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 orMonday before the meeting.) To see rule change proposals or petitions download the Commission Book : 

Go to July 2024 PHAS calendar notice on July Commission meetings – notice for the July meeting will have information on the Sept meeting – visit:. https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-july-commission-meeting/

In September 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: https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/July_2024_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  

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 expressed concern for low turkey population numbers.

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

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

We will create talking points on the Mt Lion Action Plan, but 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.

Written comments for the Commission can be 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 .
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.