Highway 14. Or, use Exit 140 on I-29.
For additional
information on the sand volleyball tournament, contact the park
office at (605) 627-5441. For additional information on South
Dakota State Parks, visit
www.SDpark.info or call
(605) 773-3391.
State Park System
Receives National Award
PIERRE, S.D. – South
Dakota’s Division of Parks and Recreation is the first state park
system in the nation to be honored by the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention with its Partner in Advancing
Public Health Award.
The award is given
by the CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity to
recognize substantial contributions by a state partner to a
state’s nutrition and physical activity efforts. The division
received the award in recognition of its long-standing partnership
with the Department of Health’s Healthy South Dakota initiative.
Healthy South Dakota aims to reduce obesity and related chronic
disease through increased physical activity and improved
nutrition.
“Parks and
Recreation staff like to describe the state parks as largest
outdoor wellness centers in South Dakota. That mindset makes it
very easy for us to work together to promote physical activity and
the state park system at the same time,” said Secretary of Health
Doneen Hollingsworth. “We’re proud of that partnership and
couldn’t be more pleased that CDC has chosen to honor the Division
of Parks and Recreation with this award.”
Hollingsworth said
the Division of Parks and Recreation has worked closely with
Healthy South Dakota on a variety projects such as the popular
Walk in the Park programs in state parks, the creation of disc
golf courses, recreational equipment for checkout to park users,
and a Healthy Hunter program tailored to South Dakota
hunters.
Hollingsworth
presented the award on behalf of CDC at the Game, Fish and Parks
Commission meeting June 8 in Pierre.
Deadline Nears For 10th
Anniversary Trail Trek Early-Bird Registration
LEAD, S.D. – Only one month remains for cyclists to qualify for
early-bird registration for the 10th Annual Mickelson
Trail Trek. The deadline for early-bird registration is July 15
for the supported three-day ride, which begins on Friday, Sept.
14.
Growing popularity of the event has organizers encouraging riders
to get their registration in as soon as possible. In 2006, 435
people rode in the Trek, including riders from 30 states,
Washington, D.C and Canada.
“This is the 10th anniversary ride,” said Shannon
Percy, manager of the Mickelson Trail. “We are expecting a large
turnout of riders and supporters. We have several special events
planned to commemorate the event.”
Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
According to Percy, at this time there is no limit on the number
of riders this year.
Pre-registration can be completed online by visiting
www.MickelsonTrail.com and by following the "Trail Trek" link.
Materials for registering through the mail can also be downloaded
from the trail website or by calling the Black Hills Trails office
at (605) 584-3896.
Riders on the Trail Trek will cover 109 miles of the trail over
three days, from Friday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 16. The
$150 registration fee includes the trail pass, shuttle service,
commemorative souvenirs, refreshments and some meals during each
day’s ride. Riders are responsible for accommodations and
mechanical support. The ride is open to all bicyclists 14 years of
age or older. Riders registering after the July 15 early-bird
deadline will need to pay an extra $25.
The Trail Trek highlights the George S. Mickelson as it winds
through the heart of the Black Hills from Edgemont to
Lead/Deadwood. The ride began as a celebration of the completion
of the rails-to-trails project. It continues today to introduce
new bicyclists to the trail and thank supporters for their
long-standing enthusiasm for the Black Hills trail.
For more information on the Mickelson Trail or the Trail Trek,
visit
www.MickelsonTrail.com or contact the Black Hills Trail office
at (605) 584-3896
Make Plans to Attend Special Events
in S.D. State Parks
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota state parks will be holding several
special events the fourth weekend in June. These activities are a
great way to spend a summer day. Make plans to attend the
following events:
·
“Liberty Trail Trot and Walk” Walk in
the Park, George S.
Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills, Sat., June 23 at 8 a.m. (MT).
Enjoy a two-mile walk or a four-mile run on the Mickelson Trail.
Starts at Sugarloaf and ends almost at Deadwood. Open to men and
women of all age groups. Info: (605) 584-1113
·
“Red Rocks Escape” Walk in the Park,
Palisades State Park near Garretson, Sat., June 23 at 4 p.m. Hear
the stories of the rocks and trees as you learn the history of the
area. The walk will focus on the geology of the Sioux Quartzite
formations and take a look at the forces of nature that created
the colorful formations. Info: (605) 594-3824
·
“Shannon’s Survival Hike” Walk in the
Park, Lewis and Clark
Recreation Area near Yankton, Sat., June 23 at 9:30 a.m. Learn
about Private Shannon, who became lost for two weeks near this
area while on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Find out how he
survived and what edible plants he used. Info: (605) 668-2985
·
Evening Picnic, Games and Lantern Tour,
Fort Sisseton Historical State Park near Lake City, Sat., June 23
at 6 p.m. Spend an evening a Fort Sisseton – explore the fort
grounds and buildings as you learn about a piece of South Dakota
history. Info: (605) 448-5474
·
“Healthy, Incredible Edibles” Walk in
the Park, LaFramboise Island
Nature Area in Pierre, Sat., June 23 at 6:30 p.m. Take a walk
along the shore of the Missouri River and learn about healthy
snacks you can eat and make. Info: (605) 223-7722
·
Family Fun Days,
Shadehill Recreation Area near Lemmon. Sat., June 23. Info: (605)
374-5114
·
Family Fun Days,
Pickerel Lake Recreation Area near Waubay. Fri., June 22 through
Sun., June 24. Info: (605) 486-4753
The programs are open to all ages. There is no cost to participate
in any of the events except the Liberty Trail Trot and Walk, and
participants in that event also need a trail pass. Park entrance
licenses are required at all other parks except LaFramboise
Island.
The Walk in the Park programs are part of a series of educational,
guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks,
recreation areas and nature preserves. Park staff and volunteers
lead the programs, which are co-sponsored by the S.D. Departments
of Health. Visitors are encouraged to dress according to the
weather and to wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes.
For more information on activities in the S.D. state parks, visit
www.SDparks.info, contact the individual park office or call (605)
773-3391.
Third
Mountain Lion Season Approved
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and
Parks Commission approved the state’s third consecutive mountain
lion hunting season at its June meeting in Pierre. In the process,
commissioners and GFP staff were reminded that mountain lions
continue to spark keen interest in the citizens of South Dakota.
A lengthy public hearing offered
commissioners a wide variety of opinions about the lions and the
hunting season that has been in place for the past two years.
Those opinions ranged from shutting down the season to protect the
big cats to shooting even more of the mountain lions.
Commissioners finalized a season that
GFP personnel believe will be consistent with the department’s
goal of maintaining a sustainable mountain lion population in the
Black Hills. The 2007 season will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 or
until 35 lions or 15 female lions are harvested. In 2006 the
season limits were 25 lions or eight females.
Another change in the 2007 is creation
of one statewide unit instead of using Black Hills and prairie
units. GFP Secretary Jeff Vonk explained that the department’s
management plan for lions does not extend beyond the Black Hills.
“The decision to go with a statewide season is, in essence, a
decision to manage the lion population only in the Black Hills,”
Vonk said. “We are not going to manage beyond the Hills.”
Using a variety of methods, GFP
estimates that the current population of mountain lions in South
Dakota is between 200 and 225. That population is estimated to
include 15 to 25 adult males, 75 to 80 breeding females and 110 to
120 dependent young.
GFP estimates an annual recruitment of
62 to 66 lions into the population with documented adult
mortalities of 46 in the Black Hills in 2006.
One indicator of the growing size of
the mountain lion population is the number of lions killed by
other lions. GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif said there
were four documented cases of one cougar killing another in the
previous 10 years. So far in 2007 there have been five such cases.
“It’s another indicator of the size of the mountain lion
population,” Leif said.
Black
Hills, West River Deer Seasons Finalized
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and
Parks Commission finalized the Black Hills deer season at its June
meeting in Pierre, eliminating the “two-point” provision and
directing the GFP staff to embark on an education program to
explain the change to hunters.
Last year, the department offered 5,500
resident and 440 nonresident “any buck with two points or more and
any antlerless deer” licenses. The commission’s action means that
in 2007 the department will have available 500 resident and 40
nonresident “any deer” licenses and 5,000 resident and 400
nonresident “any whitetail deer” licenses.
An additional 2,750 resident and 220
nonresident antlerless licenses will also be offered in 2007. A
similar number of antlerless tags were offered in 2006.
GFP staff advised the commission to
eliminate the two-point provision even though it was popular with
some hunters and credited as a reason why the deer populations in
the Black Hills have made a comeback.
George Vandel, assistant Wildlife
Division director, explained to the commission that the two-point
provision was one of many changes made about 10 years ago when the
Black Hills deer season was overhauled. “We made that change in
negotiation with hunters and sportsmen’s groups,” Vandel said,
“but we made it clear at the time that one day the two-point rule
would need to be eliminated.”
GFP personnel in the Black Hills
estimate that the two-point rule does not protect very many deer.
According to information provided to the commission, the rule
protects about 10 percent of bucks who “spike” in their first
year. Another 70 percent develop “fork horns” in their first year
with 20 percent developing “basket racks.”
“Protecting deer that fail to produce a
forked antler in their first year as an adolescent buck is
counterproductive to managing the Black Hills for buck quality,”
said game program administrator Tony Leif. “Our hunters have
repeatedly told us they want the opportunity to harvest nice bucks
in the Black Hills.”
Vandel told the commission that there’s
no biological basis for the two point rule, noting that deer herds
have made a comeback in the Black Hills because of harvest
restrictions and limited licenses. If the rule is eliminated,
Vandel said, “They’re not going to see any difference in the deer
herd.”
The 2007 Black Hills deer hunting
season will run from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.
At the meeting the commission also
finalized the West River deer season with small adjustments in the
number of tags issued in six units that resulted in no change in
the number of resident tags to be issued in 2007. The West River
season will run from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 and Nov. 19 to Nov. 25 in
Gregory and Mellette counties; from Nov. 3 to Nov. 25 in Dewey,
Ziebach and Corson counties; and from Nov. 10 to Nov. 25 in all
other units. Antlerless tags may be filled from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2
and from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9, 2008.
Longer
Fall Turkey Hunting Season Approved
PIERRE, S.D.—S.D. Game, Fish and Parks
Commissioners approved a longer fall turkey hunting season at
their June meeting in Pierre.
The 2007 season will run from Oct. 1 to
Jan. 31, 2008. Asked by commissioners about the need to make the
season a month longer, GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif
said, “The extra days give us another tool for controlling
depredation. When turkeys start to congregate in farm yards, we
can use hunters to take care of those issues.”
Leif explained that the fall season
provides an additional hunting opportunity. “We currently have
abundant turkeys,” he said.
Other changes from the 2006 season
include:
·
The availability of 17 percent more licenses in the Black Hills
unit and 15 percent more licenses in the prairie units.
·
Adding new units in Brookings County east of Interstate 29 and in
Brule County. Turkey hunters in Brookings County will not be
allowed to use rifles.
·
Expanding the five-county unit in northeastern South Dakota to
include all of Grant County.
East
River Deer, Antelope Hunting Seasons Proposed
PIERRE, S.D.—In an effort to increase
the harvest of antlerless deer, a proposal for the East River deer
season includes the creation of an experimental “super unit.”
The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks
Commission approved the proposal at its June meeting in Pierre.
The season will be the subject of a public hearing at the July
meeting at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.
The super unit would consist of the
McPherson, Edmunds, Faulk, Spink and Brown county units. Unfilled
tags for any of those units would be valid anywhere in the
experimental unit during the January “antlerless deer only” season
dates.
“It’s something that we’re going to try
on a one-year basis,” said Wildlife Division Assistant Director
George Vandel. He explained that pooling the five counties was a
way to simplify the hunting rules, a tactic that has brought
increased participation and increased success when applied to the
archery antelope, muzzleloader and youth deer seasons.
Commissioners also approved a proposal
for the antelope season. A robust antelope population resulted in
a proposal that includes the availability of more hunting
licenses—an increase of 1,610 resident tags over 2006 and an
increase of 127 nonresident tags.
“We have a strong antelope population,”
Vandel said.
With minor changes in the number of
licenses offered, the commission also approved a proposal for
national wildlife refuge deer hunting seasons.
The proposed hunting seasons will be
the subject of a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting
planned for July 12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A
copy of the proposal the commission will consider can be accessed
at
http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm
Citizens who would like to provide
written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July
11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks
Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to
wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the
sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the
official record.
Comments may also be presented in
person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing
which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.
Early
Fall Canada Goose, Youth Waterfowl Seasons Proposed
PIERRE, S.D.—A proposal for a
simplified early fall Canada goose hunting season was approved by
the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission at its June meeting in
Pierre.
The proposal calls for the early season
to be open in one unit that includes most of the state except for
those counties along the Missouri River, portions of Fall River
and Custer counties and Bennett County.
“This is a real simple season,” said
GFP Wildife Division Assistant Director George Vandel, “making it
easier for the hunters.”
The proposal calls for the season to
run from Sept. 8 through Sept. 28 with a daily limit of five
Canada geese. This will allow this season to roll right into the
regular Canada goose hunting season that is planned to open on
Sept. 29.
The commission also approved a proposal
for the youth waterfowl hunting season. It would be held on Sept.
22 and 23.
Both seasons will be the subject of a
public hearing at the commission’s next meeting planned for July
12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A copy of the
proposal the commission will consider can be accessed at
http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm
Citizens who would like to provide
written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July
11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks
Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to
wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the
sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the
official record.
Comments may also be presented in
person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing
which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.
Third
Mountain Lion Season Approved
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and
Parks Commission approved the state’s third consecutive mountain
lion hunting season at its June meeting in Pierre. In the process,
commissioners and GFP staff were reminded that mountain lions
continue to spark keen interest in the citizens of South Dakota.
A lengthy public hearing offered
commissioners a wide variety of opinions about the lions and the
hunting season that has been in place for the past two years.
Those opinions ranged from shutting down the season to protect the
big cats to shooting even more of the mountain lions.
Commissioners finalized a season that
GFP personnel believe will be consistent with the department’s
goal of maintaining a sustainable mountain lion population in the
Black Hills. The 2007 season will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 or
until 35 lions or 15 female lions are harvested. In 2006 the
season limits were 25 lions or eight females.
Another change in the 2007 is creation
of one statewide unit instead of using Black Hills and prairie
units. GFP Secretary Jeff Vonk explained that the department’s
management plan for lions does not extend beyond the Black Hills.
“The decision to go with a statewide season is, in essence, a
decision to manage the lion population only in the Black Hills,”
Vonk said. “We are not going to manage beyond the Hills.”
Using a variety of methods, GFP
estimates that the current population of mountain lions in South
Dakota is between 200 and 225. That population is estimated to
include 15 to 25 adult males, 75 to 80 breeding females and 110 to
120 dependent young.
GFP estimates an annual recruitment of
62 to 66 lions into the population with documented adult
mortalities of 46 in the Black Hills in 2006.
One indicator of the growing size of
the mountain lion population is the number of lions killed by
other lions. GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif said there
were four documented cases of one cougar killing another in the
previous 10 years. So far in 2007 there have been five such cases.
“It’s another indicator of the size of the mountain lion
population,” Leif said.
Black Hills, West River Deer Seasons
Finalized
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and
Parks Commission finalized the Black Hills deer season at its June
meeting in Pierre, eliminating the “two-point” provision and
directing the GFP staff to embark on an education program to
explain the change to hunters.
Last year, the department offered 5,500
resident and 440 nonresident “any buck with two points or more and
any antlerless deer” licenses. The commission’s action means that
in 2007 the department will have available 500 resident and 40
nonresident “any deer” licenses and 5,000 resident and 400
nonresident “any whitetail deer” licenses.
An additional 2,750 resident and 220
nonresident antlerless licenses will also be offered in 2007. A
similar number of antlerless tags were offered in 2006.
GFP staff advised the commission to
eliminate the two-point provision even though it was popular with
some hunters and credited as a reason why the deer populations in
the Black Hills have made a comeback.
George Vandel, assistant Wildlife
Division director, explained to the commission that the two-point
provision was one of many changes made about 10 years ago when the
Black Hills deer season was overhauled. “We made that change in
negotiation with hunters and sportsmen’s groups,” Vandel said,
“but we made it clear at the time that one day the two-point rule
would need to be eliminated.”
GFP personnel in the Black Hills
estimate that the two-point rule does not protect very many deer.
According to information provided to the commission, the rule
protects about 10 percent of bucks who “spike” in their first
year. Another 70 percent develop “fork horns” in their first year
with 20 percent developing “basket racks.”
“Protecting deer that fail to produce a
forked antler in their first year as an adolescent buck is
counterproductive to managing the Black Hills for buck quality,”
said game program administrator Tony Leif. “Our hunters have
repeatedly told us they want the opportunity to harvest nice bucks
in the Black Hills.”
Vandel told the commission that there’s
no biological basis for the two point rule, noting that deer herds
have made a comeback in the Black Hills because of harvest
restrictions and limited licenses. If the rule is eliminated,
Vandel said, “They’re not going to see any difference in the deer
herd.”
The 2007 Black Hills deer hunting
season will run from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.
At the meeting the commission also
finalized the West River deer season with small adjustments in the
number of tags issued in six units that resulted in no change in
the number of resident tags to be issued in 2007. The West River
season will run from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 and Nov. 19 to Nov. 25 in
Gregory and Mellette counties; from Nov. 3 to Nov. 25 in Dewey,
Ziebach and Corson counties; and from Nov. 10 to Nov. 25 in all
other units. Antlerless tags may be filled from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2
and from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9, 2008.
Longer
Fall Turkey Hunting Season Approved
PIERRE, S.D.—S.D. Game, Fish and Parks
Commissioners approved a longer fall turkey hunting season at
their June meeting in Pierre.
The 2007 season will run from Oct. 1 to
Jan. 31, 2008. Asked by commissioners about the need to make the
season a month longer, GFP Game Program Administrator Tony Leif
said, “The extra days give us another tool for controlling
depredation. When turkeys start to congregate in farm yards, we
can use hunters to take care of those issues.”
Leif explained that the fall season
provides an additional hunting opportunity. “We currently have
abundant turkeys,” he said.
Other changes from the 2006 season
include:
·
The availability of 17 percent more licenses in the Black Hills
unit and 15 percent more licenses in the prairie units.
·
Adding new units in Brookings County east of Interstate 29 and in
Brule County. Turkey hunters in Brookings County will not be
allowed to use rifles.
·
Expanding the five-county unit in northeastern South Dakota to
include all of Grant County.
East
River Deer, Antelope Hunting Seasons Proposed
PIERRE, S.D.—In an effort to increase
the harvest of antlerless deer, a proposal for the East River deer
season includes the creation of an experimental “super unit.”
The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks
Commission approved the proposal at its June meeting in Pierre.
The season will be the subject of a public hearing at the July
meeting at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.
The super unit would consist of the
McPherson, Edmunds, Faulk, Spink and Brown county units. Unfilled
tags for any of those units would be valid anywhere in the
experimental unit during the January “antlerless deer only” season
dates.
“It’s something that we’re going to try
on a one-year basis,” said Wildlife Division Assistant Director
George Vandel. He explained that pooling the five counties was a
way to simplify the hunting rules, a tactic that has brought
increased participation and increased success when applied to the
archery antelope, muzzleloader and youth deer seasons.
Commissioners also approved a proposal
for the antelope season. A robust antelope population resulted in
a proposal that includes the availability of more hunting
licenses—an increase of 1,610 resident tags over 2006 and an
increase of 127 nonresident tags.
“We have a strong antelope population,”
Vandel said.
With minor changes in the number of
licenses offered, the commission also approved a proposal for
national wildlife refuge deer hunting seasons.
The proposed hunting seasons will be
the subject of a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting
planned for July 12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A
copy of the proposal the commission will consider can be accessed
at
http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm
Citizens who would like to provide
written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July
11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks
Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to
wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the
sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the
official record.
Comments may also be presented in
person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing
which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.
Early
Fall Canada Goose, Youth Waterfowl Seasons Proposed
PIERRE, S.D.—A proposal for a
simplified early fall Canada goose hunting season was approved by
the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission at its June meeting in
Pierre.
The proposal calls for the early season
to be open in one unit that includes most of the state except for
those counties along the Missouri River, portions of Fall River
and Custer counties and Bennett County.
“This is a real simple season,” said
GFP Wildife Division Assistant Director George Vandel, “making it
easier for the hunters.”
The proposal calls for the season to
run from Sept. 8 through Sept. 28 with a daily limit of five
Canada geese. This will allow this season to roll right into the
regular Canada goose hunting season that is planned to open on
Sept. 29.
The commission also approved a proposal
for the youth waterfowl hunting season. It would be held on Sept.
22 and 23.
Both seasons will be the subject of a
public hearing at the commission’s next meeting planned for July
12 and 13 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. A copy of the
proposal the commission will consider can be accessed at
http://www.sdgfp.info/Commission/Proposals.htm
Citizens who would like to provide
written comments on this may do so until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July
11. Those comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks
Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 or e-mailed to
wildinfo@state.sd.us. All comments must include the
sender’s full name and address in order to become part of the
official record.
Comments may also be presented in
person at the GFP Commission meeting during the public hearing
which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 7.
