The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission held their meeting at the Spearfish Holiday Inn, July 7-8.

WILDLIFE FINALIZATIONS

The commission voted to finalize several proposals from previous meetings. To view them in their entirety, visit gfp.sd.gov/commission/ information/.

Turkey Hunting Recruitment Licenses

The commission voted to establish 10 Turkey Hunting Recruitment licenses to be used statewide except for Custer State Park.

Only non-governmental organizations (NGO) that promote wildlife conservation and the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters are eligible for these licenses. Up to two licenses can be allocated to an individual NGO.

A mentored youth turkey recruitment license sponsored by an NGO will be available to those youth 15 years of age and younger that do not already possess any type of spring turkey hunting license. The sponsoring NGO will cover the cost of the $5 mentor tag, while assisting the youth through the licensing process.

Fall Turkey Hunting Season

The commission finalized the 2022 and 2023 fall turkey hunting seasons. Season dates will Nov. 1 – Jan. 31. Two Hundred (200) resident and 16 nonresident single tag “any turkey” licenses are available for the Black Hills and 1,700 single tag and 50 double tag “any turkey” resident licenses and 72 single and four (4) double tag “any turkey” nonresident licenses are available for the prairie units.

Archery and Muzzleloader Deer

The commission simplified administrative rule which allows for “antlerless whitetail deer” muzzleloader or archery deer licenses in only those units that offer firearm antlerless deer licenses. This excludes Custer State Park from the archery and muzzleloader deer hunting seasons.

CWD Regulations

The commission voted to clean-up administrative rule, clarifying that wildlife processing facilities must dispose of all cervid (deer and elk) parts with a waste management provider, if an allowable item or permitted landfill.

Mourning Dove Season

The commission voted to allow for mourning dove hunting at Shadehill State Recreation Area in Perkins County. This will provide additional hunting opportunities without compromising the objectives and services provided at the recreation area.

Firearm and Archery Antelope Hunting Seasons

The commission finalized the 2022-23 antelope hunting seasons with dates of Oct. 1-16, 2022 and Sept. 30 – Oct. 15, 2023. Tag numbers for the two coming seasons are 2,335 “buck only” licenses and 50 resident and 50 nonresident special antelope licenses.

The commission also finalized 2022-23 archery antelope hunting seasons by changing the license type from a license that allows for the take of a buck or doe antelope, to a license that only allows the harvest of a buck. This season is set with season dates of Aug. 20 – Oct. 31, 2022 (closed during firearm season) and Aug. 19 – Oct. 31, 2023 (closed during firearm season).

Mentored Antelope Hunting Season

The commission voted to change the mentored antelope licenses to be valid on private land only, in any open firearm hunting unit west of the Missouri River.

WILDLIFE PROPOSALS

Spring Turkey

The commission proposed the 2023 spring turkey seasons, The proposed season dates would be:

• April 15 – May 31, 2023: Archery and single-season Prairie units

• April 15 – May 31, 2023: Black Hills

• April 15 – May 12, 2023: Split-season early Prairie units

• May 13 – May 31, 2023: Split-season late Prairie units The commission proposed several changes to the spring turkey seasons. These proposed changes include: 1. Modify the season dates for all spring turkey hunting seasons to begin on the third Saturday of April and end on May 31.

2. Adjust the maximum number of licenses available in administrative rule from no more than 5,807 to 10,000 one-tag “male turkey” licenses and from no more than 600 to 2,500 two-tag “male turkey” licenses.

3. Eliminate Unit BST-BH2, which provides for a second Black Hills spring turkey licenses for resident hunters.

4. Modify the season dates for those prairie units with split season seasons.

5. Modify the valid time during the season when access permits are valid for Good Earth State Park and Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.

6. Modify the valid time during the season when hunters can have uncased weapons within the boundary of Sica Hollow State Park.

Custer State Park Turkey

The commission proposed the 2023 and 2024 Custer State Park turkey seasons. The proposed season dates would be:

• April 15 – May 21, 2023

• April 20 – May 19, 2024 The only proposed change from previous seasons would be to move the season start date to the third Saturday in April.

Peregrine Falcon Downlisting

The commission proposed to downlist the peregrine falcon from endangered to threatened on the state list of threatened and endangered bird species.

FISHERIES PROPOSALS

Fish Importation The commission proposed to modify language in the rule listing importation requirements of fish to better describe current definitions of pathogens or diseases of regulatory concern.

SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION General Fish Provisions and Limits

The commission proposed four changes to fishing limits and provisions. These changes are:

• Remove restrictions on when ice fishing shelters can be left overnight on public waters.

• Remove language referencing gear specifications for the noncommercial take of smelt.

• Remove the 15” minimum length limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass on Burke Lake in Gregory County

• Place a 15” minimum length limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass on Lake Mitchell in Davison County.

Hoop Nets, Traps, Setlines and Floatlines

The commission proposed two changes to the hoop nets, traps, setlines and floatlines rules. They are:

• Change check times for hoop nets, traps and setlines from 72 hours to 24 hours.

• Modify language to allow someone besides the licensee to run hoop nets, traps, setlines and floatlines if the licensee is present.

Paddlefish Seasons

Thecommissionproposedtwochangestothepaddlefishsnagging and archery seasons. They are:

• Administrative rule clean up related to paddlefish preference points. Preference points will still be available for purchase from Sept. 15 – Dec. 15 for all paddlefish seasons.

• Add crossbows as a legal method of take for paddlefish during archery seasons.

Persons with Disabilities

The commission proposed creating a permit to allow an individual to assist a disabled angler with lawful fishing activities.

Public Comments Currently Being Accepted

If you would like to comment on any of these proposals, visit gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions. Comments can also be mailed to 523 E. Capitol Ave Pierre, SD To hear the discussion on these proposals, audio from the meeting is available through South Dakota Public Broadcasting and will soon be available on the GFP website as part of the meeting archive.

To see these proposals in their entirety, visit gfp.sd.gov/commission/ information.

To be included in the public record and to be considered by the commission, comments must include a full name and city of residence and be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 29.

The next GFP Commission meeting will be held Sept. 1-2 in Sioux Falls.