GFP Commission Decides Against Longer Pheasant Season

BROOKINGS, S.D.—Heeding the concerns of landowners and sportsmen’s groups, the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission decided against a proposal that would have lengthened the pheasant season to the end of January.



The commission took the action at its April meeting in Brookings. The 2008 season will adhere to traditional dates, starting on the third Saturday of October—Oct. 18—and ending on the first Sunday of January—Jan. 4.


The commission heard testimony both for and against the proposal at a public hearing in Brookings. The department also received more than 200 e-mail and telephone comments about the proposal. Commissioners said they also received numerous phone calls and comments about the proposed change.


Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel explained to the commission that with South Dakota enjoying a near record pheasant population, the state has the rooster pheasant population for a longer season. “We see our job as maximizing the recreational opportunity when the resource can handle it,” Vandel said. “The nesting habitat benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program or CRP acres are responsible for our strong pheasant populations.”


On a 6-1 vote, commissioners agreed with the concerns of landowners and sportsmen’s groups who said that the pheasant hunting season was already long enough. It was evident from the outpouring of comments, Vandel said, that the people of South Dakota care deeply about the pheasant resource.


To keep the upland game bird seasons uniform, proposals had been offered to lengthen the grouse, partridge and quail seasons. Like the pheasant season, those seasons will end on Jan. 4. The grouse and partridge seasons will start on Sept. 20 and the quail season will start on Oct. 18. The sage grouse season will be held on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25.


The commission also expanded the youth pheasant season to five days. It will run Oct. 4 through Oct. 8. The commission also modified the youth season to begin at 10 a.m. each day instead of the traditional noon opener to give youngsters the ability to hunt when it is cooler. The resident-only pheasant season has been set for Oct. 11 through Oct. 13. More information about South Dakota’s pheasant hunting seasons is available at the GFP Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Pheasant/Index.htm.