• BE "WILD IN THE WINTER" AT ADAMS HOMESTEAD AND NATURE PRESERVE
• OSPREY REINTRODUCTION IN SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
• CHANGES PROPOSED FOR FISHING REGULATIONS
• NEW PARK ENTRANCE LICENSES AVAILABLE FOR 2004
• "TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAILS" EVENT AT LAFRAMBOISE ISLAND
• CHANGES FOR ROAD HUNTING
• SALMON STATION COLLECTING EGGS FOR STOCKING

BE "WILD IN THE WINTER" AT ADAMS HOMESTEAD AND NATURE PRESERVE

PIERRE - Winter animals will be the highlight at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve on Saturday, Nov. 1. The park is hosting an educational Walk in the Park titled "Wild in the Winter."

Participants will explore the park's trails and learn about the animals that continue to be awake and active through the winter months. The low-intensity walk will begin at 10 a.m. and cover approximately two miles. Participants should dress accordingly for the weather and wear good hiking shoes.

There is no cost for participation in the guided walk, but pre-registration is recommended. To pre-register or for more information, call Adams Homestead at (605) 232-0873. Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is located one mile west and a half-mile south of Interstate 29, exit 4.

The Walk in the Park program is a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota’s state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Parks staff and volunteers lead the programs, which are co-sponsored by the S.D. Department of Health.

OSPREY REINTRODUCTION IN SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA

PIERRE -- Using a new funding source called the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program, the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is working to expand the range of the osprey, a state threatened species in South Dakota.

"This bird of prey nests in the Black Hills, but it is not known to nest elsewhere in the state, although many people report seeing birds during the summer," said GFP Endangered Species Biologist Eileen Dowd Stukel.

She noted that osprey depend on healthy aquatic habitats, feeding on fish and typically nesting in trees or on powerlines near rivers or large lakes.

"Osprey do not expand easily to new areas, so biologists use a technique called hacking to reintroduce them to new areas to which the birds will hopefully return to nest when they are two-years old," Stukel said. "Hack boxes are built on high platforms, with chicks held in the box and fed several times daily by hack-site attendants."

Game, Fish and Parks officials worked cooperatively with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Crow Wing Power Company, Minnesota Power and Audubon Minnesota to obtain nine osprey chicks from Minnesota, which were placed at hack sites along the Missouri River in Clay and Yankton counties.

The work was contracted to Wildlife Experiences of Rapid City and was completed with much assistance from private landowners in the area and regional staff from GFP wildlife and parks divisions.

Despite a setback in which three birds died at the site, likely from West Nile virus, six of the birds fledged successfully, and the project will likely continue until osprey begin nesting in southeastern South Dakota.

CHANGES PROPOSED FOR FISHING REGULATIONS

PIERRE – Fisheries regulation changes for 2004 were recently proposed by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission.

Game, Fish and Parks Fisheries Administrator Dennis Unkenholz said the proposed changes primarily target fish limits, size restrictions, highgrading and a few general provisions. The proposed changes include:

• Prohibit highgrading of trout in the Black Hills Trout Management Area–current regulations tempt anglers to high-grade their catch, which causes un-necessary fish mortality due to extra handling and exposure of fish to warm surface temps in containers, on stringers or in livewells.
• Add the rule of no highgrading of bluegills to Campbell Slough in Day County–Campbell Slough is connected to Enemy Swim Lake, and anglers can boat between these waters. This rule will make both waters managed the same.
• Change the date ice-fishing shelters must be removed daily from Deerfield Lake from Feb. 25 to March 5-Deerfield Lake is a high-elevation lake in the Black Hills and holds a long time, making late-season ice fishing very popular. March 5 is the same date for shelter removal as in several northeastern counties.
• Impose a 12-to-16 inch size restriction for largemouth bass and allow only one bass 16 inches or longer to be harvested daily on Newell Lake.
• Impose an 18-inch minimum size restriction and a one-fish daily limit for both smallmouth and largemouth bass for Campbell Slough in Day County–this rule will parallel regulations with Enemy Swim Lake and help eliminate angler confusion.
• Implement a 15-inch minimum size restriction for smallmouth bass on Stockade Lake and a largemouth and smallmouth bass on New Underwood Lake–this rule should allow the bass population to increase by protecting small bass.
• Add Campbell Slough, Curlew Lake and Newell Lake to the group of waters managed with a 14-inch minimum size restriction for walleye, sauger and walleye-sauger hybrid–this rule would align regulations for Campbell Slough with Enemy Swim Lake and protect small walleyes until they are desirable size in Newell and Curlew lakes.
• Add Twin and Mud Lakes, Spink County, and Grant and Roberts Counties, except the Minnesota/South Dakota boundary waters, to the list of waters with 10-fish daily limitfor bluegills, crappies, perch and sunfish or the combination thereof–with high fishing pressure and angler interest to lower panfish limits on these waters, this rule would help these waters to acquire and maintain more desirable-sized panfish.
• Change the number of northern pike, 36-inches-or-greater in length, that may be taken daily from Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge and remove the possession limit of two times the daily limit–this rule is for clarification and to change the northern pike possession limit to the standard statewide possession limit of 12.
• Change the minimum size restriction for walleyes in Waubay Lake to 14 inches–a large 1999 walleye year class is in need of harvest to promote growth of these fish.
• Change the statewide bullfrog season from May 1 to Oct. 15 to year-round,
• Remove Lake Oahe-only fishing licenses–walleye abundance is approaching the management objective and these cheaper licenses are no longer needed to help maintain a high level of walleye harvest on Lake Oahe.
• Reduce the daily limit for walleye on Lake Oahe to six daily with 18 in possession; one fish in the daily limit may be 22 inches or longer--hourly catch rates of walleye by anglers have decreased in response to an increase in food availability, and a daily limit of six walleyes is more attainable than a daily limit of 10 fish.
• Decrease the year-round daily limit for walleye, sauger and walleye-sauger hybrid or combination thereof to three daily on Lakes Sharpe and Francis Case and from Fort Randall Dam down river approximately three miles to the Nebraska boundary–high annual walleye harvest and low production of young walleye during the last few years have reduced the number of walleye longer than 15-inches. High walleye catch rates and low walleye abundance indicate restrictions are needed to preserve fishery quality.
• Close the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam to the taking of bait and biological specimens–this closure would minimize the risk of spreading invasive species, such as Asian carp, silver carp and grass carp to areas above Gavins Point Dam.

NEW PARK ENTRANCE LICENSES AVAILABLE FOR 2004

PIERRE - A scene portraying the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery on the Missouri River adorns the 2004 park entrance license for South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas. The new park entrance license, which commemorates the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition, is now available for purchase.

The 2004 park entrance license is $20 for one license and $30 for two licenses and is valid from Oct. 1, 2003, through May 20, 2005. The park entrance license is required for entrance into designated state parks, lakeside use and recreation areas, but does not cover camping or additional fees.

and click on "Shopping."

A park entrance license makes a perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for outdoors person or camping family. Consider a park entrance license as a gift for Christmas, birthdays or other special occasions.

"TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAILS" EVENT AT LAFRAMBOISE ISLAND

PIERRE - LaFramboise Island Nature Area in Pierre will provide the backdrop for the 2nd Annual "Trick-or-Treat Trails" that runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30.

A 1.4-mile trick-or-treat trail marked by reflective signs will wind through the nature area. While walking the trail, trick-or-treaters can gather prizes and treats by visiting event sponsors at stops along the trail.

The event is sponsored by state agencies and various local businesses.

There is no cost for participation. Participants are asked to bring a flashlight and wear comfortable hiking shoes. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

For additional information on this event, please contact Pat Thompson at Farm Island Recreation Area at (605) 224-5605.

CHANGES FOR ROAD HUNTING

PIERRE – Hunters targeting public road rights-of-way during South Dakota’s 2003 hunting seasons are reminded about the law changes regarding hunting from those public areas.

"In particular, knowing and understanding the new road hunting laws is important," said Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Regional Law Enforcement Specialist Dave Wicks of Watertown. "The department asks each hunter to carefully read and understand the new laws so we can keep road hunting a viable tradition in our state."

The law now allows a hunter to shoot at a small game bird, except mourning dove, that originates from within a road right-of-way but actually enters private land air space prior to the bird being shot at by the hunter. For waterfowl, the hunter must be within the

right-of-way, and the bird(s) must be in the process of flying over the right-of-way. The hunter may retrieve a bird from private land as long as the hunter is unarmed and on foot.

In addition, if a person is road hunting, he or she must meet the following requirements:

1. The person must park or stop their vehicle as far to the right-hand side of the road as possible;
2. If the person who discharges a firearm is more than 50 yards from the vehicle, the doors on the side of the vehicle nearest the roadway must be closed, but the engine may remain running; and
3. If the person who discharges a firearm is less than 50 yards from the vehicle, all of the doors of the vehicle must be closed and the engine shall be turned off.

SALMON STATION COLLECTING EGGS FOR STOCKING

PIERRE -- Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) officials say the Whitlock Bay Salmon Spawning Station has opened for the 2003 salmon-spawning season. Salmon eggs will be collected this fall, and approximately 150,000 juvenile salmon will be stocked in 2004 to continue a salmon fishery in Lake Oahe.

In 2001 and 2002, salmon stocking was suspended in Lake Oahe due to an overabundance of predators and a shortage of prey fish (food for predators). Due to this lapse in stocking, no South Dakota salmon will be returning to spawn in 2004 and 2005. A small number of salmon were stocked in 2003, but the small numbers will only provide an egg source and a minimal fishery by 2006.

The prey fish picture for 2003 is much brighter. "This is the first year since 1996 that biologists have documented a significant increase in all prey fish numbers," said Fisheries Biologist Bob Hanten. "With this positive prey fish outlook, the department is planning an increased salmon stocking for next year."

Hanten noted that it is the department’s goal to maintain a salmon fishery in Lake Oahe; however, the priority has been to get Lake Oahe’s prey-fish numbers back on track.

"Currently, it appears we are getting back on track, so we will be stocking approximately 150,000 juvenile salmon next year," he said.

Whitlocks Bay Salmon Station, located 18 miles northwest of Gettysburg, is open for tours by appointment; however, the fish ladder observation deck is open to the public at any time. Group tours can also be arranged by calling (605) 223-7700.