Waterfowl & Elk Seasons Finalized

[Rick]

First Buffalo Calf of the Season Spotted at Custer State Park

CUSTER STATE PARK SD – The first buffalo calf of the spring, a heifer,

in Custer State Park was spotted on April 7, 2012. It was found by park staff in the south end of the park near the south fork of Lame Johnny Creek.

The park has about 900 head of bison going into the spring and is expecting around 400 calves. The herd size should be around 1,300 at the Annual Buffalo Roundup in September.

“Spring is a perfect time to view wildlife in the park, and with the winter moisture everything is greening up,” said Chad Kremer, buffalo herd manager. “Deer, antelope, turkey and buffalo can be seen throughout the park right now.”

Visitors are advised to leave buffalo calves alone. It can be dangerous to approach baby animals, particularly buffalo calves. If a mother buffalo feels she or her calf is threatened, she may charge.

“Occasionally, people will think a buffalo calf has been orphaned and try to rescue it,” said Kremer. “This is rarely true; buffalo may roam up to one mile from their calves and come back later for them.”

Most buffalo calves are born in May, but around 10 percent to 20 percent arrive in April at Custer State Park.

For additional information on Custer State Park, please contact the park at 605-255-4515 or visit www.custerstatepark.com.

[Rick]

BROOKINGS SD – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized 2012 license structure details for nonresident waterfowl, tundra swan, and special Canada goose hunting seasons, with the same structure as 2011.

Hunting dates for most of those waterfowl seasons will not be finalized until early August, and will be based on the season framework provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The maximum number of nonresident waterfowl licenses available by lottery drawing will be 4,000 special nonresident waterfowl licenses, 2,000 early fall Canada goose temporary nonresident licenses, 2,000 fall three-day temporary nonresident waterfowl licenses, and 10,000 spring snow goose temporary nonresident licenses.

The tundra swan season will open Oct. 1 and run through the conclusion of the fall light goose season. There will be 1,100 resident licenses and 200 nonresident licenses available to individuals who are licensed to hunt waterfowl.

The tundra swan season will be open in east of the Missouri River except Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay, Union, Lincoln, Turner, Hutchinson and Douglas counties.

Bennett County will have a Canada goose season available by special permit only, open Oct. 20 through Dec. 23. There will be 800 three-tag licenses available to South Dakota residents. In addition, 25 nonresident two-tag licenses will be available as part of the nonresident waterfowl license quota.

The application process for those licenses will open by mid June. The application deadline for the lottery drawing of licenses will be July 6 for nonresident waterfowl licenses and Bennett County goose licenses, and Aug. 10 for tundra swan licenses.

South Dakota GFP Commission Finalizes Elk Seasons

BROOKINGS SD – The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission has voted to reduce the number of "antlerless elk" tags available to hunters.

The Black Hills Firearms Elk Season will have 570 total tags available, with 175 being antlerless.

The Black Hills Archery Elk Season will have 97 total tags available, with 15 antlerless.

Custer State Park will have four resident "any elk" tags available, and the Late Archery Season in the park will be closed for 2012.

The Commission reduced the proposed number of antlerless tags after considering public input at a meeting in Rapid City. While the elk population is low in some parts of the Black Hills, the Department of Game, Fish and Parks is still receiving depredation complaints from landowners in the Hills where the elk population is still good.

The Commission also set the 2012 Prairie Elk Season. The season will offer 47 "any elk" and 53 "antlerless elk" licenses, compared to 49 "any elk" and 79 "antlerless elk" licenses in 2011.

A new Prairie Elk Unit was added in the portion of Fall River County, south of the Cheyenne River and west of Highway 385. That unit, 27A, will have a season from Sept 1 – Oct 31.

Unit 09A, which includes portions of Butte and Lawrence County, will now have a split season for elk. The new season dates are Sept 15 – Oct 31 and Dec 1- 15.

Unit 30A, which includes portions of Gregory and Boyd County, Nebraska, will have a split season running from Sept 29- Oct 28 and Dec. 1- 31 to coincide with the changes made by Nebraska for that shared elk unit.

In other Commission action, the Custer State Park Deer Season was finalized with 10 "any whitetail" and two "any deer" tags available.

The Bighorn Sheep Hunting season will have two "any bighorn sheep" licenses available, a reduction of one tag from 2011.

[Rick]

BROOKINGS SD – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has finalized 2012 license structure details for nonresident waterfowl, tundra swan, and special Canada goose hunting seasons, with the same structure as 2011.

Hunting dates for most of those waterfowl seasons will not be finalized until early August, and will be based on the season framework provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The maximum number of nonresident waterfowl licenses available by lottery drawing will be 4,000 special nonresident waterfowl licenses, 2,000 early fall Canada goose temporary nonresident licenses, 2,000 fall three-day temporary nonresident waterfowl licenses, and 10,000 spring snow goose temporary nonresident licenses.

The tundra swan season will open Oct. 1 and run through the conclusion of the fall light goose season. There will be 1,100 resident licenses and 200 nonresident licenses available to individuals who are licensed to hunt waterfowl.

The tundra swan season will be open in east of the Missouri River except Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay, Union, Lincoln, Turner, Hutchinson and Douglas counties.

Bennett County will have a Canada goose season available by special permit only, open Oct. 20 through Dec. 23. There will be 800 three-tag licenses available to South Dakota residents. In addition, 25 nonresident two-tag licenses will be available as part of the nonresident waterfowl license quota.

The application process for those licenses will open by mid June. The application deadline for the lottery drawing of licenses will be July 6 for nonresident waterfowl licenses and Bennett County goose licenses, and Aug. 10 for tundra swan licenses.

South Dakota GFP Commission Finalizes Elk Seasons

BROOKINGS SD – The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission has voted to reduce the number of "antlerless elk" tags available to hunters.

The Black Hills Firearms Elk Season will have 570 total tags available, with 175 being antlerless.

The Black Hills Archery Elk Season will have 97 total tags available, with 15 antlerless.

Custer State Park will have four resident "any elk" tags available, and the Late Archery Season in the park will be closed for 2012.

The Commission reduced the proposed number of antlerless tags after considering public input at a meeting in Rapid City. While the elk population is low in some parts of the Black Hills, the Department of Game, Fish and Parks is still receiving depredation complaints from landowners in the Hills where the elk population is still good.

The Commission also set the 2012 Prairie Elk Season. The season will offer 47 "any elk" and 53 "antlerless elk" licenses, compared to 49 "any elk" and 79 "antlerless elk" licenses in 2011.

A new Prairie Elk Unit was added in the portion of Fall River County, south of the Cheyenne River and west of Highway 385. That unit, 27A, will have a season from Sept 1 – Oct 31.

Unit 09A, which includes portions of Butte and Lawrence County, will now have a split season for elk. The new season dates are Sept 15 – Oct 31 and Dec 1- 15.

Unit 30A, which includes portions of Gregory and Boyd County, Nebraska, will have a split season running from Sept 29- Oct 28 and Dec. 1- 31 to coincide with the changes made by Nebraska for that shared elk unit.

In other Commission action, the Custer State Park Deer Season was finalized with 10 "any whitetail" and two "any deer" tags available.

The Bighorn Sheep Hunting season will have two "any bighorn sheep" licenses available, a reduction of one tag from 2011.