The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department has been monitoring die-offs of white-tailed deer across portions of the state and must make adjustments to some West River deer hunting units.

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The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized rules for the 2011 East River deer and antelope hunting seasons in South Dakota.

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The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized rules for the 2011 East River deer and antelope hunting seasons in South Dakota.

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What started as a posting on the social media website Facebook, turned into the investigation of a South Dakota hunting trip.

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As hunters in South Dakota prepare for the various big game seasons, they are reminded that use of salt licks and bait stations is prohibited.

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South Dakota sportsmen donated over $14,000 to the Turn In Poachers program during the 2009 big game license season.

The 1,700 sportsmen not only contributed cash and checks, but also took advantage of the opportunity to donate funds as part of the process for purchasing general hunting, fishing and trapping licenses and applying for big game licenses.

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PIERRE, S.D. - As hunters in South Dakota prepare for the various deer seasons, they are reminded that use of salt licks and bait stations is prohibited.

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PIERRE, S.D. - A new grant program from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department seeks to help child-care providers increase the amount of time children spend outdoors.

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NEWTOWN, Conn.—Whether you're a hunter, target shooter, own a firearm for self protection or don't own a firearm at all, the National Shooting Sports Foundation asks you to be informed about AR-15-style rifles.

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PIERRE, S.D. – People who have received the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department’s Public Lands Hunting Atlas may want to check the GFP Web site for additional hunting-access opportunities.

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RAPID CITY, S.D. - It's rare to see impressive big-game animals exhibiting annual rights-of-passage and aggressive instincts, but motorists near the Cleghorn Springs Fish Hatchery and in the Hill City area are being asked to slow down for sparring bighorn sheep.

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PIERRE, S.D. - The Turn In Poacher's program, a cooperative effort between Wildlife Protection Inc. and South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department, is offering a $1,000 reward for the identification and arrest of the person or people responsible for the death of a moose near Deerfield Reservoir about Oct. 1.

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PIERRE - An opportunity for those interested in hunting antlerless deer to list names and contact information online is now available on the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Web site.

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RAPID CITY, S.D. – Hunters who need to clear freezer room for this year’s deer, elk, and other wild game can help needy South Dakotans by donating game meat to the South Dakota Sportsmen against Hunger program.

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BRANDON, S.D. - Fiddlers, homestead living, pioneer farming, Civil War soldiering, blacksmithing, pioneer crafts and outdoor cooking will greet visitors to Beaver Creek Nature Area near Brandon on Sunday, Sept. 13.

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MILBANK, S.D – Grab your bow and head to Hartford Beach State Park to show off your skills. The annual 3-D Archery shoot sponsored by the Milbank Valley Archers is Sept. 12-13. Contestants can register between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sat, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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PIERRE, S.D.- Due its supportive congressional representation and the collaborative effort of Sen. Tim Johnson and Sen. John Thune makes South Dakota a recipient of $3.4 million each year for five years because of The Teaming with Wildlife Act. The fund will be used carry out South Dakota’s Wildlife.

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Good news for hunting enthusiasts living across South Dakota as HuntSAFE class is being offered. If you are 12 years onwards then you qualify in the said HuntSAFE class. After completion successful graduates will receive a hunter education card which they can use in any South Dakota open hunting season. For information on area HuntSAFE classes, visit the GFP Web site at www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Safety/HuntSAFEIndex.htm

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The Game, Fish and Parks Department has produced the backyard bird booklet to give readers tips on how to identify and attract birds. A bird checklist will help you document your growing bird list.

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PIERRE, S.D. – Chad Tussing, Education Services Coordinator for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department, has been honored by the South Dakota Science Teachers Association with the 2009 Friend of Science Award.


SDSTA presents the award each year to an individual for their support of South Dakota students and the work done by the association. “We are proud to work with such a generous educator,” Mark Farrand, executive board member for SDSTA said. “Chad gives of his time, energy and ideas selflessly for the betterment of learners of all ages across South Dakota.”

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Mitchell, SD - February 25, 2009 - Pheasants Forever (PF) is proud to announce that the 700-member strong organization Pheasant Country, LTD of Mitchell , South Dakota , has converted to a PF chapter and is now known as the Pheasant Country Chapter of PF. The chapter will continue its tradition of holding its annual banquet on the eve of the South Dakota pheasant opener at the World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell.

PF is the only national conservation organization that empowers local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds are spent. This local control allows chapters to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities.

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PIERRE, S.D.- Friday marks the close of South Dakota’s Canada goose season along the Missouri River. However, goose hunters won’t have to wait long for another goose season as Saturday opens the light goose conservation order. The conservation order is an attempt to reduce the population of mid-continent light geese causing extensive damage to their arctic nesting grounds. In the most recent 4-year period, hunters in South Dakota bagged an estimated 105,000 light geese annually during the spring conservation order.

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PIERRE, S.D. –The Game Fish and Parks Commission made no changes to a coveted big game tag at their January meeting in Pierre. The “Special Buck” licenses, will remain at the same level as they were in 2008. These licenses are valid on private land only for either the East River Deer season or West River Deer season. Five hundred resident and 500 nonresident any deer licenses will be available for the West River Deer Season, and 400 resident any deer licenses for the East River Deer Season.

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PIERRE, S.D. – While hunting seasons may be concluding, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is beginning the difficult process of determining the past year’s big game harvest as part of planning for 2009 management needs.

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PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is sending out two separate surveys to explore participation and activities of hunters in this state.

One survey will be tailored specifically to female deer hunters, asking a randomly selected sample of 2,000 their opinions, attitudes, motivations and constraints to their hunt.

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PIERRE, S.D. - Starting this Saturday, South Dakota hunters will get another chance to bag a deer.

The muzzleloader deer season will run December 13, 2008-January 31, 2009. All “any deer” tags will convert to “antlerless deer” after December 31, 2008. Hunters participating in the season must use a muzzleloader with open or peep sites and it must be capable of shooting a .44 caliber bullet or larger.

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PIERRE, S.D. – Applications for South Dakota’s 2008-09 resident big game depredation pool are now available. This is a no-cost, on-line application program only.

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Pierre, S.D. – While some hunting opportunities are drawing to an end, the Game, Fish and Parks Department reminds hunters that there are still many big game licenses still available.

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PIERRE, S.D. - All good things, even a day of hunting, must come to an end. In South Dakota, that means when the sun sets, it's time for hunters to call in the dogs and call it a day.

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PIERRE, S.D.—Two of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department’s most popular publications are now available to the public.

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In addition to their regular business, Game, Fish and Parks Commissioners will get a history lesson when they conduct their August meeting at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park. The commission's agenda for the one-day meeting on Aug. 7 includes a tour of the park, located 10 miles southwest of Lake City. 

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The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department has announced the grant recipients for this year's No Child Left Inside small grant program.  "We received nearly 60 applications for this year's funding. That was a tremendous response, especially since this was the first year we've offered the program," said Chad Tussing, education services coordinator for the GFP Division of Wildlife. Applications were scored by a team of reviewers. A total of $5,000 was allotted for the small grant program.  Applicants requested amounts between $500 and $1,000 each.

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RAPID CITY, S.D.--Following action by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission, a framework of rules is in place to allow mentored youth hunting in South Dakota.

The commission’s action was prompted by a law passed in the last session of the Legislature that established mentored youth hunting. Now the rules are in place to allow youth who are accompanied by a mentor to hunt this fall.

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After a record year of antlerless deer donations, South Dakota's Sportsmen Against Hunger Program is expanding to include payments for the processing of doe and fawn antelope. The program will continue to offer a $50 processing certificate for antlerless deer and for 2008 will also offer a $40 processing certificate for doe and fawn antelope. The certificates are available directly from the processors with the majority of participating processors accepting the Sportsman Against Hunger certificate as the full payment for processing. After processing the meat is distributed to families who need meat.

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As South Dakota's antelope population reaches a near-record size, the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission has approved a hunting season that offers significantly more licenses and tags.  To increase the harvest of antelope, the 2008 season will offer two new types of licenses: a three-tag license good for any antelope and two doe/fawn antelope and a three-tag license good for three doe/fawn antelope.

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According to harvest surveys compiled by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department, last year saw the all-time highest recorded deer harvest in the state and it was the eighth straight year that deer harvest has increased.

GFP Game Harvest Survey Coordinator Corey Huxoll said that estimates indicate approximately 70,000 white-tailed deer and 17,000 mule deer were harvested during the 2007 hunting seasons, for a total of more than 87,000 deer. That is a slight increase of about 300 deer from 2006 and a significant increase of more than 41,000 deer since 1999.

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PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota’s hunting heritage has traditionally been passed from one generation to the next. Recognizing that linage, and wanting to help it along, the S.D. Legislature approved a bill this year that allows children as young as 10 years of age to take part in mentored hunting opportunities.

“Having youngsters in the field is nothing new in South Dakota,” said Tony Leif, director of the Wildlife Division of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “Many South Dakotans learned about hunting and the outdoors well before they were old enough to hunt.”

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PIERRE, S.D.—Mountain lions will be a recurring agenda item when the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission conducts its May meeting at Custer State Park. The meeting will be held Thursday and Friday, May 1 and 2 at the State Game Lodge.

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HURON, S.D.—With the arrival of spring, people are anxious to get outdoors and enjoy the nice weather. The S.D. Outdoor Expo to be held on the S.D. State Fairgrounds on May 17-18 will be a great opportunity for the whole family to get outside, enjoy the outdoors and learn a few new activities that they can enjoy all summer long. There are nearly 100 activities and booths for people to visit. There is sure to be something for everyone.

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PIERRE, S.D.—In 2007 the South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger organization chose “Feed the Need” as its new slogan. And the state’s hunters did just that, making record contributions of venison to the program that helps feed the less fortunate.

“The hunters of South Dakota really outdid themselves this year,” said Jeff Olson, president of Sportsmen Against Hunger. “They donated 75,000 pounds of venison, up from 45,000 pounds the year before.”

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BROOKINGS, S.D.—Reacting to the success of a management plan designed to reduce the size of the Black Hills elk herd, the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved a 2008 hunting season that offers fewer elk licenses. The commission also finalized archery elk, prairie elk and bighorn sheep hunting seasons at its April meeting in Brookings.

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PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Game, Fish and Parks has completed a month-long investigation into a reported mountain lion attack on the shoreline of Sheridan Lake in the Black Hills and concluded that the attack probably occurred but did not find enough evidence to confirm it.

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PIERRE, S.D. – The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department is seeking landowners who are interested in joining a new big game hunting access program in 2008--the Controlled Hunter Access Program.

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PIERRE, S.D. – Enrollment in the 2008 Walk-In Area, S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department hunting access program, has begun and will be open for enrollment until June 1.

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PIERRE, S.D.--Two unique hunting opportunities were among the season proposals considered by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission at its March meeting in Pierre.

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PIERRE, S.D.—With most of South Dakota’s hunting seasons closed, hunters should be taking extra precautions to make sure that their firearms are stored safely.

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HURON, S.D.--Not your typical sports show, South Dakota’s first statewide Outdoor Expo is a free event that will provide activities for the enthusiast and take a hands-on approach to introducing families to outdoor activities.

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PIERRE, S.D.—Hunters still have plenty of opportunities for making donations of antlerless deer to the Sportsmen Against Hunger program.

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