SD Game Fish and Parks Commission Sept Hybrid Meeting- Rapid City

SD Game Fish and Parks Commission September’s Hybrid Meeting is to be in Rapid City, SD

More information will be posted here: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/, but  normally when closer to the date (maybe the Friday orvMonday before the meeting.) To see rule change proposals or petitions download the Commission Book once published.

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September 5, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. MT | September 6, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. MTOutdoor Campus West — Rapid City, SD | Livestream link 

Zoom Meeting Link | To join via conference call, dial 1.669.900.9128 | Webinar ID: 912 6417 6710 | Passcode: 970458

September Agenda:

https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Agenda_-_September_5-6,_2024.pdf

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RESULTS

The Commission adopted the proposed rules. They approved the Antelope Action Plan. They amended the proposed Mt. Lion Action Plan to drop population objectives down from 200-300 lions to 150-250 lions. This will result in overhunting of lions.  There will be another 30 day comment period, with changes adopted (or not) at October meeting.

The SDGFP will have an Endangered Species Review on Friday morning, likely after 9 am.  This may be the biennial review of the state’s threatened and endangered species list, that is mandated by the legislature. It was expected in July, but this is likely it.  The Commission puts or removes species on or off the list as rule making.

RULE CHANGE FINALIZATIONS

In September there will be rule change finalization hearings on spring turkey season, bobcat season and fishing regulations. To view these proposed rules view the Commission Book for the  July meeting or the Sept meetings:

JULY

https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/July_2024_Commission_Book.pdf

SEPTEMBER

https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/September_2024_GFP_Commission_Book.pdf

GFP needs to reduce bobcat hunting in the Black Hills as the bobcat population is dropping below their objectives. They propose to change the unlimited take, to just one bobcat per hunter/trapper in the Black Hills.  We support dropping the allowed take per hunter/trapper. Hound hunting of bob cats is allowed and we object to that. Trapping of bob cats is allowed and in SD there is a three and a partial day trap check time requirement.  Many states require 24 hour trap check times.  We ask for 24 hour trap check times or at least 30 hours as a compromise.  Bobcat Action Plan approved this spring https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Bobcat_Management_Action_Plan_2024-2028.pdf

View bobcat season proposal to be approved in Sept: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/bobcatPropgfp.July_2024_Commission_Book-4.pdf  

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GFP proposes reductions in out-of-state licenses for spring turkey hunting, to address complaints of in-state hunters over excessive take of turkeys by out-of-state hunters.  The reduction offered is less than what the in-state hunters asked for. The South Dakota Wildlife Federation (SDWF) asked for  licenses for out-of-state folks to be limited to 22% of the number of total spring turkey licenses  or about 661 licenses and the GFP instead offered to  limit the number of nonresident licenses to 2,225 one-tag male turkey licenses in the Black Hills hunting unit.  SDWF and others express concern for low turkey population numbers.

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Changes to fish limits at Belle Fourche Reservoir , Lake Oahe salmon snagging and reporting requirements for private fish hatcheries are proposed.

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ACTION PLANs

At the July Commission meeting they reviewed a draft Mountain Lion Action Plan, which was to be put out for public comment. The public comment deadline is August 16th. The Commission must act at this meeting to approve the Acton Plan.  Info at this link https://gfp.sd.gov/management-plans/. To view  draft Mountain Lion Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/MtLion-ActionPlangfp.July_2024_Commission_Book-3.pdf

For talking points see our comments: –

Here is a copy of the first letter that PHAS sent in on August 16th on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/PHAS-Comments-on-the-Mountain-Lion-Action-Plan-.pdf

Here is a copy of the second letter that PHAS sent on Sept 1st on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/gfp.PHAS_.2nd-Letter-Mt-Lion-Action-Plan.pdf

Here is a copy of a set of printed handouts that PHAS gave the Commission during public testimony on the draft Action Plans: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/cover-letter_ActionPlans6.pdf

PHAS may have an informal discussion meeting by Zoom in an evening just before the Meeting – contact Nancy if you want to attend that – 605-787-6466, has.wsd@rapidnet.com

We always object to the 365 day year round hunting season on the Statewide/Prairie Unit. We object to hound hunting of lions on Custer State Park and the Statewide/Prairie Unit, which is all of SD outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District (BHFPD).  SD GFP does not manage for viable populations outside of the BHFPD. We believe that SDGFP should have objectives for viable populations of mountain lions at least on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations, as both tribes manage for viable populations and due to Allotment Acts reservation properties in SD are checker boarded with mixed tribal and Caucasian ownership. GFP has jurisdiction over properties with Caucasian ownership. It should provide for connectivity corridors between the Black  Hills with Reservation properties.

We object to this goal in the Plan at the eleventh page: “Objective 2: Manage mountain lion populations for both maximum and quality recreational hunting opportunities, considering all social and biological inputs.”  SD has an endangered species act and thus the legislature does not wish for populations of any native species to become extirpated.  We suggest this clause does not adequately balance the ecological benefits of mountain lions, an apex predator and keystone species with benefits of  human recreation. Wildlife watchers exceed hunters in USFWS studies and their recreational needs also matter. The word “maximum” should be dropped.

While the formal public comment period on the Plan ends August 16, you can still send in written public comment for the Commission meeting by Sept 1st & testify at the meeting.

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Public Comments Received

The Public Comments can be found in the Commission Book . The public comments start at page 101 and go on for about 100 pages. Comments on the Mt Lion Action Plan take up about 48 pages of 101.  The long formal letters written by groups are at the end of the public comments:

https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/September_2024_GFP_Commission_Book.pdf

Written comments for the Commission could have been submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the most immediate Commission meeting, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting)  If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting.  We believe if you hand them comments directly, in person at the meeting, they are included in the meeting’s record.

You can testify at GFP meetings which are held in person and by Zoom, generally at 2 pm on the Thursday of the meeting, in time zone of the meeting. If there is rule finalization(s) you get 3 minutes per each rule you want to testify on. During the Open Forum, you get 3 minutes to testify on anything. To conduct the public hearing and/or open forum as efficiently as possible GFP asks those wishing to testify to register by 1:00 pm CT by email to Liz.Kierl@state.sd.us. However they are polite and at the end of each commenting period, normally ask if anyone who didn’t register wants to testify.